They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but when my ex-husband’s new wife reached out to me, I found myself caught in a web of desperation and secrets. I thought I’d left the pain of my past behind, but her plea for help opened old wounds and led me down a path I never expected.
Five years ago, my life fell apart most unexpectedly. I was married to Kevin, a charming and successful businessman. Everything seemed perfect, or so I thought until the day he accidentally texted me instead of 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 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 out of my control.
Of course, I couldn’t forgive him and we decided to call it quits. By the time our divorce was finalized, Kevin had built quite a 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. On top of that, I became a silent partner in his company, receiving returns twice a year.
He probably thought it was a way to ease his guilt. Needless to say, I didn’t need to work anymore, but I loved my career too much to stop.
Soon afterward, he married Jessica, the woman he cheated on me with. I tried to move on, blocking out any news about them. That was until a month ago. One evening, out of the blue, I got 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 looked so desperate that I decided 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, feeling both curiosity and discomfort. Jess walked in, her face pale and drawn. She spotted me and hurried over, looking around 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 my eyebrows, 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.”
I felt a wave of anger and pity. This girl, the one who had played a part in my marriage’s downfall, 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 breaking. “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 was the last thing 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 walked out of that 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 a strange need to protect her. And even more, 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, her relief palpable through the phone.
“But not in the way you want me to,” I continued. “I know it’s going to 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 the money, Jess; it’s about his priorities. So, if he’s making you choose, at least make a wise choice.”
“Bridget, I… I don’t know what to say,” said Jess, her voice breaking between muffled sobs. “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 sort 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 on this.”