Chapter 1 - The Bracelet That Ended My Marriage|
I knew my marriage was over when I saw another woman wearing the bracelet my husband had given me for our eighth wedding anniversary.
What I didn't know was that my husband had already planned to take my house, my money, and possibly my daughter.
My name is Lydia Calloway. I was thirty-six years old, married to a successful Chicago businessman, and the mother of a beautiful six-year-old girl named Poppy.
Until that Thursday afternoon, I believed my biggest problem was a husband who had become too busy to remember our anniversary.
I had spent three hours preparing Ross's favorite beef stew.
I wanted to surprise him at his downtown office.
Instead, I found his assistant, Tiffany Marsh, standing beside his desk, fastening the buttons of her ivory blouse.
Ross looked annoyed.
“Lydia? What are you doing here?”
I held up the lunch container.
“I brought you something to eat.”
Tiffany smiled.
“How thoughtful.”
Then she lifted her hand to smooth her hair.
And I saw it.
A narrow gold bracelet with three tiny diamonds.
My bracelet.
The one Ross had fastened around my wrist while promising to love me forever.
I'd spent six weeks searching for it.
I looked directly at Tiffany.
“Where did you get that bracelet?”
She glanced at Ross.
Then smiled.
“Mr. Calloway gave it to me as a performance bonus.”
Ross didn't even look embarrassed.
“Lydia, let's not make this uncomfortable.”
I stared at him.
“Uncomfortable? You gave her my anniversary gift.”
He sighed.
“It's just jewelry.”
Those four words destroyed something inside me.
But he wasn't finished.
He opened his desk drawer and pushed a document toward me.
“Actually, while you're here, I need your signature.”
I looked down.
PROPERTY TRANSFER AGREEMENT.
The property listed was my Gold Coast condominium.
My mother had given it to me three years earlier.
Ross pointed toward the signature line.
“Tiffany needs somewhere closer to work. That condo has been sitting empty.”
I slowly looked up.
“You want me to give your assistant my condo?”
“She's an important part of the company.”
Tiffany smiled sweetly.
“I'd take excellent care of it.”
For a moment, I wanted to scream.
Instead, I folded the document.
“Is that so?”
Ross nodded impatiently.
“Just sign it.”
I slipped the paper into my handbag.
“No.”
His expression darkened.
“Lydia, don't be difficult.”
I picked up the lunch container.
Then I looked at Tiffany.
“Enjoy the bracelet.”
Her smile widened.
I continued.
“You might want to keep the receipt. My husband has a habit of giving away things he doesn't actually own.”
I walked out before either could respond.
Twenty minutes later, I arrived at my mother-in-law's mansion to collect Poppy.
Tiffany's white Mercedes was already outside.
Inside, Constance Calloway, my sister-in-law Delia, and Tiffany waited beside the fireplace.
Poppy sat alone in a small armchair.
Constance stood.
“Lydia, we've made a decision about your marriage.”
I stared at her.
She placed a divorce agreement on the table.
“You'll sign this, accept nothing from Ross, and leave quietly.”
I moved toward Poppy.
Then Constance added:
“And your daughter will be staying with us.”
May you like
I stopped.
For the first time that afternoon, I felt genuinely afraid.
Related Stories
