Page 91 of Cursing My Cheating Husband

We held each other for a long while. When he spoke again, his playfulness had turned into something more serious.

“Thank god for that curse. I needed it,” he said.

“I never would have guessed I’d hear you grateful for it.”

“Me neither. Thanks for inspiring me to change.”

And then the most incredible rush went through me.

I’d been wrestling with the question for months: what did I want to do with my life?

And suddenly, with Maddox’s arms around me and that bone-deep sense of safety settling into my chest, my mind felt clear in a way it hadn’t in years. The answer was right there. Not every detail, but the vision, and the certainty that I could figure everything else out.

I could see the path forward now.

I bolted upright in bed.

“I know what I want to do.”

He sat up too, immediately just as excited as I was. “Tell me everything.”

“I’m not going to get a job. I’m going to open my own business. And I want you to work there,” I said.

“That sounds amazing. I can’t wait. What kind of business are we getting into?”

“The curses. Everyone keeps telling me how brilliant I am at curse magic. And look at you. You’re completely transformed, and much happier. The curse didn’t just punish you, it actually made you into a better person.”

“It did,” he agreed, nodding enthusiastically.

“So that’s what we’re going to do. Help people who’ve been betrayed. Design curses that create real accountability, real change, and real healing.” I grinned. “Restorative curses. Justice for the betrayed. Reform for the betrayers.”

“That’s genius. Callie, you’re going to help so many people.”

“We’re going to,” I said, as I pulled him into a kiss.

EPILOGUE

CALLIE

Six Months Later

My eyes popped open at five AM, and I was immediately wide awake.

I’d known it was going to be impossible to get a full night of sleep ahead of launch day for Restorative Curses. But at least I’d gotten some rest in. I had worried it might be an entirely sleepless evening.

I resolved not to wake Maddox. For all these months of getting the business ready, he’d been such an incredible rock. He deserved a full eight hours.

Of course, the intent was in my head for a fraction of a second before I realized I didn’t sense his weight next to me.

I was alone in bed.

I sat up, taking in the expansive view from our downtown apartment. The unit itself was modest, but the view… we’d been here for months now, but it still impressed me every time I laid eyes on it. So glittering and awake, even at this ungodsly hour.

The soft clink of a pan and the scrape of a spatula carried through the open bedroom door. I pulled on my robe and padded down the hall to the kitchen.

Maddox stood at the stove, his back to me, completely focused on whatever he was cooking. He’d thrown on sweatpants and nothing else, his shoulder blades shifting as he worked. The table was already set with orange juice and tea.

I settled into my chair just as Maddox slid a golden omelet onto my plate.