I found myself smiling back—but it was no longer the gentle smile of a wife trying to please her husband.
It was the expression of a woman who had finally awakened from a long and costly nightmare.
None of the people standing on that dock had any idea what was about to happen next.
“You are absolutely right, Margot, and I can see now that I have been doing far too much for far too long,” I said calmly.
Tessa let out a small, high-pitched giggle and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I am glad she finally understands her place in the family,” Tessa murmured to Margot.
I did not respond. Instead, I took my phone from my bag and stepped into the shade of the terminal.
I opened the luxury travel agency’s app and reviewed the reservation, which included the island, the villa, the seaplane, the premium bar, and all the private excursions.
Every single cent of that one hundred and fifty thousand dollars had been paid from my personal account.
Caleb shouted from the edge of the dock, his voice echoing across the water.
“Lydia, stop playing with your phone and tell the pilot we are ready to board immediately,” he commanded.
I raised my hand in a mock gesture of obedience while my thumb hovered over the screen.
The option to cancel the entire reservation appeared in bold red letters, and I did not hesitate for even a second.
I thought about every night he had come home late smelling of expensive perfume while telling me I was paranoid and irrational.
I remembered Margot laughing at me for earning a man’s salary while claiming I lacked the grace of a traditional woman.
I remembered the credit card statements showing Caleb purchasing jewelry and designer bags for a woman whose name was certainly not Lydia.
I pressed the button firmly, watching as the screen confirmed that the refund was being processed.
A wave of peace washed over me, so deep it almost felt unfamiliar.
But I did not stop there. I immediately opened my banking app to take further action.
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