Confronting Him
Mandy strode through the sturdy wooden doors, the echo of her husband's voice reaching her from a distance. Her stomach coiled with nerves. Months had passed since she last laid eyes on him, and now, she stood on the brink of confronting him.
The anticipation of his reaction gnawed at her. He had inflicted the deepest betrayal, and she was poised to dismantle his world as he knew it.
Sudden Indifference
Mandy had banked on Jake's unwavering presence, only to watch him vanish the moment illness struck. Months passed in a haze of questions: What shifted in him? Where had he gone, and why the sudden indifference?
Alone in that hospital bed upon awakening, the truth hit her. Jake had abandoned her at her lowest ebb.
Surge Of Heat Rise
Mandy felt a surge of heat rise within her when her sister intertwined "Jake" and "inheritance" in conversation. Over more than ten years together, she witnessed a side of her husband she'd never glimpsed before.
In that moment, she vowed to herself. She refused to allow him to escape unscathed. He would rue the day he departed from her life.
Jake’s Car
Arriving at her sister’s place that morning, she noticed Jake's car parked in the driveway. He lingered inside her sister’s home, anticipating the insurance payout.
Months had passed since he last laid eyes on her. Unbeknownst to him, she stood just outside, prepared to face the man who had caused her immense pain during her most vulnerable period.
Consumed By Apprehension
Clad in black, she emerged from the car, consumed by apprehension. Yet, she had reached this point, and retreat wasn’t an option. His voice drifted to her from beyond the door.
Her mind pondered his forthcoming reaction at the sight of her after such a prolonged absence. While she fought for her life in that bed, he had forged ahead, moving on without her.
A Sympathetic Gaze
With a sympathetic gaze, her sister joined her on the driveway, observing Mandy's determined approach. It marked a pivotal moment, a significant leap. Jake had been invited to her sister's house, unaware of the purpose behind the summons.
They concluded it was Mandy's task to reveal the truth in person. It was evident that all Jake fixated on was the prospect of inheriting money upon her passing.
Unbeknownst To Him
Unbeknownst to him, she had triumphed over her time in the hospice. "Ready?" her sister inquired, guiding Mandy towards the front door. Steeling herself, Mandy drew in a deep breath, forcing a smile before nodding. The decisive moment had arrived.
Passing through the wooden doors into her sister's residence, Jake's voice echoed within. Yet, the room fell into a sudden hush as she stepped forward. The expression etched on his face would forever linger in her memory.
Hailing From Houston
Hailing from Houston, Texas, Mandy held onto her identity as a hopeless romantic from a young age. During her school days, thoughts of the man she'd eventually be with consumed her. What would he be called? What kind of person would he be?
It wasn't until college that she crossed paths with the boy who would reshape her world indefinitely. Enter Jake Walker, a figure who embodied everything she'd ever yearned for.
A Mutual Friend
At a mutual friend’s campus party, Mandy and Jake's paths crossed. The moment Mandy set her eyes on Jake, she was captivated, instantly smitten by his embodiment of "tall, dark, and handsome." She couldn't resist striking up a conversation.
Jake found Mandy captivatingly beautiful. Initially not geared for a serious commitment, by their fourth date, he had a change of heart. Just two months after their initial meeting, they cemented their relationship status.
Joyfully Wedded
Throughout college, Mandy navigated the academic landscape with Jake as her constant companion, harboring the conviction that their bond was meant to endure. Post-graduation, they took the leap and shared a living space.
In no time, they found themselves joyfully wedded. The initial years of their marriage gleamed with perfection. Jake stood by her side with unwavering support and care, leading Mandy to believe she held the lottery of happiness. However, everything shifted a few years down the line.
The Unexpected
Mandy and Jake were in their early 40s when the unexpected happened. One morning, Mandy awoke with the worst headache she had ever experienced. She took a few painkillers, expecting the pain to go away, but it didn’t.
Days passed, and the pain was only getting worse. It got to the point where she could not get out of bed. She knew that she would have to see a doctor.
Terrifying
The day Jake took her to the hospital was one of the most terrifying days of her life. That day, Mandy felt terrible. Her head was throbbing, and it felt like it was going to burst at any second.
She was disoriented and weak. But what terrified her even more was the fact that doctors couldn’t figure out what was happening to her. They ran a bunch of tests, but they couldn’t see what the problem was.
Terrible News
“She will have to stay here with us for the foreseeable future,” The doctor told Jake. From where she lay in bed, Mandy could see the terrified expression on her husband’s face. What if she never got better?
Jake didn’t leave her side for the first few days. He couldn’t go home without her. She was his best friend, and he was terrified that he might lose her.
Getting Worse
Mandy was only getting worse with each passing day. Eventually, Jake was forced to go home. He had taken a week off of work, and it was time to go back. But he promised to show up every morning and every evening.
That’s how it went for two weeks. Jake would show up in the morning, enjoy breakfast with his wife, go to work, and then return to the hospital for dinner. But one day, this changed.
Something Changed
When Jake didn’t pitch up for breakfast that morning, Mandy didn’t think much of it. She assumed he was called into work early. But when he failed to show up that evening, she grew concerned.
She called her husband, relieved when he picked up the phone. “I just had a lot of work to do today. I will see you tomorrow morning,” He promised his wife.
Something Was Up
When he arrived the next morning, Mandy could instantly tell that there was just something different about him. He was quiet as he sat beside her hospital bed, his eyes focused on his plate of eggs and bacon.
He wouldn’t meet her eye as she spoke to him. He was unusually quiet, and this concerned her. What was going on? Was he stressed about something?
He Stopped Coming
But from that day on, he stopped paying his wife regular visits. He would show up once or twice a week, claiming that work was keeping him busy. But Mandy was no fool. She could tell that there was more to this story.
But one day, her husband stopped showing up. He left her hospital room and never came back, and she had no idea why.
The Hospice
It was during this time that Mandy was taken to a hospice. Doctors still had no idea what was wrong, and her health was only deteriorating. It was while she was in hospice care that her older sister visited her.
“Does Jake know you’re here?” Her sister, Colleen, asked. Her eyes were filled with concern. She was on edge like she knew something that Mandy didn’t.
She Knew Something
“I don’t know. He doesn’t answer my calls,” Mandy spoke in a tired, croaky voice. Colleen’s eyes dropped to the floor. It was clear that she had something on her mind. “What’s going on?” Mandy questioned, but she wasn’t ready for the answer.
Colleen sat silently for a moment, wondering if she should tell her sister the devastating truth. She had to know. “There’s something I need to tell you,” She said.
Unbelievable
Tears pinched behind Mandy’s tired eyes as she stared up at her sister. She couldn’t believe the words that had left her mouth. “J- Jake is seeing someone else?” She asked in a heartbreaking tone.
Her sister blinked back tears, nodding her head slightly. “She’s some 23-year-old who just started working at his company,” Her sister said the words that crushed her heart into smithereens.
He Moved On
Mandy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could the man she loved most in the world do something like this to her? How could he move on with another woman while she was in hospital, fighting for her life?
She was too weak to respond. She asked her sister to leave. She needed some time to herself, but that night, something truly unexpected happened. Mandy went to sleep, and she didn’t wake up for months.
The Coma
When Jake heard that his wife was in a coma, in the hospice, he was relieved. He didn’t expect her to wake up. It was an easy way out. He got to move on with someone else, and he would never have to discuss it with his wife of more than a decade.
It was during this time that he got the documents ready. You see, he had taken out a life insurance policy, and if she passed away, he would get a lot of money.
Asleep
Months passed. Colleen was the only person who bothered to visit her sister twice a week. Doctors were convinced that Mandy would never wake up. They still had no idea what was happening to her body.
But somehow, her vital signs began improving. Slowly but surely, her body was regulating itself little by little. Then, nine months after slipping into the coma, Mandy opened her e
She Woke Up
Her sister was there that day. She told Mandy everything that had happened since she had fallen asleep. Jake was still with the 23-year-old woman, and he hadn’t even bothered to pay Mandy a single visit.
As far as he was concerned, Mandy was already gone. No one, other than Colleen, knew that she had woken up. But then, her sister mentioned something truly devastating.
Terrible News
Mandy's blood began to boil when her sister mentioned the words “Jake” and “inheritance” in the same sentence. After more than a decade together, she saw a side of her husband that she had never seen before.
That day, she made a promise to herself. She wasn’t going to let him get away with it. He would regret the day he walked out on her. “I will get my revenge.”
A Plan
That night, the sisters sat for hours, discussing their plan to ruin the man who had broken Mandy’s trust while she was on her deathbed. Mandy had a trick up her sleeve, and she couldn’t wait to see her husband’s face when she revealed her hand.
“Come to my house. I will invite him over. I’ll tell him that there’s something I need to discuss with him. You show up, and we get him back,” Colleen grinned. It was the perfect plan.
Nervous
When the day rolled around, Mandy was beyond nervous. “Are you ready?” Her sister asked, walking Mandy to the front door. She took a deep breath, faking a smile before nodding. It was now or never.
She stepped through the wooden doors and into her sister’s home. She could hear Jake’s voice. But the house fell silent the second she walked into the room. She would never forget the look on his face.
Confrontation
Jake fell silent when he saw Mandy standing across the room. Her eyes burned with tears as she looked at the man who had abandoned her a year ago. The man she loved and thought she would be with forever.
She stepped forward without a word, placing the papers in her hands on the coffee table before him. “Hello, honey,” She said, her voice cold.
Her Revenge
His new girlfriend sat beside him, gobsmacked. “You must be my husband’s new girlfriend,” She said with a wicked smile. “Don’t worry. He won’t be my husband for much longer.”
Jake and the woman remained silent as they stared up at Mandy. “I want a divorce. But Jake, if you decide to marry this woman, make sure you sign a prenup this time. Because half of what you have will be mine when I’m through with you,” She said and turned on her heels, leaving her husband behind.
Moving On
In the end, Mandy walked away with thousands of dollars. She got to keep the house, while Jake had to find a small apartment for himself and his new girlfriend. Mandy never wanted to see him again.
He tried calling time after time, but she refused to answer. Her heart was broken, but eventually, she learned to move on. She didn’t need the man who’d hurt her in the worst way possible.