She couldn’t have changed so much! When Arthur spots his exwife, he stands mute.
No, it cant be her. I cant believe Charlotte would look like that. He freezes in front of the glass of an upscale Mayfair restaurant, watching his former spouse from a distance.
A stylish blonde sits by the window, typing thoughtfully on her laptop. A waiter places a glass of freshly pressed orange juice and a raspberrystrawberry tart before her.
How does she look so flawless? And where did that designer bracelet on her wrist come from? It must have cost a fortune. Arthur bites his lip, slipping away so she wont notice him.
Arthur and Charlotte first meet six years ago. He has just graduated from university and lands a graduate role at a prominent construction firm. His career takes off quickly.
At a construction equipment exhibition, Arthur strikes up a conversation with a pleasant young woman staffing one of the stands.
What are you doing around all these diggers? Lets grab a coffee instead. he jokes.
They chat, and Charlottes shy, friendly manner catches Arthurs eye instantly.
This is exactly the kind of woman I need. She never argues, always agrees. Shell be the perfect, obedient wife, he thinks.
Shes a bit round, but a gym subscription will fix that. If she ever gets too demanding after we have kids, Ill find a mistress, he adds, handing her a coffee.
Later, stepping out with Charlotte, Arthur asks,
What are you doing at the show?
I write short stories and dream of becoming a screenwriter, Charlotte replies, smiling shyly with her bright blue eyes.
I just finished a literature degree, still finding my footing, she adds, mentioning rent.
Arthur imagines a future where she cooks, looks after the house, raises children, and follows his every command. He starts bragging about his plans.
Arthur buys a coffee from the stall opposite, settles on a bench, and watches Charlotte again. When she steps outside, he cant believe his eyes. She walks with a graceful stride, draped in a mink coat; a sleek sports car waits for her. In just three years, shes transformed beyond recognition.
She must have found a wealthy man. Theres no other explanation, he mutters, gulping his hot coffee and clenching the cup tight.
That evening, Arthur lies awake. After the breakup, Charlotte blocks him on every social platform. Unable to resist, he creates a new account just to stalk her photos.
Jealousy, bitterness, rage he drinks half a litre of whisky while the flood of negative emotions surges.
You couldnt have changed like this You were nobody, I took you in with no money, no flat, no looks. Where do these luxury pictures come from? he fumes, scrolling through images of Charlotte posing in fivestar hotels, flaunting designer bags and jewellery.
Shes lost ten kilos, looks flawless plastic surgery? a gym obsession? he growls, squeezing his phone.
The next morning, a memory of a conversation with Charlotte flickers in his mind.
Thats nonsense. Who reads that? he shakes his head after reading her latest story.
Taste is subjective, she replies modestly. I already have fans.
Fans? he smirks. Those without brains might enjoy such tales.
Charlottes voice trembles as she confronts him.
Arthur, why are you like this? Weve been together a year, and you cant accept that I have my own interests. Im not criticizing your work, you know.
Exactly, he snaps. If you helped me with the business, Id spend far less time in the office.
Arthur leaps from his chair.
Enough of the nonsense. From now on you stop writing and start assisting me.
Charlotte stands by the window, shocked.
You want me to quit writing? She protests, tears welling.
If you want to keep this marriage and improve our life, youll abandon that frivolous writing and help me. Arthurs glare hardens.
My stories are my soul I cant just bury my lifes work, she sobs.
I dont care. No one else needs it, and youre useless as a person right now. Ill give you a daily task list, and youll follow it. he orders.
I dont understand youre taking away what matters to me, Charlotte whines, turning away.
Ungrateful. Ive supported you for a year, bought you gifts, taken you on holidays. Either help me or get out, he threatens, pointing at the door.
Charlotte wipes her eyes, switches off her computer, and never writes again.
A year passes. Arthur builds connections and capital, selling his late grandmothers house to launch his own construction company. From dawn to dusk, Charlotte handles paperwork, presentations, supervises workers, and arranges meetings.
Another year later, he develops a countryside housing estate, earning a tidy profit. He enjoys the relationship, except for Charlottes appearance. Stress leads her to overindulge in sweets, and she rapidly gains weight.
How am I supposed to go out with this pig? Im ashamed, he complains to a mate in a pub.
Yeah, its a nasty sight, his friend replies.
Arthur installs a dating app on his phone, thinking of taking a side lover now that Charlotte has grown beyond his taste. He quickly meets Olivia, a fit, demanding woman, and they spend a night together in a trendy Soho restaurants restroom.
You love how I look, she whispers in his plush apartment with a panoramic city view, which he rents for secret encounters.
Of course, he coos, running a feathered hand along her back.
Olivia lists her expenses: hair, nails, a personal trainer, costing around threehundred pounds a month. Arthur, mesmerised by her beauty, ignores the price.
Within a month, Olivia replaces Charlotte in his thoughts; he rarely returns home, where Charlotte waits each evening.
I made you pasta with pesto, just the way you like it, Charlotte greets him after his weeklong trip with Olivia. He grunts, Im fine, and declines the food.
She becomes just another employee in his firm, working unpaid while he demands more from her than from any other staff.
A month later, Arthurs business starts to falter. Contracts slip, partners leave, and his fortunes dwindle. He blames Charlotte for the downturn and, in a heated split, evicts her without compensation. She leaves with nothing.
Three years later, Arthur cant believe his eyes.
Based on geotags, she now lives in a suburb of Manchester, next to some wealthy patron, he muses while sipping coffee. I have a meeting with an investor nearby; Ill drop by her place Something feels off. A plain mouse cant just turn into a rose.
A message buzzes from Olivia, whos on holiday in the Emirates.
Arthur, we should break up. Ive met someone else. Nothing personal, it was a good experience. My friend will collect my stuff.
And thats on my money! I paid for your trip! he rages, typing an angry reply, hurling insults.
Olivia replies, Youre emotional, I get it. Lets talk later, Im blocking you for now. Drama harms my beauty. She blocks his number.
Rejected by the investor and in a foul mood, Arthur drives to the upscale estate where Charlotte lives. After a few hours in the car and a pack of cigarettes, a luxury vehicle pulls up at her gate.
Arthur, what are you doing here? Charlotte asks, bewildered, after he knocks three times.
I just wanted to see how youre doing, he mutters.
He sees the wariness in her eyes, but his curiosity forces him to soften.
I actually came to apologise. Ive realised a lot while youve been gone It turned out badly, I admit. he stammers.
Badly? Charlotte arches a smile. You stopped me from writing. I worked for you free for two years, cooking, cleaning, managing the house, believing in you when everyone said youd fail Then you threw me out in a day.
Fine, Arthur, apologise, she says, hugging herself.
Could you let me in? Its awkward out here He looks down, kicks a stone.
Maybe I will She thinks about the satisfaction of rubbing in her success on his face, after all he treated her so cruelly.
Whos keeping you? Arthur asks, eyeing the spacious living room. Admit it, youve got someone funding you?
No one funds me, Arthur. I bought everything myself, Charlotte replies, heading to the kitchen.
Youre lying Arthur shouts, following her.
What are you surprised about? That Ive achieved my dreams? Charlotte sets a glass of water on the table.
How? How could you change so much in three years? How do you afford this life? Arthur spins the glass, bewildered.
I returned to writing, actually screenwriting. I sold a couple of pilot scripts to film studios, but they thought my work was rubbish. She smiles, fixing her hair.
Now Im one of the countrys top scriptwriters. My series and films air on the main channels, she adds modestly.
As far as I remember, youre here to apologise, Charlotte says, sitting opposite him.
The best revenge, he thinks, is to crush a foe with their own success. Arthur feels crushed again, his rage a waterfall. The breakup with Olivia, the investors rejection, Charlottes meteoric riseall drive him to a breaking point. He needs an outlet.
You were a plain mouse, ugly, talentless, with no contacts, no flat All youve achieved is because of me. I gave you the push, the lesson, he whispers. Half of your success and money belongs to me.
Arthur, that doesnt sound like an apology, Charlotte smiles. The only thing you helped me with was showing how low people can be.
You wont get anything from me, and its time you left, she stands, pointing to the door.
Youll open the safe and hand over the cash, or you wont walk out alive, he roars, seizing her elbow and dragging her toward the lounge.
Let go, it hurts! she screams.
A plain mouse stays a plain mouse, he snarls, shoving her onto the sofa.
Tell me where the safe is, or youll never leave, he threatens, brandishing a fireplace log.
Single women adopt cats Charlotte rubs her elbow, meets his gaze, and smiles. But Im not all women; Im different.
I dont care what you are, Charlotte If you dont give me half the money now, Ill kill you, he hisses, raising the log.
Youre missing the point, Arthur Ive got dogs now, she says, smiling wider. Meet Chilli and Willy.
Two large Dobermans step into the room, sniffing the cold marble floor. Chilli lets drool fall, while Willy growls softly, already understanding the threat.
Chilli, Willy, guard dog! Charlotte shouts.
The scene freezes in Arthurs mind: his confidence slipping, his throat dry, his eyes widening. The hungry Dobermans circle him as he tries to flee, but he only manages a halfmetre dash before they block him. A chaotic struggle erupts, the police arrive, and the houses security cameras capture everything. Arthur is later handed a suspended sentence, his path to Charlotte forever closed.
Today Charlotte thrives. Rumour has it shes married a talented director, is pregnant, and living happily. They say every successful woman has a man who broke her heart, and the best revenge is proving you can succeed without him. Whether thats true in our world is for you to decide. One things certain: if you truly believe in yourself, youll get there.
