My jaw dropped as I stared at the stranger on my doorstep. “I’m sorry, what did you just say? My great-aunt Anna left me an inheritance?”

The man, dressed in a cheap, rumpled suit, gave a patronizing smile. “Yes, ma’am. Seems your aunt was quite well-off, unbeknownst to most. Funny how the elderly can be full of surprises, isn’t it?”

I let out an incredulous laugh. “Aunt Anna? Wealthy? You must have the wrong person. That woman lived like a pauper.”

“Be that as it may,” he replied with a shrug, “your presence is requested at the reading of her will. Friday, 3 p.m. sharp. McGrady and Sons Law Offices. Don’t be late.” He tipped an imaginary hat and walked away, leaving me reeling.

An inheritance from Aunt Anna made no sense. She was a mean-spirited, miserly old woman who never had a kind word for anyone. But she was family, and for years, I had dutifully visited her, bringing meals and helping with chores, always wearing a patient smile no matter how sourly she behaved. My husband, Mark, on the other hand, had no time for the “old battle-axe.” He’d only met her a handful of times, finding her snide comments and frugal lifestyle unbearable.

Mark’s own “sensitive constitution” made it impossible for him to hold down a job. His chronic health issues—a nebulous collection of ailments that flared up conveniently whenever work was mentioned—meant I was working myself to the bone, juggling two jobs to afford his expensive vitamin regimens and herbal supplements. His mother, Linda, who worked at Mercy Hospital, was always “pulling strings” to get him seen by specialists.

I called Mark from the bus on my way to my waitressing shift. “Hey, babe,” he answered, his voice groggy. “What’s up?”

“You’ll never believe what just happened,” I began. “Some lawyer claims Aunt Anna left me an inheritance. Can you believe it?”

Mark let out a low whistle. “No kidding! The old bird had some hidden wealth, huh? Well, hey, that’s great news! Maybe you can finally take some time off work. Lord knows you deserve a break.”

“We’ll see,” I said, a familiar ache in my heart. We had planned to start a family this year, but Mark had recently declared it would be “irresponsible” with his “weak genes.” “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, you know,” he sighed dramatically. “Same old, same old. I don’t know, Em. Maybe it’s time to just accept my lot in life as an invalid.”

I bit my tongue. “Don’t say that. You’re going to get better. I’ll come visit you at the hospital tomorrow.” We exchanged “I love yous,” and I hung up, trying to ignore the weight of his pessimism. Maybe this inheritance was the good luck we so desperately needed.

The next morning, I arrived at room 242 in Mercy Hospital, excited to see Mark. I knocked twice and entered with a big smile, only to have it quickly fade as he scowled at me from his bed.

“Hey, babe,” I said brightly, leaning in for a kiss. He turned his head away.

“You didn’t put on any makeup today? Seriously?” he asked, his voice sharp with irritation. “Every other wife on this floor looks like a model when they visit, and I’m stuck with… this.”

I recoiled as if slapped. “Mark, how can you say that to me? You know how exhausted I am from work.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re a big martyr, I get it,” he cut me off, waving his hand dismissively. “When’s that inheritance money coming in again? Hopefully soon, so you can actually make yourself presentable.”

Blinking back tears, I fled the room. I stumbled down the hallway, collapsing on a bench near the elevators. Was this really what my marriage had come to? As I sat with my head in my hands, I overheard two male patients strolling by.

“I told my old lady I had to stay here through the weekend for ‘tests’,” one chuckled to the other. “Really, I’ve got a poker game lined up with an orderly and enough booze to drop an elephant.”

“Same, bro,” his friend replied with a grin. “What the wives don’t know won’t hurt ’em, right? They think we’re saints for being stuck here.”

I felt sick. No, not my Mark, I told myself firmly. He would never lie to me like that. He was just cranky. I took a deep breath, dried my eyes, and headed out into the bright sunlight. Tomorrow was the big day. I needed to focus on that.

Friday arrived. I reached the lawyer’s office an hour early, my nerves shot. The waiting room was plush, the coffee was hot, and my phone was buzzing incessantly. It was Mark.

“Let me guess, calling to see how big the inheritance is?” I answered, rolling my eyes good-naturedly.

“Uh, yeah,” Mark replied. “Can you blame me? This is huge, Em! So, spill the beans already!”

“I won’t know anything for at least another hour,” I explained patiently. “I promise, as soon as I have a number, you’ll be the first to know.”

When my name was finally called, my heart leaped into my throat. The lawyer, an older gentleman named Bernard McGrady, rose from behind a massive oak desk to shake my hand.

“Miss Walker, I’m so glad you could make it,” he said with a kind smile.

“I have to admit, this is all quite overwhelming,” I replied. “My aunt wasn’t exactly forthcoming about her finances.”

Mr. McGrady chuckled. “No, she certainly had a reputation for being tight-lipped. But I can assure you, your great-aunt Anna was a woman of considerable means.” He slid a file folder across the desk.

I opened it with trembling hands and nearly fell out of my chair. “This… this has to be a mistake,” I gasped. “There are too many zeros. It can’t possibly be…”

“Six point two million dollars,” Mr. McGrady said with a smile. “And let me assure you, there’s no mistake.”

My head was spinning. Six. Point. Two. Million. A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my throat. Wait until Mark heard about this! With shaking fingers, I pulled out my phone under the desk and hurriedly typed out a text to my husband.

Inheritance is $6,200. Can you believe it?!

In my excitement, I didn’t even realize I’d left off the last three crucial zeros before hitting send. I made hasty excuses to Mr. McGrady, clutched the folder containing my new future, and fled the office. I had to see Mark right away.

I hailed a cab and barked out the address to Mercy Hospital. I took the stairs two at a time, bursting with excitement. As I approached room 242, however, the sound of familiar voices made me pause. It was Mark and his mother, Linda, deep in conversation. Something compelled me to remain still and listen.

“And the stupid cow actually bought it,” Mark was saying, his tone dripping with derision. “Can you believe she thinks I’m actually sick? Like I’d ever waste my time in this hellhole if I didn’t have to.”

Linda laughed, a cruel, sharp sound. “You’ve got her wrapped around your finger. So naive, that one. I still can’t believe you married so far beneath you.”

“Tell me about it,” Mark groaned. “But did you hear the best part? Aunt Anna left her some money. Once she gets that transferred over to my account, I’m dropping her like a bad habit. Let her keep playing nurse and housekeeper to some other sap.”

The blood drained from my face. The world tilted, my entire marriage a lie. Unable to listen to another word, I turned and fled, hot tears streaming down my cheeks. I ran until my lungs burned, finally stopping by the East River. As I stared at the murky water, Aunt Anna’s voice echoed in my head from years ago, after she’d first met Mark.

That boy is a lazy freeloader who’s going to bleed you dry. Mark my words, Missy. You’re making a huge mistake.

She had been right all along. And by some miracle, she had given me the means to break free.

Squaring my shoulders, I turned my back on the river. I had calls to make and divorce papers to file. Mark would be in for the shock of his life.

Three days later, Mark hobbled through the door of our apartment. “Honey, I’m home!” he called out mockingly. “Where’s my inheritance check?”

Silence greeted him. He frowned, noticing the bare walls and empty shelves. A single sheet of paper lay on the kitchen counter.

Dear Mark, it began in my familiar, loopy scroll. By the time you read this, I’ll be long gone. And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I know everything. I know you’ve been faking sick. I know you and your mother have been laughing at me. And I know you were planning to take my money and run.

Well, the joke’s on you. That inheritance wasn’t

6,200.Itwas∗∗6,200.Itwas∗∗

6.2 million*. And every penny of it is mine. I’ve already filed for divorce. You have 30 days to collect your things and get out of my apartment. Have a nice life, Emily.*

Mark let out a strangled yell of shock and rage as the letter fluttered to the floor.

As he sank to the ground in defeat, I was worlds away, stretched out on a beach chair, a fruity cocktail in hand. I thought about the cozy beach bungalow I had just put an offer on.

Everything happens for a reason, Aunt Anna used to say. I raised my glass to the sky in a silent toast, thanking my wise aunt for the lesson and the inheritance. For the first time in forever, I couldn’t wait to see what surprises life had in store for me next.