After a bitter marriage marked by Mike’s obsession with material wealth, Nicole shockingly agrees to give him everything in their divorce. But as Mike revels in his “victory,” Nicole’s laughter reveals a secret plan in motion. What Mike doesn’t know is that she’s about to make her final move.I stepped out of the lawyer’s office with a blank expression, my shoulders slumped, looking every bit the defeated ex-wife. The rain was coming down hard, and the gray sky matched my mood — or at least the mood I wanted people to think I was in.A woman walking past a window Inside, I was buzzing. My hands clenched the cold steel of the door handle as I headed toward the elevator. No one was around. Good. The elevator door closed behind me with a soft ding, and as soon as I was alone, I let out a little giggle. It wasn’t something I planned; it bubbled up from deep inside like champagne finally uncorked. The more I thought about what I’d just done the more it built up until I was cackling in the elevator like a lunatic.A woman laughing in an elevator | Source: Midjourney If anyone saw me right then, they’d think I had finally snapped, gone over the edge from all the stress, but oh no, this was just the beginning. Everything was falling perfectly into place. The house, the car, the savings — Mike could have them all. It was exactly what I wanted. He thought he’d won, and that was the best part. He didn’t have a clue what was coming. The elevator stopped with a jolt, and I pulled myself together. I glanced at my reflection in the elevator’s mirrored wall: messy hair, tired eyes,and a faint smile still lingering on my lips. I didn’t even care. This was going to be fun.A woman in an elevator | Source: Midjourney A few weeks earlier… Mike and I hadn’t been happy for years, but it wasn’t just the regular kind of falling out of love. Mike was obsessed with his image. He was all about the flashy cars, having the biggest house on the block, and wearing only designer clothes. All of it was a performance, and I had played my part for too long. The cracks had started to show, and when the arguments became more frequent, I knew it wasn’t long before the inevitable happened.A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney The thing is,I wasn’t scared of the divorce. I knew Mike, and I knew exactly how this would play out. He didn’t care about saving the marriage. No, what he wanted was to win — win the house, win the money, win the divorce. All I wanted was to be free of this pretentious lifestyle. But that didn’t mean I was going to let him screw me over, either. So, I’d let Mike have what he wanted, but with a catch as sharp as a fishhook.A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney It happened on a Tuesday. Mike came home late, again. I was in the kitchen, pretending to scroll through my phone, not bothering to look up when he stormed in. We need to talk.” I sighed, barely masking the boredom in my voice. “What now?” He slammed his keys on the counter, and I could practically feel the frustration radiating off him. He always got like this when things didn’t go his way at work, and of course, I was the easiest target.An irritated man | Source: Midjourney “I’m done,” he said, his voice low and tight. “I want a divorce.” I blinked up at him. Finally. I nodded slowly, like it was sinking in, but really, I had been prepared for this moment for weeks. “Okay,” I said simply. He frowned, clearly taken aback. “That’s it? No fight? No begging?” I shrugged. “What’s the point?”A woman staring ahead | Source: Midjourney For a second, he looked confused, like I had taken the wind out of his sails. He was expecting resistance, expecting me to plead with him to stay. But I just needed to give him enough rope to hang himself with. The divorce negotiations were as awful as I expected. We sat across from each other in a sterile conference room, lawyers flanking us, as Mike outlined every little thing he wanted. The house, the car, the savings; it was like he was reading off a grocery list.Close up of a man’s eyes | Source: Midjourney And the entire time, he had this smug little grin on his face, like he thought I’d break down and cry at any moment. “Fine,” I said, barely listening. “You can have it all.” My lawyer shot me a look, one that clearly said, “Are you sure?” But I just nodded. Mike blinked. “Wait, what?” “I said, you can have it. I don’t want any of it, except for my personal possessions.”A woman | Source: Midjourney He looked stunned. “You… you don’t want the house? Or the money?” “Nope,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “It’s all yours.” His shock quickly morphed into glee. “Great. Then take this afternoon to pack up your belongings. It’s not much, so that should be plenty of time.” Mike glanced at his watch. “I’ll expect you to be out by six.” “No problem,” I replied.A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney He sat up straighter, his chest puffing out like he’d just won the lottery. And I let him think it. And that brings me back to that moment when I stepped into the elevator in the lawyer’s office building, and couldn’t contain my laughter anymore. As I stepped out of the elevator, I pulled out my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a second before I typed out a quick message: I’m heading to the house to pack up my things. I’ll call you when it’s time to make your move. I hit send and smiled. Time for the real fun to begin.A cell phone | Source: PexelsPacking up the house was easier than I thought it would be. I didn’t want much, just a few personal things, mostly items that held memories that weren’t tainted by Mike. The house was too big for just the two of us anyway, and it always felt more like his house than mine. I was taping up the last box when I picked up the phone to make the call. My mom, Barbara, answered on the second ring. “Hey,” I said, keeping my voice light. “It’s time.”A woman making a phone call | Source: Midjourney There was a pause, and then Mom’s familiar, no-nonsense tone came through. “Finally. I’ve been waiting for this moment.” Mom couldn’t stand Mike. She saw right through his flashy facade the day I introduced them. But the best part? She had helped us buy this house. She was the reason Mike thought he had scored such a great deal on it, and now she was going to be the reason he lost it. I hung up, feeling a strange sense of relief as I looked around. I was done pretending.A woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney The next morning, I was making breakfast in my new little apartment when my phone rang. I smirked as Mike’s name flashed across the screen. “Hello?” I answered sweetly. “You set me up!” Mike’s voice was furious, practically frothing at the mouth. I put the phone on speaker, grabbing a piece of toast as I leaned against the counter. “I’m sorry, what are you talking about?”A slice of toast | Source: Midjourney “Your mother!” he spat. “She’s… she’s in my house! She’s taken over everything!” “Oh, right,” I said, biting into my toast. “Remember that agreement we signed when she gave us the down payment? The one that lets her live there whenever she wants, for as long as she wants?” There was a long pause, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his brain. I could imagine the look on his face, realization dawning.A woman speaking on the phone | Source: Midjourney He had signed that paper years ago, too blinded by the allure of a fancy house to even think twice about the fine print. “You! You cheated me! This isn’t over. I’m getting my lawyers—” Before he could finish, I heard Mom’s voice in the background, sharp and cutting through the phone. “Michael, you better get your feet off that coffee table! And stop hogging the remote!” There was a muffled sound as if Mike had turned away from the phone, trying to whisper. “Barbara, this is my house—”A smiling woman on a phone call | Source: Midjourney “Oh, hush,” Mom interrupted, louder now. “It’s my house just as much as yours. And another thing, what’s with all these cheap snacks? Do you know how to grocery shop? I’m not living off frozen dinners!” I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Mike mumbled something incoherent, his frustration barely contained, but before he could get another word in, I heard her again. “And turn down that TV! You think I want to listen to that nonsense all day? If you’re going to watch those ridiculous car shows, at least mute it!”A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney There was a loud crash, followed by some more muttering, and then the phone clicked off abruptly. I took a deep breath, smiling as I sat down at the table. Freedom never tasted so sweet.
My Grandpa Pretended to Be Deaf to Test Us before Dividing the Inheritance, I Couldnt Help but Laugh at the Will Reading
My grandpa’s will revealed a shocking secret: for months, he had been pretending to be deaf, quietly listening to everything we said about him. When the truth was finally revealed in the lawyer’s office, it exposed our family’s hidden greed and genuine love, leaving us all forever changed.
My grandpa, Harold, was one of a kind. From the time I was a little girl, he was my favorite person. He could light up any room with his laughter and mischief, always full of love for his family. His twinkling eyes were a constant source of joy, and he had a way of making life feel special.
When Grandpa passed away, I felt a deep void. I missed our long talks, his wisdom, and, most of all, his playful spirit. One prank of his, from April Fool’s Day, became legendary in our family: he told us he’d hidden a $100 bill somewhere in the house. We searched for hours, only to find a note in the cookie jar that read, “Fooled you! The best treasures are the moments we share.” We all laughed, and Grandpa’s eyes sparkled with delight.
Now, sitting in the lawyer’s office, I couldn’t shake the sadness. Grandpa was gone, and his will was about to be read. I expected that he had left something for everyone, as he was always generous. But what followed shocked us all.
The lawyer cleared his throat and began reading Grandpa’s letter:
“Hello, my dear family! Today, many of you will leave this room very disappointed because you won’t get what you expected. In fact, only one of you will leave here with a smile. For the past two months, I’ve been pretending to be deaf. I heard every word you said about me. Let’s begin with my son, John.”
My Uncle John’s face paled as the lawyer continued, “John, you have always been a dutiful son, but recently, I overheard you complaining about how much of a burden I had become. You said you couldn’t wait for the ‘old man’ to pass so you could get my money. Well, John, you’ll be disappointed to know you won’t be receiving a single penny.”
John’s face turned beet red as he slumped in his chair, visibly embarrassed.
Next, the lawyer turned to my Aunt Susan. “Susan, I heard you on the phone many times, talking about your debts and how you couldn’t wait for me to die so you could pay them off with your inheritance. Well, Susan, you’ll be receiving $1. Hope that helps.”
Susan gasped in disbelief. “This can’t be true! I never said that!” she protested, but the lawyer remained unfazed, continuing, “This is what your father wrote, Susan.”
The tension in the room was unbearable. Everyone shifted nervously, unsure of what revelation would come next.
The lawyer moved on to my cousin, Emily. “Emily, you were always sweet to my face, but behind my back, you made bets on how long I’d live and joked about inheriting my money. Emily, you will receive nothing.”
Emily’s jaw dropped in shock. The room grew thick with disbelief, some family members devastated, others secretly relieved. But the biggest surprise was yet to come.
“And now, to my beloved granddaughter, Jane,” the lawyer read. My heart pounded in my chest as I held my breath. “Jane, you spent hours talking to me, sharing your life, and listening to my stories. You never made me feel like a burden. Your love and kindness were always genuine, and for that, I am leaving you everything: my houses, my business, and all that I own. My deputy, Peter, will help you manage the company until you finish college, after which you’ll take over.”
I was stunned. Grandpa’s company was worth a fortune. I had loved him for the person he was, never for his wealth. As tears welled up in my eyes, the lawyer continued, “Jane, I trust you to run the company with the same love and integrity you always showed me. Make me proud.”
I couldn’t believe it—Grandpa had orchestrated the ultimate test, revealing everyone’s true colors. It was more than just a will reading; it was a lesson about love, greed, and what truly matters in life.
After the will was read, Peter, my grandpa’s trusted deputy, came up to me. “Jane, I had no idea Harold planned this. But I’ll be here to help you with the company whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Peter,” I replied, still trying to process everything. “I’m going to need a lot of help.”
My Uncle John, fuming, muttered, “This is so unfair! I was his son—I deserved more!”
Aunt Susan, still crying, added, “We all deserved more. This is cruel.”
Surprisingly, Emily, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up. “Maybe this is what we needed—a wake-up call. Grandpa always knew how to make us see things differently.”
With that, the lawyer packed up his papers, saying, “If anyone has questions, feel free to contact my office. But remember, these were Harold’s final wishes.”
As my family left the office, some grumbling, others lost in thought, Emily approached me with a sad smile. “Jane, Grandpa saw something special in you. He knew you’d handle this with grace.”
“I hope so,” I said quietly. “I just want to make him proud.”
“You will,” Emily reassured me, giving me a hug. “You always have.”
As we walked out into the sunlight, I reflected on Grandpa’s final lesson. His legacy wasn’t just about his fortune—it was about love, integrity, and the lessons he had imparted on us all. True wealth isn’t measured by money but by the relationships we nurture and the respect we give and receive. Grandpa’s clever plan reminded us all of that.
With Grandpa’s memory guiding me, I felt ready to face the challenges ahead. And in that moment, I knew he would always be with me, helping me every step of the way.
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