It was pouring rain as I left the lawyer’s office, and I felt like I had lost. I seemed calm on the outside, but I was really excited inside. When the lift door shut, I laughed so hard that the sound echoed off the steel walls.
After the split, Mike, my ex-husband, got the house, the car, and all of our savings. But he had no idea that I had been planning for this to happen the whole time.
Our marriage had been tense for a long time because Mike was too focused on material things, which made me feel trapped. I had played along, but the act was coming apart. I was ready when Mike finally asked for a divorce.
It was clear that Mike was very greedy during the events. He asked for everything, and I seemed weak and gave in. But I knew that the small print would be what killed him.
My mum helped us buy the house many years ago, and the deal said she could live there whenever she wanted. Mike signed because he was so spoilt.
Mike called the day after the split, very angry. The house was now owned by my mother, who had moved in. I held back laughing as I watched Mike’s anger rise to the surface.
He yelled, “You set me up!”
It was a lie, but I said, “Oh, right, the contract.”
Mike’s stop was very funny. When he saw the truth, his anger changed into desperation. “You lied to me!” I’m going to get my lawyers—”
My mom’s voice came through, and she said, “Get your feet off that coffee table, Michael!”
Hearing Mike’s irritated voice and my mother’s firm words was like music to my ears. I had a hard time holding back my laughs.
When the call finished, I sat down and smiled. It had never been so sweet to be free. Mike didn’t think much of me, but I was smarter than he thought.
I knew I had made the right choice at that moment. My laughing could be heard all over my small new flat. It was a celebration of being free on my own.
