The Rich Life She Deserved - Chapter 3: Chapter 3
You are reading The Rich Life She Deserved, Chapter 3: Chapter 3. Read more chapters of The Rich Life She Deserved.
Cedric was swamped. The moment he finished dinner, he got called back to the office for overtime.
The second he left, I let out a quiet sigh of relief and flopped onto the couch. The extra weight around my waist spilled over in soft rolls, sinking slightly into the cushions beneath me.
I pinched the flesh there and grimaced.
Before marriage, I'd never let myself go above 180 pounds. That toned, disciplined body had taken years of hard work to maintain. But now? This version of me clearly needed some serious damage control.
I grabbed Vivian's phone, unlocked it, and pulled up the notes app. Within minutes, I'd mapped out a strict weight-loss plan.
Just as I finished, a new notification popped up.
The sender's name? Dmn Nouveau Riche.* Attached was a video.
The clip showed a sprawling walk-in closet glittering with jewelry. Hundreds of luxury items sparkled under the lights. "I" stood in front of a mirror, draped in a diamond-encrusted gown, arms overflowing with designer bags…
Dmn Nouveau Riche:* [Too bad my darling husband's away on business—he's missing out on how stunning I look. Jealous? My life's your fantasy, but hey, envy won't get you anywhere.]
I snorted, shaking my head.
Vivian—no, Jeanette now.
If she loved that gilded cage so much, she was welcome to stay in it.
A smirk tugged at my lips as my fingers flew across the screen. [Enjoy it while it lasts.]
I hit send, blocked her immediately, and tossed the phone aside before sinking back into the couch. Closing my eyes, I drifted into the first deep, peaceful sleep I'd had since my wedding day.
Even in Vivian's body, my internal clock didn't waver. At 6 a.m. sharp, my eyes snapped open.
For a split second, I thought yesterday had been a dream—until I saw Vivian's face staring back from the mirror. The realization hit, and I grinned.
I was free.
A long exhale escaped me, and somehow, even this heavier body felt lighter. I gave my reflection a determined nod, threw on workout clothes, and headed out for a run.
This body was mine now, and I wasn't about to let it go to waste.
When I got back, I spotted a pair of men's running shoes by the door. Cedric must've come home.
But a quick glance around confirmed he wasn't here.
Breakfast waited on the table. As I approached, I noticed a sticky note beside it:
[Crashing first. Don't skip breakfast.]
I peeked inside the insulated container—still warm.
The guest bedroom door was shut, and the apartment was silent except for the occasional chirp of magpies outside. The sound lifted my mood.
Sticking to my diet, I only ate a boiled egg.
Jeanette didn't have a job, but Vivian did.
We'd both majored in accounting. The difference? I'd married straight out of college, while she'd landed a corporate gig. Luckily, I'd kept my skills sharp over the years. It took me just days to slip back into the rhythm and excel at the job.
In fact, I'd even caught an error in a financial report.
"Vivian, you've gotten way more detail-oriented. This is the kind of work ethic I can advocate for… Now I've got grounds to push for your raise."
My supervisor had come to my desk just to praise me, his approval written all over his face. A rush of pride swelled in my chest—something I hadn't felt in years.
For so long, all I'd gotten was skepticism and nitpicking.
Now, this sudden recognition left my fingers trembling slightly.
After he left, a coworker leaned over, curious. "Vivian, you always said working hard was pointless unless you married rich. What changed?"
I hadn't realized Vivian's reputation here was this bad.
I chuckled, refocusing on my screen. Keeping my tone dry, I said, "Past me wasn't the sharpest. Ignore anything stupid I said back then."
She blinked, then after a beat, squinted at me. "…Have you lost weight?"
The second he left, I let out a quiet sigh of relief and flopped onto the couch. The extra weight around my waist spilled over in soft rolls, sinking slightly into the cushions beneath me.
I pinched the flesh there and grimaced.
Before marriage, I'd never let myself go above 180 pounds. That toned, disciplined body had taken years of hard work to maintain. But now? This version of me clearly needed some serious damage control.
I grabbed Vivian's phone, unlocked it, and pulled up the notes app. Within minutes, I'd mapped out a strict weight-loss plan.
Just as I finished, a new notification popped up.
The sender's name? Dmn Nouveau Riche.* Attached was a video.
The clip showed a sprawling walk-in closet glittering with jewelry. Hundreds of luxury items sparkled under the lights. "I" stood in front of a mirror, draped in a diamond-encrusted gown, arms overflowing with designer bags…
Dmn Nouveau Riche:* [Too bad my darling husband's away on business—he's missing out on how stunning I look. Jealous? My life's your fantasy, but hey, envy won't get you anywhere.]
I snorted, shaking my head.
Vivian—no, Jeanette now.
If she loved that gilded cage so much, she was welcome to stay in it.
A smirk tugged at my lips as my fingers flew across the screen. [Enjoy it while it lasts.]
I hit send, blocked her immediately, and tossed the phone aside before sinking back into the couch. Closing my eyes, I drifted into the first deep, peaceful sleep I'd had since my wedding day.
Even in Vivian's body, my internal clock didn't waver. At 6 a.m. sharp, my eyes snapped open.
For a split second, I thought yesterday had been a dream—until I saw Vivian's face staring back from the mirror. The realization hit, and I grinned.
I was free.
A long exhale escaped me, and somehow, even this heavier body felt lighter. I gave my reflection a determined nod, threw on workout clothes, and headed out for a run.
This body was mine now, and I wasn't about to let it go to waste.
When I got back, I spotted a pair of men's running shoes by the door. Cedric must've come home.
But a quick glance around confirmed he wasn't here.
Breakfast waited on the table. As I approached, I noticed a sticky note beside it:
[Crashing first. Don't skip breakfast.]
I peeked inside the insulated container—still warm.
The guest bedroom door was shut, and the apartment was silent except for the occasional chirp of magpies outside. The sound lifted my mood.
Sticking to my diet, I only ate a boiled egg.
Jeanette didn't have a job, but Vivian did.
We'd both majored in accounting. The difference? I'd married straight out of college, while she'd landed a corporate gig. Luckily, I'd kept my skills sharp over the years. It took me just days to slip back into the rhythm and excel at the job.
In fact, I'd even caught an error in a financial report.
"Vivian, you've gotten way more detail-oriented. This is the kind of work ethic I can advocate for… Now I've got grounds to push for your raise."
My supervisor had come to my desk just to praise me, his approval written all over his face. A rush of pride swelled in my chest—something I hadn't felt in years.
For so long, all I'd gotten was skepticism and nitpicking.
Now, this sudden recognition left my fingers trembling slightly.
After he left, a coworker leaned over, curious. "Vivian, you always said working hard was pointless unless you married rich. What changed?"
I hadn't realized Vivian's reputation here was this bad.
I chuckled, refocusing on my screen. Keeping my tone dry, I said, "Past me wasn't the sharpest. Ignore anything stupid I said back then."
She blinked, then after a beat, squinted at me. "…Have you lost weight?"
End of The Rich Life She Deserved Chapter 3. Continue reading Chapter 4 or return to The Rich Life She Deserved book page.