The ExShe finally realized that letting go of the past meant embracing the unexpected love blooming right outside her front door.

She couldn’t have changed like that! I stood frozen in front of the sleek glass of the highend restaurant, my throat suddenly dry when I saw my exwife.

No, that cant be her. Ill never believe that Emily could look so different. I whispered to myself, glancing furtively at the blonde woman perched by the window, typing thoughtfully on her laptop. A waiter placed a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a raspberrystrawberry tart on the table.

How does she look so flawless? And where did she get that designer bracelet? It must have cost a fortune. I clenched my jaw, stepping back so she wouldnt notice me.

***

James and Emily had met six years earlier. I had just left university and secured a graduate position with a wellknown construction firm. My career took off quickly.

One afternoon at an industry trade show, I struck up conversation with a pleasant girl manning a booth.

Fancy a coffee rather than wandering among these excavators? I suggested cheerfully.

She smiled and we started talking. Emily, quiet and friendly, caught my eye straight away.

Exactly the kind of woman I need. She never argues, she agrees with everything. Shell make the perfect, obedient wife. I thought, a grin spreading.

Shes a bit on the heavier side but a gym membership could fix that. And if she ever gets carried away after the kids, Ill have a side lover. I handed her a cup of coffee, halfjoking.

Later, as we stepped out onto the pavement, I asked, What brings you to the show?

I write short stories and hope to become a screenwriter, Emily replied, her blue eyes shining with a shy smile.

I just finished my literature degree. Im still finding my footing, but rent still needs to be paid, I replied.

Brilliant. She has no connections, no family. From this plain mouse I could shape anything: cooking, looking after the house, raising children, obeying me without question, I mused, already bragging to anyone whod listen.

***

I bought a coffee from a stall across the street, perched on a bench, and kept watching Emily. When she emerged onto the street again, I could hardly recognise her. She glided in a mink coat, her stride effortless. Three years had not softened her transformation. Then she slipped into a sleek sports car, and I was left speechless.

She must have landed a rich husband. Theres no other explanation. I downed the hot coffee in one gulp, gripping the cup as if it might shatter.

Emily drove off in an unknown direction.

That evening I lay awake for hours. After our split, Emily had blocked me on every social network. Unable to resist, I created a new account just to stalk her photos.

Jealousy, envy, rage I downed half a litre of whisky and felt the whole spectrum of bitterness.

You couldnt have changed like this You were nothing, no one knew your name. I took you in with no money, no flat, no looks Where do these glamorous pictures come from? I muttered, watching her pose elegantly in worldclass hotels, flaunting pricey handbags and jewellery.

Shes lost at least ten stone where do those perfect curves come from? Plastic surgery? A gym obsession? I clenched my phone, anger bubbling.

***

The next morning a snippet of a conversation with Emily floated back to me.

Nonsense. Whos reading this? I shook my head after skimming her latest short story.

Taste is personal, Emily replied meekly. I already have admirers of my work.

Admirers? I smirked. Perhaps the brainless enjoy such drivel.

James, why are you like this? Her voice trembled. Weve been together a year, yet you cant accept that I might have my own interests. Why demean what matters to me? Im not criticizing your job, which consumes you day after day.

Exactly, I snapped. If youd help me with the business, Id spend far less time in the office.

Thats an idea, I leapt from my chair. Enough of the useless writing. From now on youll aid me instead.

You expect me to stop writing? Emily froze by the window, shock evident.

Thats right, Emily. Playtime is over. If you want to keep this family and improve our life, youll quit the idle scribbling and start pulling your weight. I glared.

But my stories are my soul I cant just bury my lifes work, tears welled in her eyes.

I dont care. No one needs it but you. Right now youre useless as a person. So start being useful. Every day Ill give you a list of tasks; youll do them for me, I declared.

I dont understand any of this Why are you taking away what matters to me? Emily sobbed, turning away.

Ungrateful. Ive supported you for a year. You live in my flat, I buy you presents, Ive taken you to the seaside. Either help me or go nowhere, I snapped. Nobodys forcing you, if you dont like it, the door is right there.

Emily stayed.

Helping with work, fine. She wiped her cheeks, shut the computer, and never wrote another story under my roof.

***

A year later Id built a network of contacts and amassed capital, partly from selling my late mothers cottage. I launched my own construction firm. From dawn till dusk Emily handled paperwork, prepared presentations, supervised crews, and arranged my business meetings.

Another year passed and Id completed a suburban housing development, earning a tidy profit. I liked everything about my life with Emilyexcept her appearance. Under relentless pressure, she turned to sweets and quickly gained weight.

Where am I supposed to go with this piglike woman? Im ashamed to take her out. She was already a bit plump before the wedding, now shes obscene, I complained to a mate over pints at the local pub.

Yeah, its a sad sight, my friend replied, scrolling through a photo.

Time to bench her, then I finished my beer, opened a dating app on my phone. I thought Id get a side fling after Emily had a child, but shes become downright repellent. Disgusting.

A replacement turned up fast. The athletic Sophie agreed to meet me on our first date and, later, we slipped into a bathroom of a trendy London restaurant.

Sophie was far more demanding than Emily.

You love how I look, dont you? she whispered into my ear in a plush flat overlooking the city lights, a place Id booked for secret rendezvous.

Of course, I love it, I replied, trailing a featherlight touch across her back.

Ill need about threethousand pounds for hair, nails, a cosmetician, gym membership Sophie listed her expenses. I just admired her beauty, already knowing I could afford the next level of success.

Within a month Sophie had eclipsed Emily in my thoughts. I rarely returned home, where Emily waited each evening.

I made pasta with your favourite pesto sauce I even made the sauce myself, just as you like, Emily greeted me after a weeks break with Sophie. How was the business trip?

Fine, I grunted.

I wont eat, I grimaced.

Lets get back to work. How are things progressing? To me, Emily had become just another employee. Though she worked for free, I demanded more from her than from any other staff.

A month later I could no longer bear seeing Emily at the office. My own business started to falter. I spent less time on projects, my personal expenses ballooned, and contracts slipped away. Partners withdrew.

In the midst of all the setbacks I blamed Emily and stormed out, ensuring she got nothing in the divorce. In a single day I had her out the door.

Three years later I could barely believe my eyes.

***

The geotags on her photos showed she now lived in a leafy suburb of Manchester, with a wealthy man, no doubt. I sat at my kitchen table, musing, I have a meeting with an investor nearby. Her house is on the way Ill pop in, have a look Something feels off. A plain mouse cant just blossom into a rose, I sipped my tea.

Suddenly a message pinged from Sophie, whod offshored herself to the Maldives.

James, we should break up Ive met someone else. Nothing personal. It was a great experience. My friend will collect my things, she wrote.

And you expect me to foot the bill for that trip? You think you can just I fumed, my hands shaking as I typed a furious reply, hurling the nastiest insults I knew.

James, youre emotional now. I get it. When youre ready to accept the inevitable we can talk calmly. Ill block you for a while. Drama ruins my complexion, Sophie sang in a voice note and blocked my number.

***

After the investor turned me down, in a foul mood and with no clear purpose, I drove to the upscale estate where Emily now lived. After a few hours in the car and a pack of cigarettes, a gleaming limousine pulled up to the gate.

James, what are you doing here? Emily asked, bewildered, as I knocked three times.

Just wanted to see how youre doing, I muttered.

Emilys face tightened. I wanted a glimpse of her new life, so I eased my tone.

Im actually here to apologise. Ive realised a lot while youve been gone It all came out wrong, I stumbled over my words.

Wrong? she smirked, shaking her head. You banned me from writing. I worked for you for two years without pay, cooked, cleaned, kept the house, believed in you when everyone said youd fail Then you threw me out in a day.

Fine, James, apologise away, Emily sighed, wrapping her arms around herself.

Maybe you could let me in? Its awkward, I said, eyeing the ground and nudging a small stone.

I might She didnt hide a flicker of triumph; perhaps she relished the thought of rubbing her success in my face after the way Id treated her.

Look at that spacious living room, I said, envy dripping. Whos paying the mortgage? Hard work wont stack bricks for you.

No one pays me, James I bought everything myself, Emily replied, moving toward the kitchen.

Lying I shouted, following her.

And what are you surprised about? Think Im not worthy of my dreams? Emily placed a glass of water on the table.

How I turned the glass over, baffled. How did you change your looks so dramatically? How did you earn so much? I asked, voice shaking.

I went back to writing, actually to screenplays. I penned a couple of pilots for film studios. They thought my work was rubbish, Emily said, adjusting her fringe.

Today Im one of the countrys most recognised screenwriters. My series and films run on the main channels, she added modestly.

If I recall, you said you were here to apologise, Emily said, sitting opposite me.

Theres a saying that the best revenge is to outshine your enemies. In that moment I felt crushed; fury surged anew. The breakup with Sophie, the investors rebuff, Emilys meteoric riseall demanded an outlet.

You were a grey mouse, ugly, talentless, without connections or a flat. All that youve achieved is thanks to me. I put you on the right track, taught you life, I whispered. Half of your success and money belongs to me.

James, thats hardly an apology, Emily laughed. The only thing you gave me was a glimpse of how despicable people can be.

Youll get nothing from me, and its time you left, she stood, pointing to the door.

You didnt get the memo, you rat. Open the safe or hand over the cash, or you wont leave alive, I snapped, losing all restraint, seizing her elbow and dragging her toward the lounge.

Let go, it hurts! she shrieked.

A grey mouse forever stays grey, I growled, shoving her onto the sofa.

Speak quickly, wheres the safe? Wheres the money? Or you wont get out, I grabbed a log from the fireplace, advancing.

Single women keep cats Emily rubbed her elbow, stared into my eyes and smiled. But Im not like every other woman.

I dont care what you are, Emily If you dont hand over half the money now, Ill smash you, I hissed, brandishing the log, blood flashing in my eyes.

Youll regret that, James Because instead of cats Ive got dogs, she replied, still smiling, glancing behind me. You havent met Buster and Rex yet.

I turned. Two massive Dobermans stood a metre away, eyes fixed on me. Busters slobbery tongue dripped onto the cold marble floor; Rex simply stared, already understanding my intent.

Buster, Rex, stop this! Emily shouted.

If anyone had seen my face at that moment, theyd have witnessed my downfall, my swallowed pride, the pleading look I threw at her.

The dogs were starving. Emily had been about to feed them when I burst in. Buster and Rex were now unstoppable. I tried to flee, but the hallway gave me only half a metre before the dogs closed in. The scene erupted into a chaotic clash, police lights flashing, stitches everywhere.

Security cameras in Emilys house recorded everything. I received a conditional prison sentence and never again found my way back to her world.

These days Emily is thriving. Rumour has it shes married a talented director, is happy, and expecting a child.

They say every successful woman has a man who broke her heart, and the sweetest revenge is to prove you can live without him. Whether thats true in our world is for you to decide. One thing is clear: if you truly believe in yourself, youll get there.