When Rhea and her husband, Idran, decided to split up, she took a break from all the drama by spending a weekend at her parents\u2019 place. But when she got back, she found all her stuff thrown out on the lawn. With some unexpected luck, Rhea found a valuable item that belonged to her ex \u2014 and used it to get sweet revenge\u2026<\/p>\n
After Idran and I decided to get divorced, he turned into someone I didn\u2019t recognize. The man I thought I knew, the one I had shared over a decade with, was completely gone.<\/p>\n
In his place was someone angry and mean-spirited.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re upset about how I talk to you? About how I act?\u201d Idran yelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just asking you to stop yelling at me,\u201d I said, rubbing my temples. \u201cShouting isn\u2019t helping your point.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please, Rhea,\u201d he snapped even louder. \u201cYou made me this way! With your endless nagging and all your whining. Just go live your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, I did.<\/p>\n
While we were working through the divorce, Idran and I were also trying to divide our things to make a clean break.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me pack this up, Rhea,\u201d Idran said one day as he sorted through my books.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll just take my stuff,\u201d I shot back. \u201cI need to handle my own things first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, whatever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But things kept getting worse. The constant stress and arguing made me feel sick all the time. So, I decided to go spend a weekend at my parents\u2019 house to clear my mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, run to Mommy and Daddy,\u201d Idran sneered as I threw clothes into an overnight bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re still better than you,\u201d I said, slamming the door behind me.<\/p>\n
Honestly, it was the best choice I could have made. I needed space to think and to accept that I\u2019d be alone for the first time in twelve years. Even though Idran and I needed to separate, I couldn\u2019t see what my life would look like afterward.<\/p>\n
I also wanted my parents to spoil me for a few days.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Rhea,\u201d my mom said as she pulled a big tray of roast chicken from the oven. \u201cAll you need to do is relax and eat. Tell me what you feel like, and I\u2019ll make it. If you need anything from the store, your dad will go get it in a second.\u201d<\/p>\n
I let out a deep breath. I was exactly where I needed to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you really sure about the divorce?\u201d my dad asked over dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said softly. \u201cIf we were going to fix things, it would\u2019ve happened long ago. There\u2019s no love left. We don\u2019t even understand each other anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do what\u2019s best for you,\u201d my mom said, giving my hand a squeeze. \u201cIf your heart is telling you to walk away, then that\u2019s what you should do.\u201d<\/p>\n
I spent time going for long walks, taking Toby, my parents\u2019 dog, along. I just wanted to think clearly and breathe.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re making the right choice,\u201d I told myself again and again. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with starting over.\u201d<\/p>\n
But on Monday morning, when I pulled into the driveway expecting Idran to be gone, I saw something that made my stomach drop.<\/p>\n
All my furniture \u2014 my things from before I met Idran, plus things we got together \u2014 was scattered across the front yard. A big hand-painted sign read \u201cFREE STUFF!\u201d like it was a garage sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the actual hell?\u201d I muttered, slamming my car door.<\/p>\n
It felt like a nightmare. My favorite coffee table, the old armchair I found at a flea market, and even my grandmother\u2019s rocking chair \u2014 all sitting there in the sun, waiting for strangers to take.<\/p>\n
I knocked the sign down and grabbed my phone with shaking hands, dialing Idran. After a few rings, he finally picked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, what\u2019s up, Rhea?\u201d he answered casually, almost like he was proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up? Are you serious right now? Why is all my stuff outside? Are you completely insane?\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a short pause before he spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were planning to take all my money anyway,\u201d he said. \u201cI heard you talking on the phone. I know you wanted half of everything. So now you know what it feels like to lose things that matter to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was stunned.<\/p>\n
Sure, I had thought about fighting for my share, but my weekend with my parents helped me decide to just move on and let it go.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re unbelievable,\u201d I finally said. \u201cYou really think this fixes anything? You\u2019re only making it worse for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed coldly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever. Maybe you should charge people for it instead of giving it away for free.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wanted to scream, but I knew it wouldn\u2019t help. Idran had made up his mind, and there was no talking him down.<\/p>\n
I hung up and looked at my belongings all over the grass. There was no way I could carry everything back in alone. Frustrated, I kicked the small nightstand I had painted myself a few months ago.<\/p>\n
When it fell, I heard something rattle.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, what now?\u201d I sighed, squatting down to open the drawer.<\/p>\n
Inside, I found something that made me smirk despite my rage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdiot,\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n
Idran had left some of his stuff behind. Right there, hidden in the drawer, was his father\u2019s old watch \u2014 a family heirloom he adored. He never wore it because he was scared of losing or damaging it. It had been passed down for generations until it reached Idran.<\/p>\n
Now, I had it.<\/p>\n
\u201cCheckmate,\u201d I whispered, slipping it into my pocket.<\/p>\n
I texted my friend group and asked who could come help me carry things inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdran is such trash, Rhea,\u201d my friend Lineth said, carrying a lamp. \u201cHe really outdid himself this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d I agreed. \u201cBut don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ve got a plan to make him pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I told her about the watch and how I\u2019d hidden it in my car. I knew Idran would soon realize it was missing.<\/p>\n
Later that evening, while I was moving the last few pieces inside, my phone rang. It was him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Rhea,\u201d he said, sounding worried. \u201cI think I might have left something important. Can I come by and grab it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know,\u201d I said, taking a bite of pizza.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u201d he begged. \u201cIt\u2019s just the nightstands.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, some neighbors came by and took a few things. Pretty sure the nightstands are gone too. But maybe, just maybe, Maelis will sell it back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a long silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cRhea, it\u2019s my dad\u2019s watch. My grandpa\u2019s watch. I really need it back.\u201d<\/p>\n
I let the silence drag on before answering.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that. Well, like I said, Maelis might have it now. But I\u2019m sure she\u2019ll be fair\u2026 if the price is right.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could hear in his voice that he knew I was bluffing, but he had no proof. I wasn\u2019t going to make this easy for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, how much do you think it\u2019s worth? Maybe a few hundred dollars?\u201d I teased.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d he said sharply. \u201cJust get it back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try. But no promises.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next morning, Idran showed up while I was sipping coffee on the porch.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d he said, handing me an envelope. \u201c$500. You know it\u2019s worth much more.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. You can go now,\u201d I said calmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll call you about the divorce papers. My lawyer has some things to discuss,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCool,\u201d I replied casually.<\/p>\n
Idran paused, looked like he wanted to say something, but then just took the watch and walked away slowly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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