It was Vicky’s birthday, and I decided to play a little prank. I gave her a gag lottery ticket, guaranteed to win a hundred million dollars.
She scratched it open, ecstatic. The very first thing she did was call her male best friend. Chad! I?hit the jackpot! Come over, quick!
“I always said I’d take care of you if I ever got rich!”
My gut twisted. I opened my mouth to say it wasn’t real.
But then she whirled around, pointing at me, her voice sharp. “We’ve been married for five years, and I realize you don’t understand me at all. I’ve been thinking, let’s just get a divorce.”
“Look at Chad. He sent me 999 roses first thing this morning for my birthday. That’s the kind of tenderness and romance I want!”
I stood there for a long time, stunned. I put away the real presents I’d prepared for her – a luxury car and a mansion.
Was she really so convinced she’d won a hundred million that she wanted to ditch me?
Fine. She shouldn’t be surprised by what happens next.
……
My brows furrowed. “Are you saying I’m not good enough compared to Chad Hayes?”
My wife, Vicky Sterling, froze, probably surprised I was so direct.
She looked at me, then carefully tucked the lottery ticket into her purse. She scoffed. “Yes.”
“Chad and I have been childhood sweethearts. He’s always been the most important person in my life!”
“If you hadn’t tempted my parents with a seven-figure sum back then, do you really think I would’ve agreed to marry you?”
It all clicked.
Chad Hayes was Vicky’s male best friend. Ever since he came back to town, he’d been constantly lurking around.
He was at every birthday party, every weekend shopping trip. He was even at our house when I was away on business.
I’d told Vicky countless times how much I hated it.
But every time, she’d shoot back, “We have a pure friendship! Why are you so petty and jealous? It’s so annoying when you get like this!”
I could never find concrete proof, so I just bit my tongue.
I never intended anything beyond a simple joke.
The plan was to let her get a little upset before surprising her with the real presents, like the luxury car and house deed.
But I never expected that a fake lottery ticket would blow open her true feelings.
Male best friend? Pure friendship?
It was all a lie.
Seeing me silent, her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Now I see things clearly. I don’t want to keep deceiving myself. Let’s go get a divorce today.”
“Considering all the years I’ve busted my ass for you, I’ll let you keep this house.”
I just found it amusing. I blurted out, “I bought the ticket. Even if it were real, you wouldn’t get to hog it all to yourself, would you?”
Hearing that, she clutched her purse tightly and took two steps back, her voice shrill. “Alex Thorne! Are you even a man anymore?!”
“You don’t just take back what you’ve given away!”
Just then, Chad Hayes, her so-called best friend, rushed in.
Vicky saw him and immediately threw herself into his arms. “Chad!”
Chad had already heard about Vicky winning a hundred million on the phone. He’d probably also overheard our conversation.
He quickly pulled Vicky close, shielding her. “Vicky, give me the ticket. I’ll go cash it in.”
“That way, he can’t use marital assets to force you to split it with him.”
Vicky nodded frantically. “You’re so thoughtful, Chad! Don’t worry, I’ll divorce him today!”
Their voices grew louder, as if afraid I wouldn’t hear.
I was trembling with rage. “Vicky Sterling, are you really going to divorce me over a bunch of roses and a lottery ticket?”
Chad lifted his chin, sneering. “What’s wrong with roses?”
“It’s better than that cheap trinket you gave her last year, right?”
“Alex Thorne, Vicky’s not the same woman anymore. You’re a low-class jerk, you don’t deserve her!”
I remembered. Last year for her birthday, I’d given her a vintage diamond bracelet.
It had cost me over three million dollars, and I’d pulled a lot of strings to get it.
Vicky had smiled so sweetly then, saying she loved it, but behind my back, she called it a cheap trinket.
This year, to give Vicky an even better life, I’d pulled countless all-nighters, making my company’s business skyrocket.
As soon as I closed a deal worth over a hundred million in overseas orders, I immediately ordered her a supercar and a mansion.
Now, it seemed, there was no need.
I took a deep breath. “Vicky Sterling, you just said you wanted a divorce, right?”
“Fine! I agree!”
Everyone froze, including Vicky.
She probably thought I’d back down, swallow my pride, and beg for reconciliation like before.
“You said it yourself! Everyone here is a witness!” Vicky’s voice had a hint of excitement.
Chad leaned in, his smile barely contained. “At least you know your place! Once Vicky and I cash in the prize, we’re getting married right away!”
“Vicky! I’m going to give you a wedding of the century! The kind that makes every woman in the world jealous!”
Vicky looked at him, her eyes red, tears of gratitude welling up.
I just found it amusing.
A man using her supposed winnings to give her a “wedding of the century.”
And she actually thought he was making a sacrifice for her.
I shoved Chad, who was blocking my way. “Get lost.”
Then I walked toward the door. “Aren’t you divorcing me? Let’s go right now.”
Vicky instantly exploded in anger.
She quickly helped the stumbling Chad. “Alex Thorne, how dare you push Chad? Apologize to him, now!”
Chad regained his balance and yelled at me, “Who do you think you are?!”
“Everyone knows you’ve been living off Vicky’s import-export company all these years. If you really get divorced, you’ll starve!”
“With your measly skills, you’re nothing without Vicky!”
Actually, the company was mine.
For years, I’d made her a CEO just to humor her.
Truth was, she was almost never at the office. Her executive presence was strictly for public display.
She was so out of the loop, she had no clue I’d just landed a multimillion-dollar contract.
But now, none of that mattered anymore.
I looked at Vicky, enunciating each word. “Aren’t you coming? Are you afraid I’ll change my mind?”
She glared at me fiercely, then patted her purse. “Hmph! Fine, let’s go!”
“Once I’m a hundred-millionaire, I’ll buy your pathetic company! Then we’ll see you begging me on your knees!”
To make sure everyone witnessed their “love,” they even called a bunch of their trashy friends.
This crowd loved clubbing and gossiping.
I’d told Vicky countless times to stay away from them.
Vicky always agreed, but it turned out she’d been hanging out with them closely in secret.
As soon as they saw me, they started whistling.
“Look, if it isn’t Vicky’s little simp? What, did she dump him today?”
“Vicky and Chad were always meant to be. If you hadn’t shamelessly forced your way in, they would’ve been together ages ago!”
“Hah! You actually thought Vicky didn’t want to get pregnant and lose her figure? She just didn’t want your baby!”
So that was it.
Vicky, her face cold, openly linked arms with Chad and walked into the registry office.
Even the clerk handling the divorce looked a little bewildered.
I just smiled to myself.
The whole process went unusually smoothly. In less than half an hour, we had successfully scheduled our divorce.
The actual certificate would be issued a month later.
Looking at the stamped divorce application, Vicky shrieked, “I can finally be with the person I love!”
Then came a chorus of cheers and shouts of encouragement.
“Vicky, congratulations! You should’ve left him sooner!”
“Why keep a dog like that? Chad’s way better!”
“Chad, you’ve got to celebrate properly with Vicky tonight!”
I remained completely unbothered.
I just wondered if she’d still be smiling once she found out the lottery ticket was fake.
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