Garrett ended up losing the house. The marital asset went to Natalie. Seventy percent of his business, built during the marriage with Natalie's support, went to her. He was also paying massive alimony and child support.
His reputation? Natalie made sure everyone knew why they divorced. Victoria ended up homeless, couch-surfing with increasingly frustrated friends, jobless. Her old employer did investigate the time-card fraud.
Single. Garrett blocked her on everything the moment the divorce was filed. With a reputation as a homewrecker, small city, word travels. She moved back in with her parents in another state.
Last I heard from a mutual friend, she was working at a call center and telling anyone who'd listen that she was the victim of a narcissistic-abuse conspiracy between me and my sister. Chloe actually reached out to apologize last week. She said Victoria had been lying to her too, claiming I was abusive and controlling. When she saw the actual evidence during the court proceedings, she realized her friend was delusional.
"She still thinks Garrett's going to come back for her," Chloe told me. "She says once his divorce is final, they'll be together." "Garrett's engaged to someone new," I told her. "One of his clients. Started dating her before the divorce was even filed."
"Jesus. Poor woman." "Natalie's already warned her. Sent her the whole file. Woman's still staying with him."
"Some people never learn." True that. As for me, I'm doing pretty good. Got a promotion at work.
Turns out not having relationship drama improves job performance. Started dating someone new. Someone who doesn't think lying and cheating is a personality trait. And Natalie and I are closer than ever.
Nothing bonds siblings like taking down each other's toxic exes. The apartment feels different now, lighter. I replaced all the furniture Victoria had claimed was partly hers. It wasn't.
Got a new couch that doesn't have memories attached. Even repainted the walls. Found out something funny last week. Victoria had been telling people we were engaged.
She bought herself a ring and everything. Told her coworkers I proposed. Her whole fantasy life was built on lies. And when it came crashing down, she couldn't handle reality.
Sharon still occasionally texts me, trying to guilt me into helping Victoria. Apparently, Victoria's convinced I'm going to come to my senses and take her back. She tells people we're on a break and that I'm just being stubborn. It's been two months now since that night she smirked and told me about her soulmate.
That smirk haunted me for a while. The pure entitlement of it. The confidence that she was trading up. The assumption that I'd be devastated.
Instead, she played herself spectacularly. And Garrett? He's getting married next month to his new victim. Natalie and I are taking bets on how long it lasts.
I give it a year. Nat says six months. The funniest part? Victoria still has that wedding-invitation photo I showed her saved on her phone.
Chloe said she stares at it sometimes, like she's trying to figure out where it all went wrong. Where it went wrong was thinking she could smirk in my face while announcing her affair. Where it went wrong was believing a married man's lies. Where it went wrong was thinking actions don't have consequences.
But mostly, where it went wrong was underestimating the Cooper siblings. We protect our own.