Michael thought his wife would beg. He thought she would cry and hold on to his legs, pleading with him not to leave her. He wanted to see her broken right there at her father’s funeral, surrounded by people in black clothes who came to say goodbye to the man she loved most in the world. He wanted everyone to see that he was done with her, that he was moving on, that she meant nothing to him anymore.
But when Michael handed Sarah those divorce papers with her father’s coffin just a few feet away in her pregnant belly pressing against her black dress, he had no idea what he had just done. He didn’t know that the woman he was throwing away like garbage, had just become one of the richest women in the country.
He didn’t know that her father, the quiet man he always thought was just average, had been hiding a secret worth $800 million. Michael walked away from that funeral thinking he had won. But Sarah’s story was only beginning and his his was about to fall apart. Hello friends, welcome to our story.
Before we start, please like this video and subscribe. Also, tell us in the comments where you are watching from. Maybe you’re in Texas, Toronto, London, or Nairobi. We want to know. The cemetery was quiet except for the sound of people crying softly. Sarah stood near the front, her hand resting on her swollen belly.
Inside her, the baby kicked gently, as if trying to comfort her. She wore a loose black dress because nothing else fit anymore. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying all night. Her father’s coffin sat in front of her, covered with white flowers. Just yesterday, he had been alive. “Just yesterday, she had called him on the phone, and he told her he loved her.
Now he was gone forever. “Are you okay?” her cousin Lisa whispered, touching her arm gently. Sarah nodded, but she wasn’t okay. She felt like her whole world was ending. Her father was the only family she really had. He was the one who held her hand when she was scared. He was the one who told her she was strong and smart and could do anything.Family games
Now he was gone and she felt completely alone. Well, not completely alone. She had her husband, Michael, standing beside her. At least he was supposed to be standing beside her. Sarah looked to her left. Michael was there, but he wasn’t really there. He stood 3 ft away, his arms crossed, staring at his phone.
His face looked annoyed like he didn’t want to be here at all. “Michael,” Sarah whispered. “Can you hold my hand, please?” Michael looked up from his phone. For a moment, their eyes met. Sarah hoped she would see kindness there, or love, or at least pity. But his eyes were cold and empty. “I need to take this call,” he said, not answering her question.
He turned and walked away, pressing his phone to his ear. Sarah felt her heartbreak a little more. She watched him walk toward the parking lot, talking on the phone and laughing about something. Laughing at her father’s funeral. The pastor began to speak. We are here today to say goodbye to James Parker, a good man who loved his daughter more than anything in this world.
Sarah tried to listen, but tears kept falling down her cheeks. Her hands shook as she touched her belly, feeling her baby move inside her. I’m so sorry, Daddy,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry you had to go.” The funeral continued. People came up to say nice things about her father. They talked about how kind he was, how hardworking, how he always helped people who needed it.
Sarah cried through all of it, but Michael never came back to stand with her. After the pastor finished speaking, people started walking up to Sarah to give their condolences. They hugged her gently, careful not to press against her pregnant belly. They said things like, “I’m so sorry for your loss and your father was a wonderful man and stay strong, dear.
” Sarah tried to smile and say, “Thank you, but it was so hard.” Every hug reminded her that her father would never hug her again. Then she saw Michael walking back. Finally, she thought. Finally, his coming to be with me, but Michael didn’t come to comfort her. He walked up with that same cold look on his face and said, “Sarah, we need to talk now.
Now?” Sarah asked confused. “Michael, the funeral isn’t even over yet. Can’t it wait?” “No,” Michael said firmly. “It can’t wait. Come with me.” Sarah looked around. People were still standing around talking quietly and crying. The workers were getting ready to lower her father’s coffin into the ground. This was the moment she needed to say her final goodbye. “Michael, please.
” Sarah begged. “Can we talk after?” “I need to.” I said, “Now, Sarah.” Michael’s voice was harsh and loud. A few people turned to look at them. Sarah felt embarrassed and confused, but she followed him. Maybe something was wrong. Maybe there was an emergency. She walked slowly because her belly was heavy and her feet hurt in her black shoes.
Michael led her away from the crowd behind a large tree where no one couldsee them clearly. Sarah’s heart started beating fast. “Something felt very wrong. What’s going on?” Sarah asked, her voice shaking. Michael, you’re scaring me. Michael reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a brown envelope. He didn’t look at her face.
He just stared at the envelope in his hands. “I want a divorce,” he said, “Just like that. No emotion, no kindness, like he was ordering food at a restaurant.” Sarah felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. “What?” she whispered. You heard me, Michael said, still not looking at her.
I want a divorce. I’m done with this marriage. But, but why? Sarah’s voice cracked. Tears started flowing again, faster than before. Michael, what are you talking about? We’re having a baby. We’re supposed to be a family. That’s the thing, Michael said, finally looking up at her. [clears throat] His eyes were like ice.Family games
I’m not even sure that baby is mine. Sarah gasped. She felt like the ground was disappearing under her feet. “How can you say that?” she cried. “You know, I’ve never been with anyone else. You know that baby is yours.” Michael, how can you even think? I think a lot of things, Sarah, Michael interrupted. I think this marriage was a mistake.
I think I’ve been unhappy for a long time. I think I deserve better. Better, Sarah repeated, her voice barely a whisper. Better than what? Better than me? better than your own child. Michael shoved the brown envelope into her hands. The divorce papers are in here. I already signed them.
You just need to sign your part and we’re done. Sarah looked down at the envelope in her shaking hands. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Her father had just died. She was 7 months pregnant and her husband was divorcing her right here, right now at the cemetery. Michael, please, Sarah begged, reaching for his arm. Please don’t do this. Not today. Please.
I just lost my father. I can’t lose you, too. I can’t do this alone. Michael pulled his arm away. You should have thought about that before, he said coldly. Before what? Sarah shouted, not caring anymore, who heard. What did I do? Tell me. What did I do wrong? You’re boring, Sarah. Michael said, his voice full of disgust.
You’re always tired. You’re always emotional. You cry all the time. You don’t take care of yourself anymore. Look at you. You’ve gained so much weight. I’m pregnant. Sarah screamed through her tears. I’m pregnant with your baby. Of course, I’ve gained weight. Of course, I’m tired. How can you be so cruel? I’m not being cruel, Michael said calmly. I’m being honest.
I don’t love you anymore. I haven’t loved you for a long time, and I’m tired of pretending. Sarah felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. She wrapped her arms around her belly as if trying to protect her baby from hearing these horrible words. “Sign the papers,” Sarah, Michael said.
“Make this easy for both of us.” “I won’t,” Sarah said, her voice trembling but firm. “I won’t sign them. You can’t do this to me. You can’t just throw me away like I’m nothing.” “Fine,” Michael said with a shrug. “Then I’ll see you in court. But trust me, Sarah, you don’t want to fight me on this. You have nothing.
No job, no money, no family. Now that your father is gone, you can’t win. Those words hit Sarah like knives. He was right. She had quit her job when she got pregnant because Michael said he would take care of everything. She had no savings of her own. And now her father, the only person who ever really loved her, was dead.
How can you do this to me? Sarah sobbed. How can you be so heartless? Michael didn’t answer. He just looked at his watch like he had somewhere more important to be. I have to go, he said. Sign the papers, Sarah. It’s over. And then he walked away. Just like that. He walked away from his pregnant wife at her father’s funeral, leaving her standing there alone, holding divorce papers and crying so hard she could barely stand.
Sarah watched him go. She watched him walk through the cemetery, past her father’s coffin, past all the people who came to mourn, straight to his car. He got in, started the engine, and drove away without looking back even once. Sarah collapsed onto the ground, her black dress getting dirty from the grass and mud.
She hugged her belly and cried like she had never cried before. People started running toward her, asking if she was okay, if the baby was okay, but Sarah couldn’t hear them. All she could hear was Michael’s cold voice saying, “It’s over.” All she could feel was her heart breaking into a million pieces. And all she knew was that in one terrible day, she had lost the two most important men in her life.
Her father was dead, her husband was gone, and she was completely, utterly alone. Few days later, Sarah sat in her father’s house in the same chair where he used to read his newspapers every morning. The house was too quiet now, too, too sad. She hadn’t left the house since the funeral.She couldn’t.
Every time she thought about going outside, she remembered Michael walking away from her, and her chest would hurt so badly she thought she might die. The divorce papers sat on the kitchen table, still unsigned. Sarah looked at them everyday, but she couldn’t bring herself to pick up a pen. Signing them would make it real. It would mean her marriage was truly over.
Her phone rang constantly, but she didn’t answer. It was always Michael’s lawyer calling to ask when she would sign the papers. Sometimes Michael himself would call, but Sarah would just stare at his name on the screen until the phone stopped ringing. Her cousin Lisa came by every day with food. “You need to eat,” Lisa would say, rubbing Sarah’s back gently.
“The baby needs you to eat.” But Sarah had no appetite. Everything tasted like sand in her mouth. She would take a few bites just to make Lisa stop worrying, but then she would feel sick and have to stop. At night, Sarah would lie in her father’s old bed and cry. She would put her hands on her belly and talk to her baby. “I’m sorry,” she would whisper.
“I’m so sorry your daddy doesn’t want us. But I promise you, baby, I will love you enough for both of us. I will never leave you. Never.” The baby would kick in response, and Sarah would cry even harder. Everything hurt. Her heart hurt. Her head hurt. Her whole body felt heavy and tired. Some mornings she didn’t even want to get out of bed.
What was the point? Her father was gone. Her husband was gone. She had nothing left. Michael was having the time of his life. He sat in a fancy hotel room drinking expensive wine and laughing with a woman named Rachel. Rachel was younger than Sarah, prettier than Sarah, or so Michael thought, and definitely more fun than Sarah.
Rachel had long, shiny hair and wore tight dresses that showed off her perfect figure. She didn’t have a pregnant belly. She didn’t cry all the time. She didn’t talk about boring things like baby names and nursery colors. “I’m so proud of you, baby,” Rachel said, running her fingers through Michael’s hair. “You finally left that boring wife of yours.
She was holding me back,” Michael said, pouring himself more wine. “All she ever did was complain and cry. I couldn’t take it anymore.” “Well, you’re free now,” Rachel smiled, kissing his cheek. “Free to be with me. free to live your best life. Michael had met Rachel 6 months ago at a business conference. She worked as a receptionist at a law firm, but she dreamed of living a rich, luxurious life.
When she found out Michael was married, she didn’t care. In fact, it made her want him more. When are you going to finaleize the divorce? Rachel asked, her smile fading a little. I’m tired of hiding, Michael. I want to be your real girlfriend, not your secret. soon,” Michael promised. Sarah just needs to sign the papers and it’ll be done.
“And what if she doesn’t sign?” Rachel asked, her voice sharp now. “What if she tries to fight you?” Michael laughed. “Fight me with what? She has no money, no job, no family now that her father is dead. She can’t afford a lawyer. She can’t afford anything. What about the house you two lived in?” Rachel asked. Will she try to take it? The house is in my name, Michael said confidently. She can’t touch it.Family games
In fact, I’m going to sell it and use the money to upgrade our lifestyle. Maybe buy us a nice apartment in the city. Would you like that, baby? Rachel’s eyes lit up. Really? You’d do that for me? Of course, Michael said, pulling her closer. You deserve the best. They kissed and Michael felt no guilt at all. He didn’t think about Sarah crying alone in her father’s house.
He didn’t think about his unborn baby growing inside her. He only thought about himself and his new exciting life with Rachel. But Rachel wasn’t satisfied yet. She pulled away from the kiss and looked at Michael. Seriously. What about the baby? She asked. What about it? Michael said, reaching for his wine glass.
Well, is it really yours? Rachel asked. Michael paused. He knew the baby was his. Deep down, he knew Sarah had never cheated on him. Sarah was too honest, too loyal, too boring to ever do something like that. But he needed an excuse. He needed people to understand why he left his pregnant wife. So he lied.
I don’t think so, Michael said. Sarah was acting strange before she got pregnant. Always on her phone, always making excuses about where she was going. I think she was seeing someone else. This was completely untrue, but Rachel believed it because she wanted to believe it. That’s terrible, Rachel said, shaking her head.
She tried to trap you with another man’s baby. Exactly, Michael said, feeling proud of his lie. That’s why I had to leave her. But what if she tries to get child support from you? Rachel asked, her voice full of worry. What if she takes you to court and makes you pay for that baby every month? Michael’s smile disappeared. He hadn’t thought about that. Child support couldruin his plans.
He wouldn’t have money for the fancy lifestyle he wanted with Rachel. I’ll fight it, Michael said firmly. I’ll tell the court the baby isn’t mine. I’ll demand a DNA test. And even if it is mine, I’ll prove that Sarah is an unfit mother. How? Rachel asked. She’s unstable, Michael said, creating more lies. She cries all the time.
She can barely take care of herself. She’ll probably have postpartum depression or something. I’ll tell the court she’s not mentally stable enough to raise a child. Then I’ll get custody. You take the baby from her? Rachel asked looking surprised. If I have to, Michael said with a shrug. I’m not going to let her use my child to get money from me.
If anyone’s raising that baby, it’ll be me. Rachel looked uncomfortable for a moment, but then she pushed the feeling away. She wanted Michael. She wanted his money. She wanted the life he promised her. if he had to be cruel to his ex-wife to make that happen. Well, that wasn’t her problem.
“You’re so smart, baby,” Rachel said, snuggling up to him. “Sarah never deserved you.” Michael smiled and kissed the top of her head. He felt like he had won. He felt like everything was going exactly according to his plan, but he had no idea how wrong he was. Sarah was staring at the wall, lost in sad thoughts when her phone rang. She almost didn’t answer it.
She was tired of Michael’s lawyer calling her. But when she looked at the screen, it was a number she didn’t recognize. For some reason, she decided to answer. “Hello,” Sarah said, her voice from crying. “Is this Sarah Parker?” a man’s voice asked. “Yes,” Sarah said. “Who is this?” “My name is Mr. Thompson. I’m a lawyer.
I was your father’s lawyer.” “Actually, I’m very sorry for your loss.” Sarah felt tears come to her eyes again. Thank you, she whispered. Mrs. Parker, I need you to come to my office as soon as possible. Mr. Thompson said, there are some very important matters regarding your father’s estate that we need to discuss. Sarah was confused.
Estate? My father didn’t have an estate. He just had the house and maybe a little bit of savings. I thought, Mrs. Parker, Mr. Thompson interrupted gently. Please, I really need you to come to my office today if possible. Trust me, this is very, very important. There was something in his voice that made Sarah pay attention. Something serious and urgent.
Okay, Sarah said slowly. I can come. Where is your office? Mr. Thompson gave her the address. It was a fancy building downtown in the business district where all the rich lawyers had their offices. Sarah felt nervous. Why would her father have a lawyer in such an expensive place? I’ll be there in an hour, Sarah said. Thank you, Mrs.
Parker, I’ll be waiting for you. After she hung up, Sarah sat there for a moment, feeling confused and scared. What could this be about? Had her father left some debt that she now had to pay? Was she going to lose his house? Sarah felt panic rising in her chest. She couldn’t lose her father’s house. It was the only place she had left to live.
Michael had made it clear she couldn’t stay in their old house. “Please, God,” Sarah prayed quietly, touching her belly. Please don’t let it be bad news. I can’t take any more bad news. She forced herself to stand up and get dressed. She put on a simple blue dress that fit over her belly and flat shoes because her feet were too swollen for anything else.
She brushed her hair but didn’t bother with makeup. What was the point? The drive downtown took 30 minutes. Sarah parked in the garage under the building and took the elevator to the 15th floor. The law office was beautiful with marble floors and expensive furniture in the waiting area.
A young woman at the front desk smiled at her. You must be Mrs. Parker. Mr. Thompson is expecting you. Please follow me. Sarah followed the woman down a long hallway. Her heart was beating fast. Her hands were shaking. She felt like she might throw up from nervousness. The woman opened a large wooden door. “Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Parker is here.
” “Thank you, Jessica,” a voice said from inside. “Please, Mrs. Parker, come in.” Sarah walked into the office. It was huge with floor to-seeiling windows that showed the whole city. Behind a massive desk sat a man in his 60s with gray hair and kind eyes. He stood up when he saw her. Mrs. Parker, he said, walking around the desk to shake her hand.
Thank you so much for coming. Please sit down. Sarah sat in a comfortable leather chair. Mr. Thompson sat down across from her, not behind his desk, but in another chair like they were friends having a conversation. Can I get you anything?” he asked. “Water, tea.” “I’m okay,” Sarah said quietly, even though her mouth was very dry. “Mr.
Thompson, what is this about? Is something wrong with my father’s house? Do I owe money or something?” Mr. Thompson smiled softly. “No, Mrs. Parker, nothing like that. In fact, quite the opposite.” He paused, looking at her carefully. “Mrs. Parker, did yourfather ever talk to you about his work? Sarah nodded.
Yes, he worked in computers. He was some kind of computer programmer or something. He worked from home mostly. Did he ever mention a company called Technova Solutions? Sarah thought hard. No, I don’t think so. Why? Mr. Thompson leaned forward. Mrs. Parker, your father wasn’t just a computer programmer. He was one of the co-founders of Technova Solutions.
It’s one of the biggest technology companies in the world. Sarah stared at him. She must have heard wrong. I’m sorry. What? Your father, James Parker, started Technova Solutions 25 years ago with his best friend from college. They built it from nothing. They worked day and night creating software that changed how businesses operate all over the world.
Sarah shook her head. No, that can’t be right. My father was just he was just a regular person. He lived in a regular house. He drove a regular car. He never talked about owning a company. That’s because he was a very private man. Mr. Thompson said, “Your father didn’t care about showing off his wealth.
He cared about you. He wanted you to have a normal life, not grow up thinking you were better than other people.” “But but why didn’t he tell me?” Sarah asked, feeling confused and hurt. “Why would he keep something like that a secret from me?” Mr. Thompson sighed. Your father had his reasons, Mrs. Parker. Good reasons.
About 3 years ago, he sold his stake in the company. He was getting older and he wanted to retire. He wanted to spend more time with you and prepare for his grandchild. Sarah’s hand went to her belly automatically. Her father had been so excited about the baby. He had started buying baby clothes and toys, even though Sarah told him it was too early.
When he sold his stake in the company, Mr. Mr. Thompson continued. He received a very large sum of money. How much? Sarah whispered. Mr. Thompson pulled out a folder from his briefcase. He opened it and showed Sarah a document. At the bottom of the document was a number. A number so big that Sarah had to read it three times to make sure she was seeing it correctly.
$800 million. $800 million. That can’t be real, Sarah said, her voice barely audible. That’s not That can’t be real. It’s very real, Mr. Thompson said gently. And according to your father’s will, every single penny of it belongs to you. You’re his only child. You’re his only heir. Sarah felt like the room was spinning.
She gripped the arms of the chair to steady herself. $800 million, she repeated, like saying it out loud would make it make sense. But it didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense. Your father invested most of the money very wisely, Mr. Thompson explained. It’s in various accounts, properties, stocks, and bonds. You also own three houses in different parts of the country, a vacation home overseas, and several pieces of land.
The exact total of your inheritance with investments and interest is actually closer to $850 million. Now, Sarah couldn’t breathe. She literally couldn’t breathe. She put her hand on her chest and tried to take a deep breath, but it felt like her lungs weren’t working. Mrs. Parker, are you okay? Mr. Thompson asked, looking worried.
Should I call a doctor? I’m I’m okay, Sarah managed to say, even though she wasn’t okay at all. I just I can’t believe this. Why didn’t he tell me? Why did he keep this a secret? Mr. Thompson’s face became serious. Your father talked to me about this many times, especially in the last year. Mrs.
Parker, he didn’t trust your husband. Sarah looked up sharply. What? Your father was a very smart man,” Mr. Thompson said carefully. He watched how your husband treated you. “He saw how Michael was always asking about money, always wanting to know about your father’s finances.” “Your father told me, and I quote, “Michael doesn’t love my daughter. He loves her comfort.
He loves what he thinks he can get from her.” Sarah felt like she’d been slapped. My father said that. “Yes,” Mr. Thompson said sadly. He was very worried about you, especially when you got pregnant. He wanted to tell you about the money, but he was afraid. He was afraid that if Michael knew, he would take advantage of you.
He was afraid Michael would try to take the money and leave you with nothing. Tears started rolling down Sarah’s cheeks. He was trying to protect me. Yes, Mr. Thompson said softly. He made me promise not to tell you until after he was gone. He said that once he died, you would need the money to take care of yourself and the baby.
He said he wanted to make sure you and his grandchild would never have to worry about anything ever again. Sarah broke down crying. Not sad crying this time, but crying from shock and confusion and grief all mixed together. Her father had known. He had known Michael wasn’t a good man, and he had protected her in the only way he knew how. “Oh, Daddy,” Sarah sobbed.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you. I’m so sorry I didn’t see what yousaw.” Mr. Thompson handed her a box of tissues and waited patiently while she cried. After a few minutes, Sarah wiped her eyes and looked at him. “What do I do now?” she asked. “Well,” Mr. Thompson said, “First, we need to transfer everything into your name.
That will take a few days, maybe a week. Then you need to think about what you want to do with this money. I can recommend some excellent financial advisers who can help you manage it. But Mrs. Parker, the most important thing right now is this. You need to protect yourself. What do you mean? Your husband is trying to divorce you, correct? Mr.
Thompson asked. Yes. Sarah whispered. Has he mentioned anything about money, about property, about the baby? Sarah nodded. He said the house we lived in is in his name, so I can’t have it. And he he said the baby might not even be his. Mr. Thompson’s jaw tightened. That’s what I was afraid of. Mrs. Parker, men like your husband are predictable.
Right now, he thinks you have nothing. He thinks he holds all the power, but the moment he finds out about this inheritance, he will try to take it from you. But he can’t, can he? Sarah asked, fear creeping into her voice. We weren’t married when my father sold the company. This money is mine, right? Legally, yes, Mr. Thompson said.
The inheritance is entirely yours. He has no claim to it. But that won’t stop him from trying. He’ll make your life very difficult. He’ll drag you through court. He’ll try to prove he deserves some of it. And if he can’t get the money directly, he’ll try to get it through the baby. Through the baby? Sarah asked, confused.
Child support? Mr. Thompson explained. Once he knows you’re wealthy, he’ll fight for custody. Not because he wants the baby, but because whoever has custody gets child support, and child support is calculated based on the mother’s income. If you have $800 million, he could potentially get millions in child support every year. Sarah felt sick.
So, what do I do? Mr. Thompson leaned forward, his eyes serious. My advice, don’t tell him about the money. Not yet. Let him proceed with the divorce thinking you have nothing. Let him think he’s won. Then once the divorce is finalized, once everything is settled, he’ll have no legal claim to anything. But won’t he find out eventually? Sarah asked. Probably, Mr. Thompson admitted.
But by then it will be too late. The divorce will be final. He’ll have signed away his rights. And most importantly, Mrs. Parker, you’ll be free. Sarah sat there absorbing all of this information. Just one week ago, she thought her life was over. She thought she had nothing left.
She thought she would have to raise her baby alone with no money and no help. But now, now everything had changed. She wasn’t poor. She wasn’t helpless. She wasn’t the weak, broken woman Michael thought she was. She was a wealthy woman. A very wealthy woman. One of the richest women in the entire country. And Michael had no idea. Sarah looked at Mr.
Thompson and for the first time in days, she felt something other than sadness. She felt something new, something powerful. She felt hope. “Mr. Thompson,” Sarah said, her voice stronger now. “I want you to be my lawyer. I want you to help me through this divorce. And I want you to make sure Michael doesn’t get a single penny of my father’s money.” Mr.
Thompson smiled. “It would be my honor, Mrs. Parker. Your father would be very proud of you right now.” As Sarah left the office that day, she felt different. The sadness was still there. She still missed her father terribly and her heart still hurt from Michael’s betrayal. But underneath all that pain, there was something new growing, strength.
Her father had given her more than money. He had given her power. He had given her the ability to start over, to build a new life, to never be afraid again, and she was going to use it. Michael had made a terrible mistake when he divorced her at her father’s funeral. He had thrown away the richest woman he would ever meet, and he had absolutely no idea.
The next morning, Sarah woke up feeling different. For the first time since her father died, she didn’t feel like staying in bed all day. She got up, made herself breakfast, and ate the whole thing. The baby kicked happily inside her, as if celebrating. Sarah sat at the kitchen table with a notebook and pen. She needed to make a plan.
She needed to think carefully about what to do next. At the top of the page, she wrote, “Rules for moving forward.” Then she wrote, “Rule number one, don’t fight Michael publicly.” Sarah thought about this carefully. She could expose Michael. She could tell everyone about Rachel. She could make him look bad in front of all their friends and family.Family games
But what would that accomplish? It would just create drama and stress. And stress wasn’t good for the baby. No. Sarah decided she would take the high road. She would be quiet and dignified. She would let Michael think he was winning. Rule number two, don’t tell anyone aboutthe money.
This was the most important rule. If Michael found out about her inheritance before the divorce was final, he would make her life miserable. He would try to take it from her. He would drag her through court for years. Sarah couldn’t let that happen. The money was her protection. It was her security. It was her baby’s future. She had to keep it secret.
Rule number three, protect the baby above everything else. Everything Sarah did from now on had to be about protecting her child. That meant staying healthy, eating right, seeing the doctor regularly, avoiding stress as much as possible, and making sure Michael couldn’t take the baby away from her. Rule number four, start over completely.
Sarah didn’t want to live in her father’s old house anymore. It was too sad there. Too many memories. She needed a fresh start, a new place where she could build a new life. Sarah looked at her list and felt good about it. These were smart decisions, mature decisions. Her father would be proud of her. She picked up her phone and called Mr. Thompson. Mrs.
Parker, he answered. How are you feeling today? Better, Sarah said, and she meant it. Mr. Thompson, I’ve been thinking about everything and I’ve made some decisions. I’m listening, Mr. Thompson said. I’m going to sign the divorce papers, Sarah said. I’m not going to fight Michael. I’m going to give him exactly what he wants.
