When my mother passed away and left me a $400,000 inheritance, my husband Peter turned into a doting, sweet man—at least at first. But when I told him I wouldn’t be spending the money on luxury cars or vacations, his mask slipped. He quickly went from charming to distant, and within weeks, he coldly announced he wanted a divorce. What he didn’t know was that my mother had foreseen this exact scenario—and had already taken steps to protect me.

My mom and I had a strained relationship in her final years, mostly because she didn’t trust Peter. Though she never outright said it, her silent disapproval spoke volumes. When she passed away and I inherited everything, Peter’s enthusiasm for our marriage strangely spiked. He began pitching lavish ideas—from new cars to beach houses—but I was cautious. When I reminded him the money was mine, his demeanor changed drastically, and he became cold and resentful.

Then came the real twist—he asked for a divorce. What he thought would secure him half of the inheritance actually triggered the exact opposite. I calmly handed him a legal document my mother had prepared: her will stated that I would only receive the inheritance after a divorce, and no spouse could touch a cent. Peter went pale. Mom had seen through him years ago—this was her final move to protect me, even from beyond the grave.

We divorced quietly. I moved into my mom’s old house, fixed it up, and started a new chapter in life—on my terms. Peter, on the other hand, walked away with nothing. My mother’s final gift wasn’t just money—it was freedom from a man who only loved the idea of wealth, not me.