He Paid Me to Disappear / Chapter 3: The Reckoning Begins
He Paid Me to Disappear

He Paid Me to Disappear

Author: Rebecca Anderson

Chapter 3: The Reckoning Begins

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A month later, I got the thirty million and the divorce decree. Rachel was all smiles. She leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “Really, thanks for taking care of Adam all these years.” Her eyes sparkled with pride. “Now he’s back where he belongs.”

She couldn’t help herself, her words dripping with satisfaction. Her perfume lingered, sweet and overpowering. I just smiled, letting her think she’d won.

She turned and walked into the courthouse with Adam again. I let out a soft laugh, tucked the divorce certificate into my bag, and turned the corner.

My laughter echoed down the empty hallway. I slipped the papers into my designer tote, the weight of them oddly comforting. The world felt lighter—like I’d finally set down a load I’d been carrying for years.

A black Escalade waited by the curb. Attorney Brooks stood by the door, and when he saw me, he gave a small nod and opened it wide. “Ms. Lin, all the documents are ready.”

The Escalade gleamed in the afternoon sun, its windows dark and glossy. Brooks was all business, crisp and professional. He held the door open, and I slid inside, the leather seats cool against my back. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I was in charge again.

Brooks handed me a laptop, and the PowerPoint began to play. Photos and transfer records flickered across the screen. Turns out those two had hooked up at a college reunion six months ago. They were shameless—at the office, in the car, even in the marital bed I’d shared with Adam.

The evidence was damning—screenshots, receipts, timestamps. I scrolled through it, face unreadable. Every picture was a tiny betrayal, a piece of the puzzle I hadn’t wanted to see. The worst was the hotel receipt, dated the night before our anniversary. I closed my eyes, took a slow breath, and moved on.

No wonder Adam had become so useless these last six months. That explained everything…

The pieces finally fell into place. The late nights, the missed calls, the cold shoulder in bed. It all made sense now. I felt a strange sense of closure, like finishing a book I’d been dragging through for too long.

Just thinking about it made my stomach twist. Thankfully, I got myself checked—everything was fine.

I made a silent promise—never again. Never again would I let anyone make me feel small or question my worth. I was stronger than this, and I’d prove it.

Using my money to fund his first love—Adam had some nerve.

The audacity almost made me laugh. All those gifts, all those secret meetups—paid for with my sweat and tears. If karma was real, Adam was about to get a crash course.

Brooks pushed up his glasses and pulled up another file. “One more thing... The company’s accounts for the past three quarters show some irregularities. Several large sums are missing, all linked to projects signed by Mr. Whitaker.”

Brooks’ tone was grave as he scrolled through spreadsheets, red numbers jumping off the screen. I leaned in, eyes narrowing. This wasn’t about love anymore—this was business, and I was ready to play hardball.

I looked out the window. At the courthouse entrance, Adam was slipping a wedding ring onto Rachel’s finger. I smirked and leaned back in the seat. “Let’s go. Time to settle the score.”

The sight of them, all smiles and promises, was almost poetic. I watched for a moment, then turned away, mind already on my next move. I was done being the victim. It was my turn to write the ending.

Let them celebrate; the real reckoning hadn’t even started.

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