Her Husband Didn’t Know her Nanny Cam Was Still On When she Left For Work; And What she Discovered ta – Part 3

She’d been coordinating it carefully, waiting for the perfect time to close it. And that time was now, right after filing for divorce, so Derek couldn’t claim any of the money. She met with the buyers, a corporate firm looking to purchase a downtown office building for renovation. The negotiations went smoothly. Papers were signed.

The deal closed by Wednesday afternoon. $43,000 would be deposited into her account within a week. Money that was entirely hers. Money Derrick would never touch. Her boss called her into his office after the deal closed. Simone, I wanted to talk to you about your performance this year. She sat down wondering if this was about her taking time for the divorce, but instead he smiled.

You’ve been our top agent for 3 years running. Your numbers are exceptional, and I’d like to offer you a promotion to senior agent and team lead. It comes with a salary increase, better commission structure, and you’d be managing a small team. Simone felt tears prick her eyes. Really? Really? You’ve earned it? Are you interested? Absolutely. Yes.

Thank you. They shook hands and discussed the details. Her new salary would be 115,000 a year, plus improved commissions. She’d start in the new role at the beginning of next month. As she left his office, Simone felt like she was walking on air. Everything was falling into place. Her life was improving in every way, and Dererick was nowhere in sight.

That evening, she celebrated by ordering her favorite Thai food and watching movies on her couch. her couch in her house with her future looking brighter than it had in years. She posted a subtle update on social media, “New beginnings, new opportunities, grateful for growth.” She didn’t mention the divorce or the promotion specifically, but several friends and colleagues commented with supportive messages.

The next week brought more changes. Her lawyer called to say Dererick had hired an attorney and was trying to fight the divorce terms. He wanted half of the savings account claiming it was marital property regardless of where it came from. He wanted spousal support. He wanted to drag this out. Let him try. Patricia said, “We have documentation showing that 90% of the savings came from your inheritance.

We have proof of his adultery. We have evidence that you’ve been the primary bread winner. No judge is going to give him what he wants.” Sure enough, after Patricia sent Dererick’s lawyer all the evidence, the tone changed quickly. Dererick’s attorney called Patricia directly. My client is willing to settle without going to trial.

He’ll accept 10,000 from the joint savings, his 401k, his vehicle, and his personal property. He’ll wave any claim to the house or spousal support. Patricia relayed this to Simone. It’s a good offer. We could fight for him to get even less, but it would mean going to court and dragging this out for months. This way, you can be done with him quickly.

Simone thought about it. $10,000 seemed like a lot to give him, but on the other hand, she’d have 30,000 left, plus her commission money, plus her new higher salary, and she’d be free of Derek forever. “Let’s take it,” she decided. “I want this over.” The settlement was drawn up and signed within a week.

The divorce would be final in 60 days, as soon as the waiting period ended. Simone felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was almost free. During this time, she hadn’t forgotten about Amber. She’d been waiting for the right moment to send that email to Amber’s employer. One evening, she pulled up the draft she’d prepared weeks ago, reviewed it one more time, and hit send.

The email was anonymous, sent from a newly created account with no identifying information. It simply stated that an employee named Amber Collins had been engaged in an ongoing affair with a married man, had knowingly entered his home while his wife was at work, and had shown poor judgment and character. It included screenshots of emails where Amber acknowledged Dererick’s marriage and expressed no remorse, as well as timestamps showing her arriving at Simone’s address during working hours, suggesting she’d been leaving work early

for these meetings. Simone didn’t know if anything would come of it, but 3 days later, she got her answer. She ran into Brandon, Dererick’s former coworker, at a coffee shop near her office. He recognized her and came over to say hello. Hey, Simone. I heard about you and Derek. I’m really sorry.

Thanks, she said. It’s for the best. Yeah, I guess so. Especially after everything with that Amber woman. Simone’s ears perked up. What about her? Oh, you didn’t hear? She got fired from her job. Something about an ethics violation. Dererick’s been complaining about it, saying it’s not fair. But honestly, if she was messing around with a married guy, what did she expect? Brandon shrugged.

Anyway, I hope you’re doing okay. You deserve better than how Dererick treated you. I am doing okay, Simone said honestly. Better than okay, actually. Thanks for asking. After Brandon left, Simone sat in the coffee shop with a small smile. So, Amber had lost her job. Simone didn’t feel guilty about it. Amber had made her own choices just like Dererick had.

And now they were both facing consequences. As Simone drove home that evening, she thought about how much her life had changed in just 2 months. Two months ago, she’d been a wife who thought she had a happy marriage. Now, she was a soon-to-be divorced woman with a promotion, a big commission, and a fresh start. The pain of Dererick’s betrayal was still there, but it was fading.

She was moving forward. She was rebuilding, and she was doing it on her own terms. That weekend, she did something she’d wanted to do for years, but Dererick had always opposed. She adopted a dog from the local shelter, a three-year-old golden retriever mix named Sunny. Dererick had always said he didn’t want pets, that they were too much work.

But now Simone could do whatever she wanted. Sunny curled up on the couch next to her that first night, and Simone felt more contentment than she’d felt in months. This was her life now. Her house, her dog, her job, her future, and it was going to be wonderful. November arrived with crisp air and colorful leaves. Simone had been divorced for almost a month now.

The final papers had come through and she was officially single again. She kept her married name for professional reasons, but she was considering changing it back to her maiden name eventually. For now, she was just enjoying her freedom. Work had been incredible. Her new role as team lead was challenging, but rewarding. She was mentoring three junior agents and loving it.

Her commission from the big deal had cleared, and she’d used some of it to update her house. New furniture for the living room, a fresh coat of paint in the bedroom, a completely redesigned master bathroom. She was making the space truly hers, erasing every trace of Derek. She’d also started taking care of herself again. She joined a gym and started working out three times a week.

She’d gotten her hair done, tried new makeup, bought new clothes. She felt good about herself for the first time in a long time. Not because she was trying to impress anyone, but because she wanted to. Because she deserved to feel beautiful and strong and confident. Through mutual friends, she’d heard updates about Derek.

He’d moved into a small apartment across town. He was struggling financially because his rent was higher than what he’d contributed when living in Simone’s house. He’d been asking friends for loans. He was apparently miserable. Simone felt no sympathy. He’d made his choices. Now he was living with them. One afternoon, she was at a networking event for local real estate professionals when she ran into someone unexpected.

Amber’s former boss from Family First Insurance. Simone recognized him from the company website. that she’d looked up when researching Amber. His name was Richard and he was in his 60s with gray hair and a friendly demeanor. Simone Turner, right? He said, shaking her hand. I’ve heard great things about your work.

You closed that big downtown deal last month. I did, she confirmed. Thank you. They chatted about business for a few minutes, then Richard said something that caught her attention. You know, we had an unfortunate situation at my company recently. An employee who’d been with us for 3 years was terminated for ethics violations. It was disappointing.

We really try to maintain high standards, you know. Simone nodded, keeping her expression neutral. That must have been difficult. It was, especially because the evidence was so clear. Someone sent us documentation showing she’d been engaging in inappropriate behavior that reflected poorly on the company.

We had no choice but to let her go. He shook his head. The thing is, she’s trying to sue us for wrongful termination now. Says she was fired without cause, but we have everything documented. We’ll win, but it’s still a hassle. I’m sure you’ll handle it appropriately, Simone said diplomatically. We will. Anyway, I didn’t mean to get into all that.

I just wanted to introduce myself. Maybe we can work together on some commercial insurance needs for your clients. They exchanged business cards and Richard moved on to talk to other people. Simone felt a strange mix of emotions. She’d caused Amber to lose her job, and now Amber was trying to fight back through legal action.

Simone didn’t regret sending that email, but she also recognized that her actions had consequences beyond just satisfying her need for revenge. But then again, Amber had made her choices. She’d known Dererick was married. She participated in the affair willingly. She’d shown no remorse. The email Simone sent had simply brought Amber’s actions to light.

What her employer did with that information was their decision, not Simone’s. That evening, Simone was at home cooking dinner when her phone rang. It was a number she didn’t recognize, but she answered anyway. Hello, Simone. It’s Dererick’s mom, Patricia. Simone’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t spoken to Dererick’s mother since before the divorce. Hi, Patricia.

How are you? I’m fine, honey. I’m calling because I wanted to talk to you about Derek. He’s been having a really hard time since the divorce. He’s lost weight. He seems depressed and I’m worried about him. I’m sorry to hear that, Simone said carefully. I know what happened between you two. He told me about the affair and I want you to know that I think what he did was wrong, terribly wrong, but he’s my son and I’m asking if you’d consider giving him another chance.

He’s truly sorry. He wants to make things right. Simone took a deep breath. Patricia, I appreciate you calling and I understand that you love your son, but I’m not taking him back. What he did wasn’t a one-time mistake. It was months of calculated betrayal. He made those choices and now he has to live with the consequences.

I’ve moved on and you should encourage him to do the same. There was silence on the other end. Then Patricia said quietly, “I understand. I had to try. I hope you’re doing well, Simone. You’re a good woman. You deserve better than what my son gave you. Thank you. Take care of yourself, Patricia.” After hanging up, Simone felt a pang of sadness.

She’d always liked Dererick’s mother, but she couldn’t let anyone, not even someone she cared about, make her doubt her decision. Dererick had shown his true character. She’d be foolish to give him another chance. The following week, Simone was leaving work when she saw Dererick sitting in his truck in the parking lot. Her heart jumped.

What was he doing here? She walked to her car quickly, but he got out and approached her. Simone, wait. Please, I just want to talk. You shouldn’t be here, Derek. This is my workplace. I know I’m sorry, but you won’t answer my calls or texts. I didn’t know how else to reach you. We have nothing to talk about.

The divorce is final. We’re done. But we don’t have to be. I made a huge mistake. I know that now. I’ve been going to therapy. I’m working on myself. I want to prove to you that I can be better. Simone unlocked her car. Good. You should be working on yourself, but not for me. For you.

Whatever you do with your life from here on out is not my concern anymore. Don’t say that. We had seven good years together. That has to mean something. It did mean something until you threw it away. Goodbye, Derek. She got in her car and drove away, watching him in her rearview mirror, standing in the parking lot looking lost.

She called Patricia Patterson as soon as she got home. Derek showed up at my work today. Did he threaten you or make you feel unsafe? No, nothing like that. He just wanted to talk, but I don’t want him showing up places trying to contact me. I’ll send a formal letter to his attorney stating that any further contact attempts could be considered harassment.

If he shows up again, call the police and document it. Simone agreed. She also called her office building security and gave them Dererick’s description, asking them to keep an eye out and not allow him access to her floor. She wasn’t taking any chances. A few days later, she heard through a mutual friend that Dererick had been written up at work for poor performance.

Apparently, he’d been distracted, missing sales targets, and showing up late. He was on thin ice with his boss. Simone felt a twinge of something. Not quite guilt, but close. Had she destroyed his life? Was this all her fault? No. She shut down that thought immediately. She hadn’t destroyed anything. Dererick had done that himself.

She’d simply refused to go down with him. There was a difference. As November continued, Simone felt herself healing more each day. The pain of the betrayal was still there, but it was becoming background noise instead of all-consuming agony. She was laughing more, sleeping better, enjoying her life. She’d started going out with friends again, something she’d stopped doing during her marriage because Dererick never wanted to go anywhere.

She reconnected with old college friends she’d lost touch with. She joined a book club at the local library. She started taking Sunny to the dog park every weekend. She was building a new life, a better life, and it felt amazing. One evening, she was at the dog park when Sunny ran off to play with another dog.

The owner came over to watch them play, and Simone noticed it was a man about her age, tall and fit with an easy smile. “Your dog is beautiful,” he said. “Thank you. So is yours.” His dog was a husky with bright blue eyes. “I’m Isaiah,” he extended his hand. “Simone,” she shook it, feeling a small flutter in her stomach. “He was handsome.

really handsome. They chatted for a while about their dogs, their jobs, their favorite spots in the city. Isaiah was an architect, and when Simone mentioned she was in commercial real estate, they discovered they’d actually worked on the same project a few years ago, though they’d never met in person. “Small world,” Isaiah said with a grin.

“Very small.” They exchanged numbers before leaving, agreeing to meet up at the dog park again. Simone drove home with a smile on her face. She wasn’t ready to date yet. But it was nice to know there were good men out there. Men who didn’t lie and cheat. Men who might actually be worth her time someday.

That night, she looked at herself in the mirror and liked what she saw. A strong, independent, successful woman who’d survived betrayal and come out stronger. A woman who didn’t need a man to complete her, but might one day choose to let someone into her life again. A woman who was finally truly happy. Dererick had tried to break her, but she’d rebuilt herself into something even better, and that was the sweetest revenge of all.

December brought cold weather and holiday decorations throughout the city. Simone was planning to spend Christmas with her mother this year, the first holiday in years where she wouldn’t have to split time between families or compromise on plans. She was looking forward to it. She’d been texting with Isaiah regularly since they’d met at the dog park.

They’d met up a few more times, always casual, always friendly. He knew she was recently divorced and wasn’t pushing for anything more. It was comfortable and easy, which was exactly what Simone needed right now. Work had been busy with end ofear deals and planning for the next quarter. Simone’s team was performing well, and her boss had already hinted at a possible bonus.

Everything in her life was finally stable and positive. She’d gone weeks without thinking about Derek or the affair. She was truly moving forward. Then, on a Friday afternoon in mid December, everything came crashing back. Simone was at her office when her assistant bust her. There’s a woman here to see you. She says it’s urgent.

Her name is Amber Collins. Simone’s blood went cold. Amber was here again. What could she possibly want now? Tell her I’m busy and can’t see her. I did. She says she’ll wait as long as it takes. She seems upset. Simone side. She could call security and have Amber removed. But part of her was curious and part of her wanted to face this woman one more time and put an end to whatever drama she was trying to create.

Fine, send her in. Amber walked into Simone’s office looking very different from the last time she’d been there. Her hair was shorter, messier. She’d lost weight and had dark circles under her eyes. She was wearing jeans and an old sweater, not the polished outfit Simone had seen in the videos. She looked rough. What do you want, Amber? Simone asked coldly.

I need to talk to you. It’s important. We have nothing to talk about. Please. Amber sat down without being invited. I know you hate me. I know I deserve it. But I need you to know the truth about Derek. I know everything I need to know about Derek. We’re divorced. It’s over. Whatever he’s doing now is none of my business. But that’s the thing.

He’s not okay. He’s falling apart. Simone, he’s drinking heavily. He lost his job last week. He’s been calling me constantly, begging me to take him back, but I won’t. I can’t. He’s obsessed. And why are you telling me this? What do you expect me to do about it? Amber leaned forward. I think he needs help. Real help. Professional help.

And you’re the only person who might be able to reach him. Simone laughed bitterly. You want me to help him after what he did to me? After what you both did? I know it’s a lot to ask. It’s not a lot to ask. It’s completely ridiculous. Dererick is not my responsibility anymore. If he needs help, he can get it himself.

Or you can help him since you were so eager to be with him while we were married. I ended things with him months ago. Right after you confronted me, I realized what we did was wrong. I’ve tried to move on, but he won’t let me. He shows up at my apartment. He sends me hundreds of texts. He’s scaring me, Simone. Then call the police and file a restraining order. Don’t come to me.

I’m not his keeper. Amber’s eyes filled with tears. I lost my job because of you. You sent that email to my boss. You ruined my career. No, Simone said firmly. You ruined your career by making terrible choices. I just made sure those choices had consequences. You knew Derek was married. You participated in the affair willingly. You showed no remorse.

What did you think would happen? I thought we could all move past it. I thought after the divorce, everyone would just move on. But you had to be vindictive. You had to destroy my life, too. Simone stood up. Get out of my office. Get out right now before I call security. Simone, please. I said, get out. Simone’s voice was loud enough that her assistant peaked in to make sure everything was okay.