Diane’s POV
The gentle Monday afternoon sunlight filtered through the kitchen blinds as I worked at the counter, preparing a cup of herbal tea. Dr. Chen had recomnded it for relaxation...sothing I desperately needed these days. Steam rose from the kettle as I poured the hot water over the tea bag, releasing the soothing floral scent into the air.
I was just about to add a touch of honey when my phone vibrated on the counter next to . A notification banner slid across the top of the screen, and for a mont, I froze, teaspoon suspended midair.
"Reminder: Liam’s birthday in 2 days."
The tea suddenly lost its appeal.
I set the spoon down with more force than necessary, my jaw tightening as I picked up the phone. Three years ago, I’d created this reminder—set to alert three days before Liam’s birthday so I’d have ti to plan sothing special. Back then, I’d throw elaborate surprise parties, coordinate with his friends, spend days selecting the perfect gift. Back then, I’d thought we were happy.
Back then, I hadn’t known my husband was sleeping with my sister.
With a swipe of my finger, I opened the calendar app and stared at the notification. For a brief, disorienting mont, I felt the ghost of excitent I used to experience—the thrill of planning, of seeing his face light up with surprise. I rembered how I’d rope Sophie into helping , the two of us giggling as we arranged decorations or hid presents.
Sophie. The mory soured instantly.
"Delete," I muttered, jabbing at the screen with unnecessary force. The reminder disappeared, but the bitter taste in my mouth remained.
I went a step further, scrolling through my calendar for any other remnants of my life with Liam that might ambush in the future—anniversaries, joint appointnt reminders, dates that had once ant sothing. One by one, I deleted them, each tap on the screen a tiny act of liberation. By the ti I finished, my tea had grown lukewarm.
I was about to pour it out and start fresh when my phone rang in my hand. The screen lit up with a na I hadn’t expected to see: Elizabeth.
I hesitated, montarily confused. Elizabeth was the office cleaner at Synergy Sphere—a kind, older woman who had always greeted warmly whenever I’d visit Liam at the office or help him with difficult tasks. We weren’t close, but there had always been a mutual respect between us.
Curious, I answered. "Elizabeth? Is everything okay?"
"Mrs. Ashton—Diane," she began, her voice hushed as if she were afraid of being overheard. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."
"Not at all," I assured her, leaning against the counter. "It’s good to hear from you. And please, just Diane is fine."
"Right, Diane." She cleared her throat. "I just wanted to check on you, dear. After that day you ca to the office... well, I’ve been worried. You seed so upset when you left."
The day I’d confronted Liam in his office—wearing my red power dress, dangling Sophie’s lingerie in his face. Heat rose to my cheeks at the mory. It had been empowering in the mont, but I hadn’t considered who might have witnessed the aftermath.
"I’m doing better now, thank you," I said carefully. "It was... a difficult day."
"That’s good to hear." Elizabeth paused, and I could sense her hesitation through the phone. "I’ve been wanting to call, but I wasn’t sure if it was my place. Mr. Ashton has been in quite a state since your visit."
I couldn’t help the small, satisfied smile that curved my lips. "Has he?"
"Oh yes. Terrible mood. Shouting at everyone, firing people left and right." She lowered her voice further. "Between you and , no one can stand to be around him these days."
"I’m sorry to hear that," I said, though I wasn’t sorry at all. "But I doubt you called just to update on Liam’s temper tantrums."
Another pause, longer this ti. "You’re right, dear. There’s sothing else."
I waited, sensing she was gathering her courage. When she remained silent, I prompted gently, "Elizabeth, whatever it is, you can tell . Is sothing wrong?"
"Not wrong, exactly," she said slowly. "It’s just... I feel like I shouldn’t be telling you this, but then I think about how he’s treated you, and I can’t help feeling you have a right to know."
My heart quickened. "Know what?"
She took a deep breath. "They’re planning a surprise birthday party for him at the office. The executive team—well, what’s left of it—and that new secretary of his. It’s supposed to be this Wednesday, from what I’ve overheard. Catering, decorations, the works."
I gripped the counter edge, unsure why this news affected so strongly. Of course they would celebrate his birthday.
The thought of Liam enjoying himself, being celebrated, while I was pregnant with his children and fighting for what was rightfully mine—it made my blood boil.
"Wednesday?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady.
"Yes. They’re clearing the main conference room against wednesday." Elizabeth hesitated again. "I probably shouldn’t be telling you this. If Mr. Ashton found out—"
"He won’t," I assured her quickly. "I appreciate you letting know, Elizabeth. Truly."
"I just thought... Well, I don’t know what I thought. Maybe that you should know. What that man did to you—it isn’t right. And now everyone’s acting like he’s so kind of hero, planning this fancy party when he..." She trailed off, then added firmly, "So things shouldn’t be rewarded."
A slow, calculated smile spread across my face as an idea began to form. "No," I agreed softly. "They shouldn’t."
"Diane?" Elizabeth’s voice turned concerned. "What are you thinking?"
I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see . "Nothing specific yet. But information is power, isn’t it?"
"Just be careful," she cautioned. "Mr. Ashton is not a man to cross lightly."
I laughed, a short, sharp sound. "I think we’re well past that point, don’t you? He crossed first, rember?"
"I rember," she said quietly. "That’s why I called. No one should be treated the way he’s treated you."
I felt a sudden rush of gratitude for this woman who had always been kind to during my occasional visits to the office, who was now putting herself at risk to help . "Elizabeth, would it be possible for you to keep updated? If you hear anything else about the party—or about Liam in general—could you let know?"
"I could do that," she agreed. "I clean his office after hours. People don’t notice cleaners much, you know. We beco invisible after a while. You’d be surprised what I overhear."
"I would be incredibly grateful," I said, already thinking of the possibilities. "And of course, I’d compensate you for your ti and effort—"
"Absolutely not," Elizabeth cut off firmly. "I’m not doing this for money, Diane."
"But the risk—"
"Is worth it," she finished for . "You’ve always treated with respect. Like a person, not just soone who empties your husband’s trash. Not many in that office do the sa." She paused. "Besides, I have a daughter about your age. If any man treated her the way Mr. Ashton has treated you, well... I’d want soone looking out for her too."
Her words ward , genuine human connection in a world that had lately felt cold and treacherous. "Thank you, Elizabeth. That ans more than you know."
"You just take care of yourself," she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "These days, it seems like looking after yourself is a full-ti job, especially with everything going on."
I laughed genuinely this ti. "You can say that again. But I’m managing, one day at a ti."
"That’s all any of us can do," she agreed. "Now, I should go before soone notices I’m on a personal call. But I’ll be in touch if I hear anything useful."
"Thank you again, Elizabeth. For everything."
After we hung up, I stood in the kitchen for a long mont, my mind racing with possibilities. The forgotten tea sat cold on the counter, but I barely noticed as I paced the length of the kitchen, ideas flitting through my mind like butterflies—so beautiful, so venomous.
A surprise birthday party for Liam. How perfectly ironic. The man who had systematically tried to erase from the company I helped build was being celebrated by the very people who are naively unaware of his betrayal.
What would Liam do if I showed up at his party? The thought brought a smile to my face—the shock on his face, the uncomfortable silence that would fall over the room. It would be deliciously satisfying.
But then what? Security would be called, I’d be escorted out, and Liam would spin the story to make look like the unstable, vengeful ex. No, a direct confrontation wouldn’t serve my purposes.
I needed to be smarter. More strategic.
I absently placed a hand on my belly, feeling the slight swell that couldn’t be easily concealed beneath loose clothing. My twins—my son and daughter—were blissfully unaware of the chaos surrounding their impending arrival into the world. I intended to keep it that way.
"Your father’s birthday is on Wednesday," I murmured to them, my voice hardening. "Let’s make sure it’s one he never forgets."
I finally picked up my cold tea and poured it down the sink, watching the amber liquid swirl away. Like so many things in my life recently, what had once been comforting had turned bitter. But unlike the tea, I couldn’t simply pour myself away and start fresh.
I had to fight—for myself, for my children, for the future Liam had tried to steal from .
The calendar notification had been a painful reminder of what I’d lost, but Elizabeth’s call had given sothing far more valuable: an opportunity. And I intended to make the most of it.
I rinsed out the mug and set it in the dish rack, a plan already taking shape in my mind. This year, Liam’s birthday would co with a very different kind of surprise—not a celebration, but a reckoning.
And I would make damn sure he felt every mont of it.
Walking to the living room, I settled onto the couch with my laptop, opening a new docunt. At the top, I typed: "Operation Birthday Surprise," and began to list my options.
Revenge, I was discovering, required the sa ticulous planning as those birthday parties I’d once thrown with such enthusiasm. Only this ti, the goal wasn’t Liam’s happiness—it was his downfall.
Sotis, the universe gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it."
It gives you the perfect chance to even the score.
I drumd my fingers against the armrest of the couch, my eyes scanning the laptop screen. The list of potential ways to ruin Liam’s birthday was growing longer, but one particular idea stood out. Sothing ridiculous. Sothing he’d never live down.
I reached for my phone and dialed a number I knew well. "Hello, Karen. It’s ."
"Diane! It’s been ages! How are you, love?"
"Better, now that I’ve thought of sothing absolutely ridiculous for a certain soone’s birthday. And I need your help."
Karen let out a delighted chuckle. "Oh, now you have my attention. What’s the plan?"
I leaned forward, grinning. "I need a giant inflatable unicorn. And I an giant. With a customized tag that reads ’Infidelity Trophy.’ It needs to be wrapped well and delivered to Synergy Sphere—no return address."
There was a mont of silence before Karen burst into laughter. "Oh, Diane. This is legendary. You want to make sure there’s no trace back to you?"
"Exactly. Liam can be funny when he wants to be, and I don’t need this blowing back on ."
"Consider it done. I’ll make sure it’s a surprise he’ll never forget."
"You’re the best, Karen. Just be discreet, okay?"
"Of course, love. I wouldn’t miss the chance to help with sothing this spectacular."
I ended the call, exhaling as I leaned back. The thought of Liam receiving that ridiculous unicorn in front of his colleagues sent a thrill through . It wasn’t the entirety of my plan, but it was a start.
Without hesitating, I tapped Jessica’s number. She picked up on the second ring.
"Diane! Everything okay?"
"Yes," I said, my tone calm but purposeful. "I’ve been thinking. That interview we did—the one you’ve been holding onto? I think it’s ti."
"You want it published now?"
"This Saturday," I said. "No delays."
There was a pause, then a spark of excitent in Jessica’s voice. "You’re sure?"
"Positive," I replied. "It’s the perfect ti."
After hanging up, I set the phone down and let out a quiet, dark chuckle.
"Double presents," I muttered to myself. "How lovely for Liam—an inflatable unicorn and a front-page feature exposing what a pathetic cheating ex-husband he really is."
I adjusted in my seat slowly, savoring the thought. The countdown to his unraveling had officially begun.
As I stared at the ceiling, another thought nudged at the edges of my mind. The way I used to celebrate Liam’s birthday—wrapped in love, laughter, and shared mories. I shoved the thought aside. That was another lifeti, another Diane.
But then, another realization struck . My own birthday was in a month.
I had almost forgotten. Almost.
Liam’s birthday always ca first, and then mine followed a month later. We had once loved that shared closeness, that connection. But now? Now, it felt like another cruel joke the universe had played on .
I stood up, stretching as I let out a slow breath. "This ti, I’ll be the one making the rules."
A smirk played on my lips as I turned back to my laptop. There was more planning to do.
Because this year, I wouldn’t just be marking another year of life.
I’d be celebrating my rebirth—the woman who refused to be broken, who refused to be discarded.
And Liam? He would learn, in the most spectacular way, that actions always have consequences.
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