Five years ago, my life took an unexpected turn. I was married to Kevin, a charming and successful businessman. Everything seemed perfect, or so I thought, until the day he mistakenly sent me a text meant for his mistress.
That text shattered my world. “I hate her, Jess,” it read. “I hate Bridget, with every fiber of my being. She can’t even give me a baby.”
Yes, he was talking about me. I’m infertile, something he knew before we even got married. I felt the blood drain from my face as I read those words over and over. The man I loved, the man I thought loved me, had been cheating on me and resented me for something beyond my control.
Of course, I couldn’t forgive him, and we decided to part ways. By the time our divorce was finalized, Kevin had built an impressive portfolio: a company, three commercial properties, and a beautiful lake house.
In the settlement, I got half of everything, including the apartment and the lake house. Additionally, I became a silent partner in his company, receiving returns twice a year.
Kevin probably thought it was his way of easing his guilt. Needless to say, I didn’t need to work anymore, but I loved my career too much to stop.
Soon after, he married Jessica, the woman he’d cheated on me with. I tried to move on, blocking out anything related to them. That was until a month ago. Out of nowhere, I received a message from an unknown number.
“Hi. It’s Jess. Kevin’s new wife. I need your help. I’m begging you. Please, answer. Only you can save me.”
I stared at my phone, my heart racing. Her messages were so desperate that I felt compelled to respond.
“What do you want?” I typed back.
“Please, meet me. Tomorrow. Stevens Point at 2 p.m. And Kevin can’t know,” she replied almost immediately.
The next day, I found myself sitting in a quiet corner of Stevens Point, torn between curiosity and discomfort. Jess walked in, looking pale and drawn. She spotted me and hurried over, her eyes scanning the room nervously.
“Thank you for coming, Bridget,” she said, sitting down quickly. “I didn’t know who else to turn to.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant with Kevin’s baby.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised but not entirely shocked. “And?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Kevin doesn’t want the baby. He told me I had to get rid of it. He says the divorce cost him too much money and he can’t afford a child right now.”
A wave of anger and pity washed over me. This woman, the one who had been a part of the destruction of my marriage, was now sitting in front of me, desperate and scared.
“I’m sorry, but what do you expect me to do about it?” I asked, genuinely perplexed.
“Please, I’m begging you,” she said, her voice shaking. “Maybe if you give back some of the money you received from the divorce settlement, he’d change his mind. I don’t know what else to do.”
I was stunned. This wasn’t what I expected. “Jess, it’s not that simple. And I think you’ve forgotten that he left me for you.”
She looked at me, tears streaming down her face. “Please, Bridget. Help me.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said finally. “But I can’t promise anything.”
Jess nodded, looking slightly relieved. “Thank you so much.”
I left the restaurant with my mind spinning. As I drove home, I couldn’t shake the thought: Kevin was manipulating her just like he had done to me for years.
She was blind to it, and I couldn’t let her suffer the same way I did. Despite the pain she caused me, I felt an odd need to protect her. And more than that, I wanted to teach Kevin a real lesson.
I called Jess the next day.
“Hey, it’s Bridget. I’ve been thinking about your situation, and I want to help you.”
“Oh, thank you, Bridget!” she exclaimed, relief in her voice.
“But not in the way you want me to,” I continued. “I know this will break your heart, but Kevin doesn’t love you. If he did, he wouldn’t have asked you to get rid of the baby. It’s not about money, Jess; it’s about his priorities. So, if he’s making you choose, at least make a wise decision.”
“Bridget, I… I don’t know what to say,” Jess replied, her voice breaking. “But you’re right. I can’t let anything happen to my baby. Please tell me what you have in mind.”
“Perfect. I think you should move into my lake house temporarily while we figure things out. It’s safe, and Kevin won’t know where you are.”
She hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I assured her. “It’s the best way to keep you and the baby safe. Trust me.”
After a long pause, she agreed. “Okay, I’ll do it. Thank you so much, Bridget.”
A few days later, Jess moved into the lake house. It felt surreal seeing her there, but I knew it was the right thing to do.
Once she was settled, I contacted my lawyer, Mr. Fields, and outlined my plan. “We need to draft a letter for Kevin. It’s time to make things serious.”
Mr. Fields nodded with a slight smile. “That’s a solid plan. It will definitely get his attention.”
Here’s what the letter said:
Dear Mr. Kevin Michaelson,
I am writing to you on behalf of my client, Ms. Jessica Sanders, regarding her current situation and forthcoming actions. This letter serves to formally notify you of the following:
Ms. Sanders has moved out of the marital residence and is initiating divorce proceedings against you.
Any attempts to contact her directly will be considered harassment and will result in immediate legal action.
Additionally, please be advised that should you contest the divorce or attempt to intimidate or manipulate Ms. Sanders in any manner, we will have no choice but to disclose your demands to terminate her pregnancy to the public. Such actions will undoubtedly have severe repercussions for your personal and professional reputation.
We urge you to consider the gravity of this situation and to cooperate fully to ensure an amicable resolution.
Sincerely,
Mr. Richard Fields
Fields & Associates
A few days later, Kevin received the letter. As expected, he called me immediately, furious.
“Bridget, what the hell is going on? Where’s Jess? Why are you involved?” he yelled into the phone.
I took a deep breath, keeping my voice calm. “I know everything, Kevin. And Jess is safe. Your threats and manipulation have no power over her anymore.”
There was silence on the other end, followed by a low growl. “You think you can just take her away from me?”
“I’m not taking her away, Kevin. She’s leaving because she wants to. And if you try to contest the divorce or come after her, well, then you know what will happen.”
There was a long silence before he hung up. I knew I had rattled him, but this was just the beginning. Next, I’d hit him where it hurt most: his wallet.
I met with Mr. Fields again. “We need to initiate an audit of Kevin’s company,” I told him. “I’ve suspected financial irregularities for a while, and it’s time we bring them to light.”
Mr. Fields nodded with determination. “We’ll get on it right away.”
The audit caused a massive stir in Kevin’s business. His assets were temporarily frozen, and the attention from investors and partners was less than favorable. Kevin called me again, this time sounding desperate.
“Bridget, this has gone too far,” he said. “You’re ruining me.”
I felt a small pang of satisfaction but kept my voice steady. “You did this to yourself, Kevin. Maybe next time, you’ll think twice before manipulating and hurting people.”
Meanwhile, I helped Jess file for divorce and secured her an excellent lawyer, known for championing women’s rights. We launched a campaign to gather support from women’s groups, highlighting her story of manipulation and control. The media picked up on it, and Kevin’s image was tarnished.
One evening, Jess and I sat by the lake, watching the sunset. “I can’t believe how much my life has changed in such a short time,” she said, her voice a mix of relief and sadness.
“You’re stronger than you know, Jess,” I replied. “And you’re doing the right thing for yourself and your baby.”
A few weeks later, the audit results arrived, revealing significant financial misconduct in Kevin’s company. The news spread like wildfire, and his life began to unravel. His business was in shambles, his reputation ruined, and he now faced a costly divorce.
Jess, on the other hand, found her footing, and our friendship grew stronger. She kept the baby, and I supported her every step of the way.
One day, as we sat in the living room, she turned to me, her eyes filled with gratitude. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Bridget. You’ve been my rock.”
I smiled, warmth flooding my chest. “We women have to stick together,” I said. “And sometimes, karma just needs a little push.”
Kevin learned that lesson the hard way. He lost everything: his business, his reputation, and his control over Jess. Meanwhile, I found closure and satisfaction, knowing