As the sun dipped behind the tall city buildings, Lisa hurried out of her office, excitement bubbling inside her. She was 28, a sharp lawyer with a strong heart, and she had been dating Max for three months. Tonight was special — she planned a surprise for him, certain their love was real and ready for the next step: marriage.
Max was already waiting by his car, holding a bright bouquet of flowers. “These are for you,” he said, his smile warm and confident.
Lisa’s eyes sparkled. “Thank you! They’re gorgeous,” she said, taking the flowers and inhaling their sweet scent.
Sliding into the passenger seat, Lisa felt a rush of happiness. Max glanced at her hand and asked playfully, “Let me see the engagement ring again. I want to see how perfectly it suits you.”
Lisa extended her hand. But then Max noticed something else — an old, delicate ring on another finger. “What’s this one?” he asked, curious.
“That’s a family heirloom,” Lisa said softly. “It’s very special to me.”
Max nodded, impressed. “Looks expensive.”
“It is, but more than that—it’s a memory. My grandmother gave it to me.”
As they drove, Max’s mood shifted. He sighed and said, “My dad’s in the hospital. He needs surgery that costs a lot. I don’t have the money right now. I invested everything in a startup.”
Lisa’s heart tightened. “How much do you need? Maybe I can help.”
Max hesitated. “About $50,000.”
Lisa bit her lip. “I… I don’t have that kind of money saved.”
“Weren’t you saving for a house?” Max reminded her. “I’ll pay you back when the startup pays off.”
Lisa looked out the window, thinking. “I’ll try to figure something out. We’ll find a way.”
Max smiled, relief washing over him. “Thanks, Lisa. You’re amazing.”
Suddenly, Max’s phone rang. He answered quickly, then frowned. “My housekeeper just told me the basement is flooded. I have to go fix it. I’m sorry, but I can’t make dinner with your parents tonight.”
Lisa felt a pang of disappointment but nodded. “I get it. It’s important. Can we reschedule for tomorrow?”
Max shook his head sadly. “No, I don’t think I can. It’ll take time.”
The car slowed at a red light, and Lisa made a sudden decision. “I’m getting out here,” she said quietly.
Max looked shocked. “Why?”
“I need time to think. You have your house to deal with.”
Lisa stepped into the busy street and walked fast, her mind racing. She went to her parents’ house, seeking comfort.
Her dad, Tom, listened carefully. “Why don’t you surprise Max? Sometimes couples just need to talk things out.”
Lisa frowned. “I don’t even know where he lives.”
Tom smiled knowingly. “Leave that to me.”
Minutes later, he handed her a paper with Max’s address. “Good luck, Lisa.”
Lisa’s heart pounded as she reached the door and rang the bell. A woman opened it, her eyes sharp.
“You must be the housekeeper. Is Max home?” Lisa asked nervously.
“No, I’m his wife, Kate,” the woman said coldly. “And who are you?”
Lisa’s voice shook. “I’m Lisa… his fiancée.”
Kate’s face twisted with anger. “Fiancée? That’s a joke. He’s married—to me. Look.” She held up her wedding ring.
Lisa’s shock turned to confusion and hurt. “He never told me. I didn’t know.”
Kate’s fury exploded. “You’re trying to steal my husband!” She started throwing things.
“Get out. And don’t come near him again!” Kate yelled, slamming the door.
Lisa sat on the doorstep, tears streaming down her face. Soon, Kate returned with two glasses of wine and sat beside her.
“This jerk cheated on both of us,” Kate said bitterly. “We’ve been married seven years.”
Lisa wiped her tears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
Kate looked at her carefully. “Max told me he needed money for his dad’s surgery.”
Lisa nodded. “Yes, fifty thousand dollars.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “His father died five years ago. He lied to both of us.”
Lisa felt her anger grow. “We should confront him.”
Kate pulled out her phone. “I’ll call him now.”
When Max answered, he said he had to stop by his office. Flooding was a lie, Lisa thought.
The two women went to Max’s office. His guard recognized Kate and let them in. They searched the office and found shocking evidence: loan papers in Kate’s name, a mortgaged house, and fake passports with different names.
Kate gasped. “So his name isn’t even Max! He’s a fraud.”
Lisa’s heart sank. “He might have planned to scam me.”
Kate looked grim. “We were supposed to go to Chicago for an auction in three days. Max convinced me to sell a painting I loved.”
Lisa’s curiosity peaked. “What auction?”
Kate waved it off. “It doesn’t matter now. We have bigger things to handle.”
Lisa studied the passports. “We could hand him over to the police.”
Kate shook her head. “No. That’s too easy. He’ll run. I want him to see what he’s lost.” She smiled cruelly. “Transfer the money to him. We’ll track the withdrawal with the police.”
Lisa hesitated. “I’m saving for a house. I can’t risk losing everything.”
Kate’s eyes burned with determination. “Do you want justice? To put him behind bars?”
Lisa nodded firmly. “Yes.”
Kate grinned. “Then let’s do this.”
Lisa called Max. “Hi, Max. Want to meet for lunch today?”
“Sure. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
Kate’s phone buzzed. “It’s Max,” she whispered.
She answered coldly, “Hello?”
“I’ll be late. Don’t wait for me.”
After the call, Lisa sat across from Max at lunch. “I’ve decided to give you the money for your father’s treatment.”
Max’s face lit up. “Thank you, Lisa. You’re amazing.”
Lisa forced a smile as she transferred the money, hiding the storm inside.
They finished the meal quietly. Max seemed unaware he had walked into a trap.
Later, Max asked to use Lisa’s bathroom. She let him, feeling uneasy.
When he left, Lisa called Kate but got no answer.
Worry crept in. She drove to Max and Kate’s house—empty. They had vanished.
Panicking, Lisa called her dad. “Dad, Max and Kate took all my savings and ran away.”
Tom sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, Lisa. These con artists cover their tracks well. We’ll try to find them, but it won’t be easy.”
Back home, Lisa realized her family heirloom ring was missing. She searched everywhere, then remembered Max had it when he used her bathroom.
Her heart ached. That ring was a treasure passed down for generations, not just a piece of jewelry.
Suddenly, she recalled Kate’s auction story. Maybe Max was selling the ring there.
Lisa contacted a trusted client familiar with secret auctions. He helped her get inside an underground auction in Chicago.
Disguised, Lisa entered the dimly lit room. Kate was on stage, holding Lisa’s ring.
“That’s my ring!” Lisa whispered urgently to a woman nearby, but no one believed her.
The bidding soared. Lisa’s heart hammered as the price climbed higher and higher.
Finally, she won the ring for $300,000.
Kate’s voice trembled. “How will you pay?”
Lisa stood, eyes burning with determination. Walking to the stage, she faced Kate and shouted, “Max will pay for everything.”
Suddenly, police officers stormed in, chaos erupting as they arrested Kate.
Lisa watched, a mix of relief and sadness flooding her.
At the police station, behind a one-way mirror, Lisa saw Kate being questioned.
The detective said, “Tell us where Max is, and we can make this easier for you.”
Kate hesitated, then agreed, “I want a deal. Reduced sentence.”
She gave an address.
Later, Lisa watched as Max was brought in, his confident mask gone.
The detective told him, “You’re in big trouble. Fraud, theft, identity theft. Kate spilled everything.”
Max’s defeat was clear. His con was over.
Lisa felt a strange mix of pain and satisfaction. Justice was finally served.
Walking out of the station into the cool night air, Lisa took a deep breath. She had her ring back. She had closure. And she was ready — ready to start a new chapter of her life, stronger than before.
