I stared at my laptop screen, my eyes scanning the email that had just landed in my inbox. The subject line read “Invoice for Outstanding Expenses,” and I couldn’t help but laugh. Who sends an ex-wife a bill for past expenses? My ex-husband’s new wife, Stephanie, apparently.
As I read through the email, my amusement turned to shock. Stephanie was billing me for everything from Matt’s eye doctor appointment to a new wardrobe, totaling over $5,000. Her reasoning? I had supposedly neglected Matt during our marriage, and now she was left to pick up the pieces.
I couldn’t believe the audacity. Who does this woman think she is? I thought to myself. I decided then and there that I wouldn’t let this slide. I would respond, and I would make it count.
I sat down at my laptop and began typing. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I crafted a response that would leave Stephanie speechless. I started by acknowledging her email, then proceeded to refute each and every one of her claims.
I reminded her that Matt had refused to go to the eye doctor for years, and that I had been the one to encourage him to take care of his health. I laughed at the idea that I was responsible for his outdated wardrobe, pointing out that he had been perfectly happy with his “ironic graphic tees” during our marriage.
As I continued to type, my response grew more and more sarcastic. I poked fun at Stephanie’s attempt to bill me for Matt’s therapy sessions, suggesting that maybe she should be paying me for putting up with his antics during our marriage.
Finally, I got to the good part. I attached a counter-invoice of my own, billing Stephanie for the emotional labor I had put in during our marriage. I itemized each and every expense, from managing the household responsibilities to reminding Matt to call his mom.
The total? A whopping $30,000.
I hit send, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me. I had taken Stephanie down a peg, and I had done it with style.
The response was immediate. My phone started blowing up with calls and messages from mutual friends, all of whom were dying to know more about the drama. Stephanie, on the other hand, was not amused.
She tried to explain herself, but it only made her sound more and more ridiculous. Matt even called me, apologizing for his wife’s behavior.
In the end, I emerged victorious. I had stood up for myself, and I had done it with humor and style. And as for Stephanie? Well, let’s just say she won’t be sending me any more bills anytime soon.
If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: After a painful divorce, Teresa thought she was finally moving on with her life. But when her ex-husband’s family turned vicious, she realized she wasn’t alone. An unexpected ally stepped in, demanding justice and turning the tables on Teresa’s tormentors.
