My Husband Left for the Maldives Three Days After I Had a Stroke—A Big Surprise Was Waiting for Him When He Returned

Three days before our 25th anniversary Maldives trip, I had a stroke while chopping vegetables. I collapsed, unable to speak or move half my body. In the hospital, I hoped to recover, but the trip seemed impossible. On day three, Jeff called. I mumbled, “Cancel the trip.” He replied, “Postponing’s too pricey—I gave it to my brother. We’re at the airport.” He hung up. I couldn’t even cry.

He didn’t take his brother—it was Mia, his secretary, who I’d suspected of being too close. With my niece Ava’s help, we gathered evidence, hired a fierce divorce attorney, and divided our assets. Most were mine; Jeff had squandered the rest. When I got home, a locksmith and process server greeted him. “This isn’t how it should end,” he pleaded. I handed him a one-way Maldives ticket—during hurricane season. Now, I’m in Greece with Ava, sipping wine, feeling the sun. Revenge is reclaiming peace and choosing my paradise.