By Monday, I felt ready to return to my life and face whatever was next. But when I pulled into the driveway, I was met with a scene of chaos. All my furniture—everything I had collected over the years, including family heirlooms—was scattered across the lawn. A large sign that read “Free Stuff!” was propped up in the middle of it all.
I jumped out of the car, anger boiling inside me. My couch, coffee table, and even my grandmother’s rocking chair were lying out in the open.
I immediately called Brendan. “Why is all my stuff on the lawn?” I demanded.
“Oh, that? You were going to take me for everything in the divorce, right? Now you know what it feels like to lose something important,” he said smugly.
I was speechless. This was beyond petty—it was spiteful.
“You think this solves anything?” I asked, trying to keep my composure.
He laughed. “Maybe charge people for it instead of giving it away for free.”
I hung up, too exhausted to continue the argument. As I started picking up my things, I accidentally knocked over a bedside table, and something inside made a soft jingling sound. Curious, I opened the drawer and found Brendan’s prized possession—his father’s watch, an heirloom he treasured more than anything.
A small smile crept across my face. “Well, well,” I thought, slipping the watch into my pocket. It seemed I had the upper hand now.
I called a few friends to help me move my belongings back inside. As we worked, I told my friend Jenny about the watch. “Brendan’s going to lose it when he realizes it’s missing,” I said, feeling a sense of quiet satisfaction.
Later that evening, my phone buzzed. It was Brendan. “Hey, Gina. I think I left something important behind. Can I come by and grab it?”
“Oh, I’m not sure,” I replied casually. “The neighbors took a few things. Maybe you should check with them.”
“Gina, it’s my dad’s watch. I need it back.”
I let the silence linger before replying. “The watch? Maybe see if Cathy has it. She might sell it back to you—for the right price.”
He knew I was bluffing, but he had no choice. The next morning, Brendan arrived with $500 in an envelope, looking defeated.
“Here,” he said, handing over the money. “You win.”
I gave him the watch and watched as he left. In that moment, I felt an unexpected sense of closure. Brendan had tried to make our split ugly, but in the end, I walked away with a small victory—and the peace that came with it.
