Eight years ago, my husband Brad and his first love Seraphina were caught in a hurricane abroad. Brad survived; Seraphina was declared dead. We built a new life together—until Seraphina returned. To make amends, Brad tricked me into divorce and moved abroad with her, then faked his death to sever ties. I played along, filing his death certificate. The shock killed my frail father-in-law. With no heir, my mother-in-law liquidated the family business—$4 billion—and gave it all to me. When Brad returned, begging his mother to recognize him, her reply was icy: "My son is dead." 1 I was scrolling online when I came across a user's post: “Eight years ago, my first love and I were traveling abroad when a hurricane hit. We both thought the other had died. Now, we’ve found each other again. I’m married, but she never moved on, never married anyone else, waiting for me. I know in my heart that I still love her. What should I do?” The comment section exploded, with thousands of replies: “To find each other after eight years? That’s fate! She waited for you for eight whole years. You can’t let her down this time!” “Dude, don’t feel guilty. The fact that you’re even posting this means you already know the answer…” “Here’s a plan for you: trick your wife into a divorce, get a new identity, and move abroad with your first love. Fake your death to get away clean.” … Reading this, I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to people’s sense of right and wrong. The man’s story was chillingly similar to Brad’s. I couldn't help but put myself in his wife's shoes. I typed out a reply in the comments: “So what about his current wife?” I never expected my simple question to unleash a torrent of ridicule from the other users. The next day, I had all but forgotten about the post. But then, at the dinner table, Brad suddenly made an announcement. “Dad, Mom, Milana… I have something to tell you all. I’ve been accepted into a program with TotalEnergies in France.” “It’s one of the top energy companies in the world. I want to go for a three-year intensive training program. I can learn so much and bring that knowledge back to take our family business to the next level.” My father-in-law’s face beamed with pride. “That’s wonderful news!” “Son, if this is what you want, the whole family will support you. A man needs ambition!” Finally, Brad got to the point. “But…” “The company has a very strict policy. To ensure employees are fully focused, they only recruit unmarried individuals. I don’t meet the criteria…” “If I want to go, Milana and I… we’ll have to get a temporary divorce.” A cold shiver ran down my spine. The post from last night flashed in my mind, and with it, the story of Brad’s past. … My father-in-law saw my reaction and his expression turned serious. “Son, if you’ve truly thought this through, then I fully support you. This is an opportunity to better yourself.” Then, he patted my shoulder. “Milana, don’t you worry. You’ve given so much to this family over the years. Your son and you will be protected.” “After the divorce, I will transfer half of the company’s shares into your name.” Brad panicked. “Dad, we’re family! Is that really necessary?” “I’ll be back eventually, and Milana and I will remarry. We don’t need to do all that, do we?” My sensible father-in-law slammed his hand on the table. “Enough!” “Either you do as I say, or you give up this opportunity!” At his words, Brad’s face darkened. A tiny sliver of hope remained in my heart. I prayed that the post I’d seen hadn’t been written by him. After dinner, while Brad was in the shower, I picked up his phone. I had to know if he was the one who wrote that post. But he’d changed his lock screen password. I tried a few times, but it was no use. When he got out of the shower, he snatched his phone and began typing furtively. A moment later, he posted again, sharing the entire conversation from our dinner table in the comments section of that same thread. His main concern, it was clear, was my father-in-law’s promise to give me fifty percent of the company. The comment section erupted once more: “Are you stupid? He’s your dad. Once you’re settled with your first love and you come clean, who’s he going to side with? You, or the old ball and chain at home?” “Guy above me is right. Stage a big fight with your family. Have them pretend to liquidate the company and give all the money to her. Once you get the shares back, it’ll all be yours in the end!” “And while you’re abroad, your wife becomes a free live-in nurse for your parents. Then, when the time is right, you kick her out with nothing. It’s the perfect plan!” … A wide, ugly smile spread across Brad’s face as he eagerly replied to the users offering him their twisted advice. I created a burner account and left a comment: “You’re plotting against the woman you married. Aren’t you afraid of karma?” My comment was immediately buried under a wave of scorn: “LOL, you only live once. You gotta do what makes you happy!” “What century are you living in, still believing in that true love crap? This guy’s playing it smart. We should all take notes. Bro, we’re waiting for your good news!” … Beside me, Brad, his face alight with excitement, had no idea that I already knew everything. 2 Brad was incredibly eager to get things moving. The very next morning, he took me to City Hall to file for divorce. On the way, he kept whispering sweet nothings in my ear—how we were only separating on paper, how his heart would always be with me. I nodded along, playing the part, but in my mind, his words were nothing but the pathetic whining of a dog. The law required a one-month mandatory waiting period. During that month, Brad was a model husband. He showered me with attention, became more involved at home, as if he was terrified I would change my mind. That's how marriage works, isn't it? When one person gives unconditionally, filling the home with love, life feels sweet. For the past eight years, that person had been me. But I knew this current sweetness was a performance. He had his secret agenda, and I was simply playing along. Brad's sudden change in behavior earned him high praise from my in-laws. “Our son is such a good man, a good husband, and a good father. He knows he’s leaving, and he wants to leave us with the best impression.” “Seeing you two so in love makes us feel better about this ‘fake’ divorce. Three years isn’t that long. No matter how hard it gets, you two just have to hold on.” “After the hardship, a brighter future is waiting.” … A month flew by. When we walked out of City Hall for the second time, our marriage, our so-called "divorce in name only," was no longer protected by law. He struggled to suppress a triumphant grin, forcing a look of sorrow as he kissed my forehead. “Darling, this divorce is just a formality. Our love won’t change.” “I had no choice. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You understand, right?” I feigned heartbreak, dabbing at my eyes. “Go, and don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything at home. You just take care of yourself.” With the divorce papers in hand, he couldn't wait to leave. His mind was already filled with fantasies of a wonderful new life with his first love. That very evening, he and Seraphina were on a flight out of the country. Our whole family went to see him off at the airport, and that’s when I saw her. Seraphina. Brad, afraid I’d get the wrong idea, explained that she had also been accepted into the program and that they were just colleagues traveling together. He specifically told me not to overthink it. Seraphina was tall and striking, with delicate features that bore a passing resemblance to a classic Hollywood starlet. No wonder Brad was willing to abandon his wife, his child, and his perfectly happy life to run away with her. About a week later, Brad’s social media account was updated. The picture was of two marriage certificates. He and Seraphina had already gotten married abroad. “Shoutout to my bros for the advice. With your blessings, I’m going to be truly happy now.” Brad called home every day to check in. And every time, my in-laws would end the call with a sigh, wishing the days would pass faster so our family could be whole again. But I knew this was all just the prelude to his grand finale: his faked death. 3 Sure enough, three months later, the daily phone call from Brad never came. My mother-in-law paced anxiously. “That boy… he promised to call every single day.” “What could have happened…?” My father-in-law waved a dismissive hand. “He’s at a top company. It’s natural he’d be working overtime, learning as much as he can.” I remained silent, my face a blank mask. Inside, I thought, The plan has begun. For a whole week, it was as if Brad had vanished from the face of the earth. Not a single call. My in-laws were beside themselves with worry. I feigned concern, but deep down, I felt nothing. Another week passed. Then, I received an email from France. I read the English on the screen fluently. It was a death notice from TotalEnergies. It stated that due to a difference in the electrical systems between France and our country, Mr. Brad Vance had made a fatal error during an operation and had been electrocuted. They expressed their deepest condolences and promised to buy him the finest burial plot in France, along with a compensation of one million dollars for our family. A million dollars was nothing to a man like Brad. I could tell at a glance that the email wasn't official. There was no corporate signature, no official domain—just an IP address located in France. Nothing more. But I acted as if my world had collapsed. I translated the contents of the email for my in-laws. They stared at the message from overseas, their faces frozen in disbelief. I wailed, my cries echoing with gut-wrenching grief. “Dad! Mom! Brad was fine when he left! Now he’s never coming back! Oh, God…” “That bastard! How could he leave us? Our baby is so young! He’s going to grow up being called the boy with no father…” My performance was contagious. My mother-in-law collapsed onto the floor, slapping her thighs in despair. “Oh, God! It’s all your fault, you old fool! You’re the one who encouraged him to go abroad! Now look! Our son is gone forever!” “I… I…” My father-in-law’s face turned a deathly shade of purple. The man, nearly sixty, suddenly crumpled to the floor, clutching his chest. His heart condition, dormant for years, had returned with a vengeance. A cold smile played on my lips. Brad, when you were planning your fake death, did you ever stop to think how much it would destroy your parents? I instantly transformed into the strong, capable daughter-in-law. “Mom, stop crying!” I commanded. “Brad is gone, but we two women have to hold this family together!” “Let’s get Dad to the hospital, now! Don’t worry, whether Brad is here or not, I will always be this family’s daughter-in-law!” With that, I helped my father-in-law up and dialed for an ambulance. On the way to the hospital, I sent a flurry of emotional texts to Brad’s phone. “Brad, you promised you’d be back in three years. Why did you break your promise…” “You’re gone, and you’ve taken my heart with you…” “I love you, my husband. I can’t accept that you’re dead. Can you come back and see me just one more time?” “It’s my fault. I was foolish to tell your parents the news. Mom is a wreck, and Dad had a heart attack…” “But don’t you worry. In life I was yours, in death I am yours. I will take care of this family for you. From now on, I will be their real daughter!” Outside the emergency room, I opened the social media app again. As I expected, Brad had posted. The picture this time was of two hands, fingers intertwined, radiating happiness. “Bros, the fake death was a success. Finally cut ties with the old ball and chain for good. Now I can be with my true love without a care in the world.” “It came at a cost, though. My mom’s a mess and my dad had a heart attack… but the good news is, my wife is still deeply in love with me. She sent me a bunch of messages saying she’ll be mine in life and death and will take care of my family for me.” Instantly, his chorus of armchair generals chimed in with congratulations. “Sounds like the plan was a total success! Your dad’s sick, but your wife promised to take care of him, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.” “Congrats, man! You’re finally free! Remember to send us an invite to the wedding…” Using my burner account, I left another comment: “Will you ever regret this?” To my surprise, Brad himself replied: “Regret what? I’m too happy to have any regrets!”
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