From Gift Card to Divorce의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 9

Once her IV drip finished, I helped my mother, Casey Caldwell, into an Uber and took her home. Just as I unlocked the front door, my wife, Melody Caldwell, could be heard laughing hysterically from the living room.She was on the phone with her brother, Maddox Baldwin. “…Ever since I tricked her with that fake escape room card, that old hag’s been spending her own money buying me wild salmon and fancy treats every single day.”“Oh, Melody. That’s savage. You’re going to wipe out her entire retirement savings.” Maddox’s smug voice came through the phone. With her back facing the door, Melody blew on her freshly done nails without a care. “It’s her fault for not asking Parker for a dime. She has brought this on herself, so that’s on her. “Besides, I’m sick of her. She gives off this cheap, small-town vibe.“Honestly, if her cooking wasn’t halfway decent, I wouldn’t have let you set foot in this house. “Apparently, she’s been washing dishes at that crappy diner on the cor

I scoffed to myself. Over the years, I pulled strings to land Maddox his job, and I paid out of pocket for the car he drove. On top of that, Melody had been secretly funneling him money from my paycheck. I was about to refuse when the phone in my pocket rang. It was Melody calling. I picked up, and Melody’s smug voice came through. “Parker, I take it you saw the video online? How does it feel now? “Scared? If you are, you’d better write me a long apology and publish it for all to see.“Unfreeze all my cards and buy Maddox another car.“Or this isn’t over!” The sheer arrogance in her voice somehow made my anger disappear.“Dream on, Melody.” My voice was icy. “Start looking for a good lawyer. I’m filing for divorce, and you won’t get a dime out of me.” I ended the call. Maddox scowled at me. “What’s with your attitude, Parker? Are you actually trying to end things with Melody?“Then again, Melody is hot. Guys are dying to hate her, so you won’t be missed.”

The video was the exact security camera footage I had copied from the escape room that day.Many of my colleagues were at my wedding two years back, so there was zero doubt as to who the woman on screen was.Based on the timestamp displayed on the bottom right of the screen, it occurred while I was running myself ragged abroad on a high-stakes project for the firm. The loud chatter in the lobby died down as all eyes fell on the massive screen. When the clip reached Melody’s conversation with her affair partner, it was as if the air was sucked out of the room. The guy playfully booped her nose with a smile and handed her the card printed with cartoon avatars. “Here you go. Keep this as a reminder of us. It’s one of a kind. “By the way, when is your clueless husband coming back?” The guy asked with a raised brow. Melody nestled coyly in the guy’s embrace while making a dirty look. “Forget him. He’s just an ATM. He’s a bore, nowhere near as fun as you…“Seriously though,

True to my word, I canceled all the automatic bill payments for the house right there and then. I also sent my bank’s mortgage officer a message to defer the upcoming mortgage payment. Even if my credit score would take a hit in the short run, I was determined to make life miserable for those parasites.By the third day after the power and water were shut off, Melody stormed right into the lobby of the five-star hotel where I was staying.She brought along a crew of sleazy tabloid reporters while Maddox followed behind, streaming the whole thing live. “Parker, you’re hiding out here living the life while we starve and freeze in the dark!” The second I was coming down to the lobby, Melody lunged forward to claw my face. Quick on their feet, the hotel security went up to stop her. Camera shutters went off, and the flashing lights nearly blinded me.The video I’d released at the office exposing the truth had already won me plenty of public support online.Nevertheless, Mel

On the night of the closing, Melody showed up in sunglasses and a scarf over her face. Beside her was the body double pretending to be me, along with Maddox, who was desperately waiting for the cash to pay off his gambling debts.“Four million, paid in full upfront, right?” Melody asked the real estate agent. “Mrs. Caldwell, what’s the big rush? The house is worth more than that.” The real estate agent, Alex Holden, smiled, stalling for time. “We desperately need the money to move abroad. Cut the small talk and process the check.” Maddox slammed the table irritably. Just as Melody picked up the pen to sign the closing agreement, the door to the office swung open. “Shouldn’t you notify me that you’re putting the house up for sale?” I strode into the room alongside two suited attorneys. Melody flinched and dropped the pen to the floor. “P-Parker? What are you doing here?” “Why wouldn’t I show up? How else would I get to watch this little performance your whole family h