My best friend, Cassidy Braun, earned a modest monthly salary of 2,800 dollars, only to constantly trash her doting husband with an annual income of 600,000 dollars, labelling him a broke loser.

“That incompetent husband of mine can’t even afford a 20-carat diamond ring!

“I have the looks that can bag me a billionaire. I must have been out of my mind to marry that piece of trash.”

I chimed in. “You’re right. You’re practically a goddess. Only a Greek God stands a chance with you.”

Eventually, Cassidy left her husband and hooked up with a trust-fund kid, just as she wanted.

A year later, she was scammed out of every penny she owned and diagnosed with cancer. Fragile and broken, she came to me.

“I heard that ex-husband of mine remarried and that he’s loaded now. Judging by the way he used to worship the ground I walked on, I bet he’ll drop the woman in a heartbeat if I ask to get back together.”

I gave a dismissive nod while running my fingers along the new Birkin bag my husband had bought. “Oh, absolutely. He’s pretty wealthy now.”

“Why am I wasting my time with the deadbeat? I should dump him already.”

For the umpteenth time, Cassidy threw yet another glass, her delicate facial features grimacing with rage.

As the shattered glass shards landed near my feet, I quietly bent over to pick them up.

Her shrill voice boomed above my head. “Just look at this! What am I supposed to do with peanuts? It’s not even enough to cover a designer bag!”

I looked up and saw the bank transaction notification on her mobile screen. My eyes widened in surprise at the 50,000-dollar transfer.

Josh Fray’s pay had climbed to the 50,000-mark.

A subtle emotion stirred within me.

I regularly came across pictures of Josh leaving the office late into the night that he shared on social media.

“Cass, Josh’s been swamped with work lately. I heard that his firm is bidding for a massive project.”

I disposed of the glass shards in the waste can with caution.

“Plus, he hands over his entire paycheck to you. That’s more than what most men do, and I’m honestly jealous of you. I’d give anything to have a husband like yours.”

“More than what most men do? You call this sad pittance adequate?”

With a scoff, Cassidy tapped her rose-pink nails against the screen.

“Talia Dix, aren’t you a little too easy to please?

“You’re not getting any younger. You should get yourself a good catch while you’re still in your prime.”

Cassidy leaned closer, her heavy perfume overwhelming my senses.

“A friend from school started dating this guy last week, and he bought her a bag that will take Josh three months to pay off, and she isn’t even half as pretty as I am.

“I deserve to be with a billionaire. I should just dump Josh’s sorry ass and be done with it.”

I opened my mouth with the intention of dissuading her. However, on second thought, her mind was already made up.

Cassidy assessed what a man could bring to the table by the number in his bank balance.

I humored her. “Yes, of course. You’re a total babe. No one is good enough for you.”

Josh was the perfect example of a family-oriented man.

Just yesterday, I spotted Josh in the grocery aisle, studying labels for the best formula for Teddie.

“I’m divorcing that loser.”

“But Teddie is only a year old. Are you really going to leave—”

“Teddie?” Cassidy cut me off.

Raising her brow, Cassidy uttered indifferently, “The kid’s going to struggle without money anyway.

“Once I find the right man, I’ll come back for him, so he can live the high life too.”

Cassidy’s world revolved around no one but herself.

The child she had constantly shown off on her social feed could be cast aside in the face of her own interest.

Sure enough, Cassidy was dead set on the divorce.

She swiftly packed her bags and moved out of the house. Not even taking another glance at Teddie, she was eager to begin her hunt for a wealthy suitor.

Josh had lost a lot of weight, his face unshaven, when he opened the door as I came to check on him. The house smelled of microwave meals.

Teddie was wailing in his stroller, his cheeks flushed from crying.

“What brings you here, Talia?”

Josh forced a smile, his voice hoarse.

“I heard that Cass moved out. I came to see if you needed a hand with anything.”

I stepped into the house and picked Teddie up for a gentle cuddle before sorting out the absolute disaster.

Standing motionless, Josh watched my back as I worked. “Talia, am I that much of a loser?”

I looked back at the steadfastly stoic man whose eyes welled up.

Cupping his flushed face between my hands, I stared into his eyes. “Cass is blind to see what a great catch you are.

“You’re in the top 20% elite. Your qualities extend beyond your looks. You’re a devoted husband, a competent worker, and a man of integrity. Cass can’t see how lucky she is, but I can.”

“Talia…” Josh’s face turned red. He looked at me with a complex of emotions.

I blushed. “The truth is, I’ve always had feelings for you, but you only have eyes for Cass.”

We used to work together seven years ago. He had joined the firm two years before me. Sharp and efficient in his approach, Josh was always there to lend me a hand.

I fell for him back then. However, my reserved nature held me back from ever spilling my feelings out.

When Cassidy, vibrant and flamboyant as she was, came into the picture, I knew it was my cue to step aside.

“I admire the way you take on life. I look up to your strength and sense of responsibility. I’m drawn to your kindness. I can only dream of being the woman you love.”

The flat-out compliment sparked a light in Josh’s eyes, and I seized the moment to take his hands in mine.

“Will you let me be Teddie’s mother?”

…

In the coming days, I took it upon myself to care for Teddie.

I would stop by Josh’s place every day after work to cook, clean, and keep Teddie occupied.

Josh was polite at first, then increasingly dependent on me. Our connection deepened in the routines of home.

One rainy night, I tucked Teddie into bed before leaving. Josh walked me to the door and grabbed my hands.

“Thank you, Talia. Without your help, I honestly don’t think I could’ve pulled through.”

His grip was tender yet firm, and his eyes held a gentleness I’d never seen before.

Josh took his time to look at me before opening up in embarrassment.

“Do you still mean what you said earlier?”

As rain pattered against the window, the silence of the room was broken only by the sound of our beating hearts.

I met his sincere gaze and nodded ever-so slightly.

A kiss fell upon me, soft and silent.

Less than three months after his divorce from Cassidy was finalized, Josh and I got our marriage license.

We skipped the grand affair and opted for an intimate celebration with our close friends.

I shared my marriage license on social media with the caption, “The wait is over, and I finally have you.”

The post included a tag for Josh, deliberately meant to catch Cassidy’s attention.

Minutes later, Cassidy left a comment. “Heh. Funny how you’re so proud of taking over my leftovers.”

I replied calmly, “Yeah. Thank you for giving up on him, babe. I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”

Setting my phone down, I watched with a smile as Josh fed Teddie with a bottle.

Married life basically turned me into the ultimate simp wife.

Josh earned 50,000 dollars a month, working in a tech firm. While he was no millionaire, I felt like I hit the jackpot since I made a monthly income of 3,000 dollars.

Just two days into our marriage, Josh gave me full control of his bank accounts.

“You’ll manage the money for our family, Talia.”

Moved to tears, I gave him a huge hug and a big smooch on his cheek.

“The only things that make my heart race are heavy rain and you. You’re so wonderful, I love you, babe.”

Compliments must be Josh’s love language because blush crept across his face, and his lips curled into a smile.

He reached out to pull me closer into his arms and said in delight, “You’re my wife, silly. Of course, I’m going to take care of you.”

Josh made me feel like a princess, showing up after work with a different surprise each day.

Sometimes, it was a bouquet. Other times, my sweet tooth would be in for a treat.

He was always quick to help around the house at home, often saying, “I can’t let my wife overwork herself, can I? Take a break. I’ve got this covered.”

I’d get creative in preparing his lunches, making sure he had a balanced diet of meat and vegetables. I even used cutters to make adorable shapes of his food.

The smile never left his face whenever he was home at night.

“Since the meeting ran late today, I had my lunch in the conference room. Edmund from the other department was completely green with envy when I opened my lunchbox. Apparently, the only food his wife would get him is from takeout.”

I said with a playful pout, “Duh, my husband deserves the best lunch in the world.”

Dragging Josh to the mall, I picked out some well-made clothes for him that were made to last.

My eyes sparkled as Josh tried on new things.

“As expected, you look amazing in everything. This piece, especially, makes you look fit and lean.”

I ran my hands over his abs and gushed, “This outfit is made for you. You look so good!”

Each time Josh and I attended social events with his friends or colleagues, I made sure to dress up and behave in a way that reflected well on him.

When the conversation turned to work or life, I would stare at Josh with pride and admiration.

“You’ll have to ask my husband. He’s the expert.

“He’s the glue that holds the family together. I don’t have wild ambitions. I’m just there to support him.”

Friends often teased that Josh married his number one fan.

He’d pull me closer with a smile, the proud look on his face visible for all to see.

At first, Josh couldn’t get used to my open affection and constant adoration.

There were times he’d shyly tell me to take it down a notch.

However, it didn’t take him long to get hooked on being needed and depended on.

Josh didn’t stop at wiring his monthly paycheck to my bank account. He’d even transfer bonuses or incentives from wrapping up a project successfully.

“A little something for the lovely missus. Don’t worry about the money. Just treat yourself.

“Spend what you need to. You deserve the best.”

…

I stared at my bank balance, my eyes sparkling. In the past, I could never dream about getting my hands on 50,000 dollars a month.

It was my cue to lay on the charm. “I feel bad because you work so hard to earn your keep. I’ll be sure to spend wisely.

True to my word, I spent every penny.

The designer bag I’d been eyeing? I went ahead and bought it.

The jewelry piece that caught my eye? Bought it.

High-end skincare? Done.

Meanwhile, Cassidy’s quest to bag a billionaire husband hadn’t been quite successful.

Leveraging her looks and tactics, Cassidy befriended several rich heirs and tagged along to upscale venues.

Her social media remained a highlight reel of luxury goods and extravagant dinners as she bounced from one high-end party to the next.

While these wealthy heirs showered her with lavish gifts, they would never introduce her at important family gatherings or important events.

Whenever she dropped hints about a future or commitment together, these men would shut her down by changing the subject with a joke or buying her a more expensive bag.

Over time, Cassidy’s photos started to reveal the strain behind the glamor. Beneath the flawless makeup lay a forced smile and weary eyes.

I shared a photo of our family picnic at the park. The moment couldn’t be sweeter.

Cassidy left a bitter comment. “You have no shame to pick up my unwanted junk, Talia.”

“I’d be happy to pick up a few more like Josh.”

I posted a loving picture of Josh and me on social media.

“Oh, wow. Even nannies have upgraded to include bed services.”

I replied to her comment in composure, “Exactly. Thank you for the opportunity, Cass. I’m lucky to be my husband’s all-in-one nanny. :)”

Then, I posted a shot of Josh carrying Teddie on his shoulders, their faces beaming with pure joy.