I never expected an email from my ex-husband’s new wife, especially not one with a bill attached. The list of “expenses caused by me” left me speechless, but I wasn’t about to let her nonsense slide.
I’d been divorced from Matt for two years, thought life had moved on—until his wife, Stephanie, decided to bill me for fixing what she thought I’d broken in his life. Spoiler: I wasn’t paying a cent. But I had a response she’d never forget.
After our divorce, I loved living on my own. Matt and I had been completely different. I wanted a partner; he wanted someone to take care of him. The reality hit after the honeymoon phase ended.
Matt was great at first, but once we got married, his true colors showed: wet towels on the floor, dirty dishes, unfinished projects. I ended up managing his life—booking doctor appointments, handling bills—while he played video games and lost his job.
I realized I wasn’t his wife. I was his mom. Our divorce was amicable, or so I thought. Then Matt quickly remarried Stephanie, a self-proclaimed “queen” with a lot of drama. She called me before their wedding, asking for photos of Matt and me to include in their slideshow.
A month later, I got an email titled “Invoice for Outstanding Expenses,” listing ridiculous charges like $300 for Matt’s eye doctor appointment and $2,500 for a new wardrobe. The total: over $5,000.
Shocked, I decided to have some fun. I drafted a counter-invoice, charging Stephanie for the emotional labor I’d done during my marriage. I even CC’d some friends. The responses were hilarious, and soon my phone was blowing up with messages.
Stephanie wasn’t happy. She tried to explain, but the more she talked, the worse it got. Matt eventually apologized, the first time he ever did. At a party later, someone asked him if he’d paid me back for the “emotional labor,” and he turned bright red and left.
Now, whenever someone mentions Stephanie, they say, “Oh, you mean the one with the bill?” And honestly? I regret nothing.