CHAPTER 1 — The Cruelest Revenge He Could Imagine
"Meet your new roommate."
Those were the last words Daniel Carter said before throwing the yellow folder onto the dining table.
Inside were the legal documents transferring his half of the house to a homeless man named Viktor.
Rachel Carter stared at the papers, unable to believe what she was reading.
"You sold our home... to a stranger?"
Daniel laughed.
"Not just any stranger. The first homeless man I found outside the supermarket."
Behind him stood Viktor.
His gray beard was tangled.
His jacket smelled of rain and cigarettes.
His boots were falling apart.
Daniel wrapped one arm around Tiffany, his glamorous mistress dressed in designer sunglasses and a white summer dress.
"I figured you deserved some company after I leave."
Rachel felt her knees weaken.
Twenty-four years of marriage.
Everything reduced to humiliation.
Their son, Ethan, had moved across the country for graduate school only two months earlier.
Now Rachel was completely alone.
Daniel looked around the living room proudly.
"I've always hated this house anyway. Now you can enjoy sharing it with him."
He tossed Viktor an extra fifty dollars.
"Remember, old man. Half of this place belongs to you now."
Viktor quietly nodded.
He never smiled.
He barely spoke.
Daniel mistook his silence for stupidity.
That made the joke even funnier.
Neighbors peeked through curtains as Daniel loaded suitcases into his expensive SUV.
He kissed Tiffany dramatically.
"We're flying to Malibu."
Rachel stood frozen on the porch.
Daniel winked.
"When I come back, maybe you'll already be married to your homeless prince."
The SUV disappeared around the corner.
Silence covered the street.
Rachel slowly walked back inside.
Viktor remained standing near the entrance, awkwardly holding a plastic grocery bag that contained everything he owned.
For several long seconds neither spoke.
Finally Viktor removed his old cap.
"I'm sorry."
Rachel looked up.
"What?"
"I'm sorry your husband used me."
His voice was calm.
Educated.
Nothing like the broken speech she expected.
She frowned.
"You... don't sound homeless."
A faint smile appeared.
"I wasn't always."
He carefully placed the folder on the table.
"I should probably tell you the truth."
Rachel crossed her arms.
"I think you should."
Viktor slowly sat down.
"My name is Viktor Volkov."
"I used to own one of the largest construction companies in the state."
Rachel blinked.
"...What?"
"I lost everything."
His eyes drifted toward the window.
"My business partner stole millions."
"My wife left."
"My daughter died from leukemia."
"I stopped caring."
"I walked away from my companies."
"I've been living on the streets for almost six years."
Rachel couldn't move.
She had expected many things.
Not this.
Viktor reached into his worn jacket.
Instead of alcohol...
He pulled out an expensive Swiss watch.
It had scratches.
But it was real.
"I kept one reminder of my old life."
Rachel stared silently.
Then she asked the only question that mattered.
"If you're really telling the truth... why did you agree to this?"
Viktor looked toward the empty chair where Daniel had been sitting.
"Because I wanted to see what kind of man would sell half his home... just to destroy the woman who once loved him."
Rachel suddenly laughed.
Then cried.
Then laughed again.
For the first time in years...
Someone had actually seen her pain.
That evening Rachel cooked dinner.
Simple soup.
Fresh bread.
Two bowls.
It was the first peaceful meal the house had seen in a long time.
Neither of them realized...
Someone was secretly taking photos through the living-room window.
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And by morning...
Those pictures would change everything.
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