Honey, Your Lies Just Cost You Everything

On the night of our wedding anniversary.

My husband burst through the front door covered in blood, collapsed to his knees, and broke down sobbing.

Honey, please help me! I borrowed from loan sharks if I don't pay back five million, they'll cut off my hand!

My mother-in-law pressed a knife to her own throat, threatening to force me to sell the school-district property my parents had left me.

"Natalie, that's your husband! A house can always be replaced, but once someone's gone, they're gone for good!"

Watching this mother-and-son duo put on their Oscar-worthy performance, I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll sell the house. But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"I want to watch them cut off one of his fingers first just to verify this loan shark story is actually real."

Eleven o'clock at night.

The violent rattling of the door lock shattered the dead silence of the house.

Ethan stumbled inside.

Before I could even stand up, he dropped to his knees at the entryway with a heavy thud.

A wave of thick, metallic blood smell exploded through the air.

His white dress shirt was soaked crimson, his face covered in bruises.

His left arm hung at an unnatural angle the sight was jarring.

"Honey, save me, please save me!"

He was a mess of tears and snot, his trembling hands digging into his chest to pull out a crumpled piece of paper, which he slapped onto the floor.

It was an IOU.

Amount: five million dollars.

Borrower: Ethan Collins.

A bloody fingerprint was pressed at the bottom.

I sat on the couch, book still in hand.

My eyes swept coldly over that IOU, then settled on his face.

"Five million what did you do with it?"

Ethan hadn't expected my first reaction to be neither screaming nor rushing to help him. He froze for a moment.

Then cried even louder.

"I... I wanted to get us a bigger place, so I invested with a friend in crypto, and it all went sideways!"

"It was a loan shark, Natalie the interest compounded all the way to five million!"

"The guy said if he doesn't see the money by midnight tonight, he'll take my life! And cut off my hand!"

As he said this, he crawled toward me like a dog, wrapping his arms around my legs.

His expensive dress pants smeared blood all over me.

"Honey, I know you can figure this out!"

"That school-district property your parents left you it's worth exactly five million on the market right now. Please sell it. I'm begging you!"

So that was his angle all along.

I didn't move. I just looked down at him, the corner of my mouth curling into a cold, sardonic smile.

"Ethan, have you forgotten? That property is the only thing my parents left me. It's mine premarital assets."

Ethan stiffened.

A flash of shock and venom crossed his eyes, but panic quickly swallowed it.

"Natalie, at a time like this, does it really matter whose name is on it?"

"I'm your husband. Are you really going to let me die?"

"How can you be so heartless is money more important than a life?"

His voice cracked from screaming, spittle landing on my slippers.

I pulled my leg back in disgust, stood up, and looked down at him from above.

"A life is important, of course."

"But Ethan is yours worth five million?"

"What did you just say?"

Ethan stared at me wide-eyed, as if he didn't recognize me.

The old Natalie had been gentle, attentive, and completely at his beck and call.

She would fuss over him for half the day over a paper cut.

But now, faced with a husband covered in blood, I was doing the math.

"I said you're not worth it."

I bent down, picked up the IOU, and flicked the paper with my fingertip.

"Investing in crypto?"

"As far as I know, you don't even know how to open a brokerage account."

"This 'friend' of yours what's his name? What's his number? Let me call him right now and verify."

Ethan's eyes darted around, and he stammered:

"He's... he's someone from the streets, you can't just call him!"

"Stop asking questions, honey just get the deed! I already contacted an agent. There's a buyer who'll pay cash. The price is a little low, but it saves my life!"

He'd already lined up an agent.

This script was pretty well-written.

Right then, the guest bedroom door burst open with a bang.

My mother-in-law came flying out, hair wild and disheveled, gripping a fruit knife.

"Natalie Shaw, you heartless witch!"

She shrieked and lunged forward, pointing the blade at her own throat, eyes wild with desperation.

"Look at the state Ethan's in, and you're still worried about some stupid property? Are you trying to kill the both of us?"

"I'm telling you if you don't hand over that deed to save Ethan today, I'll die right here in front of you! I'll make sure everyone knows you drove your own mother-in-law to her death!"

Ethan played along, shouting, "Mom, calm down! Natalie didn't mean it that way!"

"She absolutely meant it! She just wants to hoard her money. I can tell she'd be happy to see you dead!"

His mother pressed the blade a little harder against her neck.

No blood, but the display was convincing enough.

A year ago, this would have terrified me into handing over the deed without question.

But they didn't know.

Just last night, I'd planted a GPS tracker in his car.

He never went to any investment firm.

He was at the Shangri-La Hotel, in bed with his college girlfriend, Claire, all night long.

Watching this theatrical production of devoted mother and wronged son play out in front of me, I found the whole thing almost absurdly funny.

"Mom, hold the knife steady don't let your hands shake."

I spoke calmly, my voice so flat and even that the air in the room seemed to freeze.

His mother froze. Knife at her throat, she didn't know whether to push forward or back down.

"You... what did you say?"

"I said, if you really want to die, I can't stop you."

"But if you die here, this becomes a crime scene. The property will be worth even less Ethan dies faster."

I walked over to the water dispenser and poured myself a glass, moistening my throat.

"Natalie Shaw! Are you even human!"

Ethan jumped up off the floor apparently done pretending to be injured and jabbed his finger in my face, cursing at me.

"My own mother is standing there like that, and you're making jokes? Don't test me I'll kill myself right here!"

"Go ahead."

I set down my glass, met his eyes, and walked toward him, one slow step at a time.

"Then do it. Kill yourself. Right here."

"Didn't you say the loan sharks would cut off your hand?"

"If you're already planning to die, what's one less finger?"

I turned and walked into the kitchen.

Ethan and his mother exchanged a bewildered look, neither of them knowing what I was doing.

A few seconds later, I walked back out carrying a heavy meat cleaver.

The blade caught the light, cold and sharp.

"Ah what are you doing!"

His mother screamed, and the fruit knife clattered out of her hand and onto the floor.

Ethan stumbled backward until his back was flat against the wall.

"Natalie... honey... don't do anything crazy..."

"I'm not doing anything crazy."

I brought the cleaver down hard on the coffee table. The teacup on top rattled and jumped.

"Since those people want your hand, it's better if I handle it rather than let them."

"I'm your wife. It's my duty to help you."

I looked at Ethan's ashen face and smiled.

"We cut it off, I deliver it for you clears the debt, saves your life, and saves five million. That's a good deal."

Ethan stared at the cleaver. His throat worked up and down.

Cold sweat mixed with blood trickled down his face, making him look absolutely pathetic.

"Natalie... are you insane?"

"I'm your husband! You'd cut off my hand?"

"I'm not cutting it off. You're paying your debt."

I crossed my arms and watched him with complete composure.

"What's the matter? Scared?"

"Or is there no loan shark at all and nobody was ever going to cut off your hand?"

Ethan's eyes flashed with panic, and he pushed back immediately:

"Of course there is it's real! Stop making a scene, honey, just give me the deed. They're waiting downstairs right now!"

"Downstairs?"

I caught that word immediately.

"The loan shark personally came to collect the deed? That's... remarkably attentive service."

Ethan realized he'd slipped up and scrambled to cover:

"It's it's the agent! The cash buyer is waiting downstairs right now. As soon as they have the deed, the money transfers immediately!"

"Oh. A cash buyer."

I nodded, as if he'd almost convinced me.

"In that case, have them come up."

"What?" Ethan blinked.

"I said, have the buyer come up."

"This is a five-million-dollar deal. We should talk face to face, don't you think? What if they're a scammer?"

I glanced at the time.

"It's eleven-thirty. Half an hour left."

"Have them come up. Sign the contract. Wire transfer. We exchange everything at once."

Ethan clearly hadn't anticipated this demand. His eyes shifted uneasily.

"That's... a little inconvenient, this late at night..."

"More inconvenient than having your hand cut off?"

My expression darkened, and I said sharply:

"Ethan, either have them come up right now, or I call the police and let them sort out this loan shark story."

The moment she heard "police," his mother started wailing again.

"No police if the police come, Ethan's life is ruined! How will he ever show his face again!"

Ethan looked equally stricken. He clenched his teeth.

"Fine. I'll have them come up. Honey, find the deed now don't keep them waiting!"

He pulled out his phone and turned away to type a message.

I watched his back, my eyes completely cold.

Ethan Collins if you want to put on a show, I'll play along until the very end.

I just hoped whoever came through that door could keep up with my act.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Ethan scrambled to the door like a startled rabbit.

In walked a man in a black trench coat and sunglasses, a woman trailing behind him.

The woman pulled down her mask, revealing a carefully made-up face.

Claire.

Of course it was her.

Ethan's first love the woman he'd never gotten over, the woman for whom he was willing to scheme and lie to get my property.

"Mr. Collins, is the deed ready?" Claire asked, playing her role.

Ethan nodded and bowed almost obsequiously:

"Ready, all ready Natalie, get the deed out!"

I sat on the couch without moving, my gaze drifting over Claire.

"And you are?"

"I'm the buyer's legal representative. Claire Bennett."

She pulled a business card from her bag and handed it to me.

"Mrs. Collins, time is short. Let's sign as quickly as possible."

"A lawyer?"

I took the card and looked it over, then gave a quiet, humorless laugh.

"Miss Bennett, that Chanel you're wearing is this season's new release. And that Herms on your wrist. Law must pay very well."

Claire's expression flickered, then steadied.

"That's my personal business, Mrs. Collins. Please don't change the subject."

"I understand Mr. Collins urgently needs funds. Our client is only willing to buy at full price as a personal favor. Once this opportunity passes, it won't come around again."

"She's right, Natalie, hurry up!"

Ethan was sweating, reaching out to grab my arm.

I stepped out of his reach and unhurriedly pulled a red book from the cabinet behind me.

Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to it instantly.

Ethan's eyes lit up with naked greed. His mother swallowed hard. Claire actually took a step forward.

"Here's the deed."

I set the book on the coffee table, pressing my palm flat on top of it.

"But before I hand it over, I have a question for Miss Bennett."

Claire fixed her gaze on the book, visibly impatient. "What question?"

"You say your client is a cash buyer. So my question is can you produce five million dollars right now?"

"Of course!"

Claire reached into her bag and produced a check.

"This is a cashier's check for five million. The moment it's signed, it's valid."

I glanced at the check.

Fake.

A prop this crude would only fool someone as legally clueless as Ethan.

Or rather Ethan already knew it was fake. He just wanted to get the deed transferred to Claire's name first.

"Great. Very straightforward."

I nodded and reached for the book, extending it toward him.

The moment Ethan's hand shot out to grab it, I flicked my wrist and slammed the book squarely into his face.

Smack.

A sharp crack.

Ethan staggered back, hand pressed to his face, staring at me in disbelief.

"Natalie! What was that for!"

"What was it for?"

I stood up and pointed at the red book.

"Open your eyes and look what exactly is this?"

Ethan snatched it off the floor and flipped it open. The color drained instantly from his face.

It wasn't the property deed.

It was a copy of the Penal Code.

"Natalie... you played me?"

Ethan's voice was shaking with rage pushed to its limit, and with fear pushed to its limit.

"Played you?"

I let out a cold laugh, pulled a stack of photographs from under the coffee table, and threw them in their faces.

The photos scattered and fluttered down through the air.

Every single one was in sharp, high-resolution detail.

Ethan and Claire kissing in a hotel room.

Ethan at a luxury boutique, swiping his card to buy Claire a designer bag.

And one more Ethan on his knees in front of Claire, making earnest, solemn promises.

He had said: "Don't worry, babe. I'll get that woman's property one way or another, and then we'll disappear together."

"What... what is all this?"

His mother picked up one of the photos. Her hands shook like she'd lost control of them entirely.

Claire had gone white. She instinctively tried to cover her face, then realized there was nowhere to hide.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

I looked at Ethan, the way you might look at a pile of garbage.

"Ethan Collins this is your so-called loan shark debt? This is your so-called failed investment?"

"You embezzled funds to cover for this woman, bought her bags and a house, and you were willing to sink this low to do it?"

"The blood on you that's fake blood, isn't it?"

"It's a bit too ripe. Next time buy something fresher."

Ethan completely fell apart.

He dropped to his knees again with a heavy thud not a performance this time. His legs genuinely gave out.

"Natalie, honey, let me explain it's not what you think. It was her. Claire seduced me. I was tricked!"

"Are you even a man, Ethan!"

Claire screamed, dropping the act entirely, spinning around to tear into him.

"You were the one who said that woman was stupid as a rock that it would be easy to fool her into handing over the money. Now that you're caught, you want to blame me?"

"You were the one who came after me."

The two of them stood right in front of me, clawing at each other like animals.

His mother watched the whole implosion, eyes rolling back, nearly fainting where she stood.

"Enough!"

I snapped, cutting through their chaos.

"I don't have time to watch your performance."

Ethan saw that the sympathy angle wasn't working.

His eyes shifted, and that desperate aggression dissolved in an instant replaced by a sickly, nausea-inducing display of devotion.

He shuffled forward on his knees, ignoring the dull thud of each impact against the hardwood floor.

He clutched the edge of the couch with both hands, tilted his face upward blood and snot and tears all running together and tried to force a pleading smile.

"Honey, Natalie, listen to me this is all a misunderstanding. It really is!"

He pointed at Claire, his whole hand trembling:

"It was her! She set me up and ruined me! I lost my mind for a while, but my heart has always been with you. Seven years does that mean nothing against one mistake?"

"One mistake?"

I let out a cold laugh, leaning back slightly to put distance between me and the rancid smell coming off him.

"Ethan Collins fraud, extortion, threatening me with a weapon you call that one mistake?"

"I never actually meant to hurt you! That knife was fake, the blood was fake, I was just... just too desperate!"

Ethan was babbling, tripping over his own words, when suddenly he seemed to remember something. He dug into his pocket and produced a worn, old keychain.

It was a small teddy bear charm, the edges rubbed smooth with age.

"Honey, look I still have this."

"Sophomore year, to get you that limited-edition stuffed animal, I waited in line all night just to get this little gift with purchase."

"It was snowing so hard that day. I was running a fever, and I still went out there to get it for you just to see you smile."