For the next three months, John seemed to be living his best life—or so it appeared from the sporadic updates Nicky heard through the grapevine. But while he was basking in the sunshine with Maddison, Nicky was hard at work. Unbeknownst to him, she had a plan.

One rainy afternoon, John returned unannounced, his swagger gone and his face a portrait of despair. Nicky opened the door to find him on his knees, begging for forgiveness. His words tumbled out in a desperate rush: Maddison had robbed him blind, leaving him broke and alone. “I made a mistake, Nicky,” he pleaded. “Please take me back.”

Before Nicky could respond, there was a knock at the door. She swung it open, and there stood Maddison, wearing a smug grin. John recoiled, shocked. But the surprise was his alone—Nicky knew exactly who Maddison was. “You’ve met Maddison before, haven’t you?” Nicky said with a sly smile. “She’s my friend’s daughter.”

John’s jaw dropped as Maddison explained how she had been helping Nicky from the very beginning. She’d posed as the younger lover to expose John’s infidelity and teach him a lesson. Everything, from the romantic getaway to the stolen money, had been part of their plan.

Nicky relished the moment. “You thought you could trade me in for a younger model and ride off into the sunset?” she said, her voice steady and sharp. “Well, guess what, John? You’ve been played.”

As John stammered in disbelief, Nicky made her intentions crystal clear. She wasn’t taking him back, and she wasn’t going to let him walk away with a cent of her hard-earned assets. She handed him his belongings—already packed in a cheap duffel bag—and slammed the door in his face.

Their children sided firmly with Nicky, condemning their father for his betrayal. They laughed at his misfortune, ridiculing his foolishness for falling for such an obvious trap. “How could you think Maddison would want you?” one of them asked, shaking their head.

Later that evening, Nicky invited her friend—Maddison’s mother—over for a celebratory tea. As they sipped raspberry tea and indulged in pastries, they reveled in the success of their plan. “He thought he was the clever one,” Nicky said, chuckling. “Turns out, he was the easiest mark of all.”

The two women laughed until their sides ached, while Nicky’s heart felt lighter than it had in years. She wasn’t just surviving the betrayal—she was thriving. And John? He was left with nothing but regret, a stark reminder that betrayal often comes with a hefty price.