So, last week they auctioned it off. Everything she owned except what she took to Cabo. Furniture, clothes, electronics, photos, everything. Gone. Guess how I found out? She tried to blame me on Instagram. “My toxic ex let them sell all my belongings. Everything my grandma gave me. He’s pure evil.” Comments were brutal. “Girl, you had 60 days. Didn’t you have the tea? Why didn’t you just pay the $50 a month? This is what happens when you choose dick over stability.” That last one was from her own cousin. Ouch.
Remember how Vince dumped her once she became inconvenient? Well, plot twist. He started dating someone else. Someone Scarlett knows. Her coworker Penny from her last job. Scarlett found out when Penny posted a pic of them at the same resort in Cabo. Caption, “making better memories with better company.” The meltdown was spectacular. Scarlett went on a comment rampage calling Penny every name in the book. Penny’s response? Posted their text conversation from months ago where Scarlett was trying to get Penny to cover for her while she met up with Vince during work hours. Even better, turns out Scarlett was fired from that job for, wait for it, time card fraud related to those meetups.
Three weeks ago, Mr. and Mrs. Chen showed up at my apartment. Building security called me. They had Scarlett’s photo, remember? I met them in the lobby. Mr. Chen, “Isaiah, we need to talk.” Mrs. Chen was crying. Actual tears, okay? “We didn’t raise her to be like this. We’re mortified. She told us you were abusive, controlling, we believed her. And now, she’s been lying to everyone, even us. She told us you threw her things away. We gave her money to replace everything, then we found out about the storage unit. She had 2 months to get her things. 2 months. And she spent the money we gave her on on Botox and a trip to Vegas with some new guy.”
“I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.” “We’re cutting her off completely. She’s 28 years old acting like a teenager. We’re done enabling her.” They apologized profusely and left. Haven’t heard from them since. Last week, unknown number calls me. I usually don’t answer, but something told me to pick up. “Isaiah?” Sobbing, dramatic sobbing. “It’s me. Please don’t hang up.” “What do you want, Scarlett?” “I’m pregnant.” I laughed. Actually laughed out loud. “No, you’re not.” “I am. It’s yours from before Cabo.” “Scarlett, you have an IUD. You literally complained about the cramping from getting it replaced in January.” Silence.
“Also, we hadn’t slept together in like 6 weeks before Cabo. You were always too tired or not in the mood. Remember?” More silence. “Even if you were pregnant, which you’re not, it would be Vince’s or whoever you’re with now.” “There’s no one else,” she wailed. “I’m alone. I’m homeless. I have nothing.” “You chose this. Every step of the way, you chose this.” “I made one mistake.” “One? Let me count. You chose to plan a trip with your ex. You chose to scream at me about permissions. You chose to go on the trip. You chose to hook up with him. You chose not to get your stuff for 60 days. You chose to lie to everyone. You chose—” Click. She hung up.
Where everyone is now. Scarlett, last I heard through the grapevine, she’s living with some guy she met on Tinder, who’s apparently rich, drives a leased BMW, working part-time at a makeup store, still posting about being a survivor and Phoenix rising from ashes. Blocked by half our former friend group. Completely cut off by her parents. Vince still with Penny. They seem happy. He dodged a bullet realizing she was too high maintenance when she didn’t have my apartment and resources to fall back on. Me. Thriving. Got a promotion last month. Turns out being drama-free improves work performance. Started dating casually. Nothing serious yet, but met a nice woman at a coffee shop who appreciates clear communication and boundaries. Traveled to Costa Rica with the boys. Living my best life in my peaceful, drama-free apartment.
The lessons. Looking back, the red flags were there. She never wanted to discuss boundaries, just demanded I trust her. She always played the victim when called out on anything. She thought consequences were for other people. She genuinely believed she could act single while keeping the benefits of a relationship. The funniest part? She created every single consequence herself. I didn’t make her go to Cabo. She chose that. I didn’t make her hook up with Vince. She chose that. I didn’t make her ignore the storage unit. She chose that. I didn’t make her lie to everyone. She chose that. All I did was stop enabling her choices and protecting her from consequences.
Yesterday, one last unknown number. “I know you hate me, but I wanted you to know I’m getting married. Aha, showed you. I found someone who actually trusts me and doesn’t try to control me. We’re moving to his house next month. Have fun being alone and bitter while I’m living my best life. You had your chance.” I didn’t respond, but I did laugh. Getting married to someone she’s known for what? 3 weeks? Moving into his house. Bet she’s not on that deed, either. Good luck to that poor bastard. Hope he doesn’t ask where she’s going when she plans her next girls’ trip to Cabo.
As for me, I’m sitting in my apartment about to head out for drinks with friends. Tomorrow, I’m helping Marcus move into his new place. Life is good when you surround yourself with people who understand that trust is earned through actions, not demanded through manipulation. To everyone who said I was too harsh, where would I be if I’d caved? Probably paying for her next Cabo trip while she texted her ex from my bed. Sometimes the best revenge isn’t elaborate. Sometimes it’s just letting someone experience the natural consequences of their choices while you move on with your life.