Jason was detained by another officer who asked him to come down to the precinct to give a statement regarding his company's financial discrepancies. I turned off the cameras and let out a long sigh. This revenge was much more entertaining than I had imagined. Everything I had predicted would take weeks or months to happen had come to fruition in just 3 days.

That afternoon, I drove to the private bank in Geneva. Manager Maurice received me personally. Madam, the asset portfolio you have deposited with our bank is very stable. He handed me a report. Considering your investment profile, I recommend slightly increasing investments in gold and fine art.

While glancing through the report, I saw a familiar name. This collection of ancient Asian art that is up for auction now. Does it include Song Dynasty ceramics. Yes, it belongs to an Asian collector who wishes to remain anonymous. Maurice smiled.

If you are interested, I can arrange a private viewing. No thank you. I shook my head. They were from my personal collection.

Leaving the bank, I received a text message from an unknown number. You think you've won, don't you? I will find you. I swear I will find you. It was Jason.

I smiled and blocked the number. It wasn't worth paying attention to the barking of a stray dog. Back at my lakeside villa, I decided to put the finishing touch on my revenge. I turned on my laptop and compiled a single file containing all the info about Chloe's other men, her hotel logs, and the baby's DNA prediction report. I attached a photo of Chloe being arrested by the cops and emailed it to Jason.

The subject line was, "Wishing you all the happiness in the world." After hitting send, I felt an unprecedented sense of liberation. The massive boulder that had weighed on my heart for the last half year had finally shattered into pieces. I had dinner at a restaurant by the lake. The chef prepared a traditional Swiss fondue for me.

While enjoying my meal, my phone buzzed. It was Betty. I hesitated for a moment but answered, "Hello, sister-in-law." "No, Valerie." Betty's voice was choked with tears.

"I know I have no right to ask for anything, but the family is completely ruined. Dad had a heart attack from the stress. Mom has lost her mind. My brother is being investigated by the police, and the company is filing for bankruptcy tomorrow." I swirled my wine glass in silence.

Valerie, please could you loan us some money? Betty's voice faded. I know it's a crazy request, Betty. I interrupted her calmly. Do you remember what your entire family did to me on my birthday?

There was a long silence on the other end. I'm sorry, she finally said between sobs. You don't have to apologize. I broke off a piece of bread. Anyway, I have no intention of accepting your apology.

I hung up, put the phone on silent, and continued my dinner. Outside, Lake Lucerne shimmerred, and the snow-capped mountains stood majestic in the distance. The world was so big, and my new life had only just begun.

Back at the villa, I couldn't resist checking the news from the US again. Gallagher, Inc. had officially entered liquidation, and several partner companies and banks had filed lawsuits. Social media was flooded with revelations about Chloe, her history of fraud, proof of her simultaneous relationships with several wealthy businessmen, and even photos of her past working in strip clubs. But what surprised me most was a message from Sarah. Chloe confessed everything.

She says the baby she was expecting was actually Michael's. Amidst that dramatic twist, I was speechless for a few seconds. Michael, the brother-in-law, always quiet and reserved, had had an affair with Chloe. Now I understood his complex look at the hospital. I replied to Sarah.

Does Jason know? Yep. Found out at the precinct and lunged at Michael. The cops had to pull them apart. The Gallagher family is a total powder keg right now.

I shook my head and turned off the phone. That soap opera had nothing to do with me anymore. Before going to sleep, I checked my email. There was an invitation from an auction house. Those pieces of Song Dynasty ceramics were going up for auction next month and the lot was expected to fetch over 5 million Swiss francs.

I replied, confirming my attendance and closed the laptop. Standing in front of the window, I watched the moonlight spill over the lake, breaking into thousands of silver fragments. The Valerie who trembled with humiliation and betrayal half a year ago, had now found a completely new life on the other side of the world. The taste of revenge was sweeter than I had imagined, not because of the pleasure it produced, but because it had finally made me realize that some people didn't deserve an ounce of my sincerity and that I deserved a much better life. Tomorrow, I would visit the local art school to discuss a collaborative project.

Next week, I had an appointment with the best OB-GYN in Switzerland for a full checkup. Next month, when those antiques sold at auction, I would start a foundation to help female victims of domestic violence. The Gallagher family was now a thing of the past. As my grandmother always said, "The wicked bring about their own punishment, and we just have to live better." The night was deep.

I got into bed, leaving my grandmother's jade pendant on the nightstand. Tonight, without a doubt, I would have sweet dreams. When the doorbell rang, I was in the living room reviewing sketches for my new studio. Through the video intercom, I saw a man with an unkempt beard and sunken eyes. His suit was wrinkled, as if he had been wearing it for a very long time.

I narrowed my eyes, and after about 3 seconds, I realized it was Jason. In half a year, he seemed to have aged at least a decade. I didn't open the door immediately. Instead, I poured myself a glass of red wine, and after slowly savoring a sip, I pressed the unlock button. Valerie.

As soon as he saw me, Jason fell to his knees with a heavy thud. Finally, I finally found you. I took a step back, dodging his hand as it tried to grab the hem of my skirt. Swiss floors are hard. You're going to hurt your knees.

Valerie, I was wrong. I was so wrong about everything. He looked up, his eyes filled with tears. That witch Chloe tricked me. The company went bankrupt.