Peter assumed that divorcing me would hand him half of my inheritance. But when I handed him a folder from my mom’s lawyer, everything changed. Her will clearly stated that if I was married at the time of her death, I wouldn’t receive a dime until I was divorced—and no spouse could touch the money. His face turned pale as he realized he had walked right into her carefully laid trap. She had outsmarted him before he ever made his move.

We divorced quickly, quietly, and without a fight. I moved into Mom’s old house, renovated it, and took those solo trips to Italy and Greece I had always dreamed about. Meanwhile, Peter was left with nothing, probably still wondering how it all slipped away. The truth is, my mom saw his true colors long before I did, and she protected me with one final, brilliant move. Thanks to her, I got not just money—but freedom and peace.