I'd just arrived home when two emails bloomed on my laptop screen.

One was a pink slip from my company. The other was a job offer from the State Human Resources Department.

I planned to deal with them after my shower.

But when I stepped out, I heard my husband, Mark, talking excitedly on the phone in the living room.

"Get over here, babe! I nailed the state job! And my wife finally got the ax! Talk about a double win!"

Less than ten minutes later, Susan, Mark's assistant, was at our door with a cake.

Mark put his arm around her and flipped a bank card onto the table in front of me.

"Eleanor, let's be real. You were aging out anyway. There's five grand in there. Call it a severance package. You can move out tomorrow."

Susan?nuzzled into his side. "Yeah, now that you're jobless, you can finally be a full-time housewife. Oh, wait. I forgot. I'm the lady of the house now!"

I watched their little performance, almost bursting out laughing.

Poor Mark.

He thought I was the one who got fired.




Mark and Susan lifted the cake box lid together.

The sweet smell of buttercream wafted out, with a line of frosting: "Congratulations on Your Promotion, Mark!"

Susan cut a slice and offered it to me with a smirk. "You'll need the sugar. Trust me, your life's about to get real bitter."

I didn't take it. I just stared at her.

Mark grabbed the cake, took a huge bite, then hauled Susan into his arms.

"Don't mind her. She's yesterday's news. Washed up. Doesn't deserve a taste of our success. He shot me a look of pure contempt. "I told you, Eleanor. Keep up or get left behind. You chose to get left behind."

He swallowed, puffing out his chest. "But hey, don't take it too hard. I'm starting at the state house next week. Governor's office in a few years, mark my words."

"You? A jobless ex-wife is a liability. Dead weight. We're not even playing the same game anymore."

Susan echoed him from his embrace. "Exactly, Mark's destined for great things. You're nowhere near his league."

Mark seemed pleased. He pulled out a document and slapped it on the table in front of me.

"The divorce agreement. Sign it."

I picked it up and skimmed through it. The terms were ridiculous.

It demanded I move out with nothing but the clothes on my back, and voluntarily sign away all marital assets.

Susan peered over. "What are you waiting for? Just sign it! You'll get five grand if you do. Otherwise, if it goes to court, with the connections he's about to have, you won't get a dime."

I put the agreement down and looked at Mark. "This house is in my name. I bought it before we got married."

Mark froze for a second, then scoffed. "In your name? Have you lost your mind? What makes a jobless woman think she can stand against me?"

I looked at Mark's contorted face and leaned back slightly. "I'm not refusing. It's just... today has been too much. I can't process this right now. Give me until tomorrow. One night to think."

The ruthlessness on Mark's face instantly morphed into smug satisfaction. "Fine. I'll give you one more night."

Then, he lowered his head and kissed Susan passionately, right in front of me.

After their kiss, Mark wrapped an arm around Susan's waist and swaggered towards the door.

"Come on, babe, let's get out of this depressing place. We'll celebrate at a hotel tonight."

"Okay, Mark. I'll make it a night to remember."

The door slammed shut, leaving behind the mess they'd made in the living room, and that untouched cake.