10/09/2025
Kate sold her apartment from before marriage at her husband’s request so they could buy a beautiful home near the lake. immediately after the purchase, he asked to separate and split the assets. but when he came back from seeing someone else, he was left speechless.
“Tell me more about this house,” she asked, her resistance crumbling.
His face lit up. He pulled out his laptop and showed her the listing. It was a stunning two-story cottage with large windows and a spacious terrace, surrounded by a manicured lawn that sloped gently down to the shimmering water of the lake. It was beautiful. She could already picture it: summer evenings, barbecues, watching the sunset.
“It’s gorgeous,” she whispered.
“See? I told you!” he exclaimed, hugging her tightly. “It will be our paradise, Kate. Our fortress.”
In the following weeks, Mark was relentless. He talked of nothing but the lake house, showing her pictures of interior designs, discussing renovation plans, painting a future so vivid and beautiful she couldn’t help but be swept up in it. Slowly, she surrendered to his enthusiasm, and to her own yearning for that perfect family life. The decision was made. She would sell her apartment and invest everything in the house by the lake.
Kate, with her meticulous accountant’s mind, handled all the details. She found a realtor, negotiated a good price, and managed the paperwork. The sale went through smoothly, and the money—her entire inheritance and life’s savings—was deposited into her account.
“Mark,” she asked, a little nervously, “when are we going to finalize the purchase of the house?”
“Don’t worry, it’s all under control,” he said with a reassuring smile. “I’ve already spoken to the seller. All that’s left is to sign the papers.”
Soon, the deal was done. They were the proud owners of a beautiful house on the lake. Kate was ecstatic. It felt like her dream had finally come true. The move was a blur of happy activity. They arranged furniture, decorated the rooms, and planned their new life. Kate started a garden, planting flowers and shrubs. Mark, with a surprising enthusiasm, began building a sauna and a gazebo. Their evenings were spent on the terrace, watching the lake and dreaming of the future. Kate had never felt happier. She believed, with all her heart, that they had built the perfect life, that their love would last forever.
The dream shattered just a few weeks later.
He announced it in the evening, after dinner, as they sat on the veranda watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the lake in shades of orange and pink.
Kate remembered the way her heart had frozen in her chest as his voice, suddenly cold and distant, cut through the peaceful twilight. “Kate, I want a divorce.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “What… what are you talking about, Mark? A divorce?”
He turned away from her, staring out at the water. “I think it’s for the best. We’ve grown apart.”
“Grown apart?” she stammered, trying to grasp onto some piece of reality. “What about our plans? This house?”
He turned back to her, and the look in his eyes was one she had never seen before—not love, not sadness, but a kind of cold, triumphant satisfaction. “The house?” he said with a smirk. “Oh, the house is mine now, too.”
“What do you mean?” she whispered, the world beginning to spin. “We bought it together. All the money from my apartment went into it.”
He shrugged. “You’re so naive, Kate. So very naive... Watch: [in comment] - Made with AI
