A messy divorce is often a brutal game of chess. Most people just try to survive, trading pieces and hoping for a draw. If you are lucky, everyone plays by the rules, begrudgingly accepting the painful but predictable outcome.

But for one “finance guy,” a man who lived by the numbers, his wife’s betrayal wasn’t a move to be countered; it was a game to be ended. Checkmate was never going to be enough. He needed to flip the board over and take all the pieces with him.

More info: Reddit

Unfortunately, in some divorces, legally speaking, cheaters sometimes prosper, and it feels there is nothing you can do about it

A woman with an easy-going lifestyle embraces her husband closely in a bright, modern kitchen setting.

A woman with an easy-going lifestyle embraces her husband closely in a bright, modern kitchen setting. - 1

But one well-off finance guy took matters into his own hands when he was ordered to pay a massive settlement to his cheating wife

Text excerpt about a man refusing to pay alimony to his cheating ex-wife after her affair disrupts their lifestyle.

Text excerpt about a man refusing to pay alimony to his cheating ex-wife after her affair disrupts their lifestyle. - 2

Text about woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after husband discovers affair and leaves, causing family turmoil.

Text about woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after husband discovers affair and leaves, causing family turmoil. - 3

Alt text: Text about a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after her husband discovers her affair and flees.

Alt text: Text about a woman's easy-going lifestyle ending after her husband discovers her affair and flees. - 4

Text excerpt describing a woman’s easy-going lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom before her marriage fell apart.

Text excerpt describing a woman’s easy-going lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom before her marriage fell apart. - 5

Text on white background stating a man’s discovery of his wife’s affair leading to divorce ending her easy-going lifestyle.

Text on white background stating a man’s discovery of his wife’s affair leading to divorce ending her easy-going lifestyle. - 6

Hands holding wedding rings over a signed divorce decree, symbolizing the end of a woman’s easy-going lifestyle after her affair.

Hands holding wedding rings over a signed divorce decree, symbolizing the end of a woman’s easy-going lifestyle after her affair. - 7

He was unwilling to reward her betrayal, and he hatched a secret meticulous plan for revenge

Text excerpt about shared assets and finance management representing woman’s easy-going lifestyle disrupted by husband’s discovery of affair.

Text excerpt about shared assets and finance management representing woman's easy-going lifestyle disrupted by husband's discovery of affair. - 8

Alt text: Man expressing resentment after discovering wife’s affair, highlighting easy-going lifestyle turned dramatic.

Alt text: Man expressing resentment after discovering wife's affair, highlighting easy-going lifestyle turned dramatic. - 9

Text discussing a bitter divorce settlement where the woman’s easy-going lifestyle ends after her husband discovers her affair.

Text discussing a bitter divorce settlement where the woman’s easy-going lifestyle ends after her husband discovers her affair. - 10

Middle-aged man in casual clothes sitting thoughtfully in living room, reflecting on woman’s easy-going lifestyle and affair discovery.

Middle-aged man in casual clothes sitting thoughtfully in living room, reflecting on woman's easy-going lifestyle and affair discovery. - 11

He sold their house, moved all their assets to his home country, and then vanished, cutting off all payments

Text on a white background about moving back to home country as part of woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after affair is discovered.

Text on a white background about moving back to home country as part of woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after affair is discovered. - 12

Text describing a man planning to sell his house and move abroad, ending alimony after his wife’s affair ends their easy-going lifestyle.

Text describing a man planning to sell his house and move abroad, ending alimony after his wife's affair ends their easy-going lifestyle. - 13

Text excerpt about woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after husband discovers affair and flees, legal recourse discussed.

Text excerpt about woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after husband discovers affair and flees, legal recourse discussed. - 14

Text discussing children’s divided opinions on a woman’s easy-going lifestyle and the consequences of her affair.

Text discussing children’s divided opinions on a woman’s easy-going lifestyle and the consequences of her affair. - 15

He felt safe from U.S. law as he left her with nothing, but his grown children are now divided on the matter

A man who spent over 20 years working 12-hour days as a quantitative analyst (aka a finance bro) to fund his wife’s “extremely easy-going” stay-at-home-mom lifestyle recently discovered her long-term secret: she was cheating on him with her friend’s husband. The discovery immediately led to a divorce, a battle that would not be fought on a level playing field.

The court’s decision was a bitter pill for him to swallow. She was awarded half of their investments, 90% of which were held abroad in his name. To add insult to injury, he also had to pay 20 years of alimony . In his mind, instead of justice for a partnership, it was a reward for her betrayal, a price he was absolutely unwilling to pay.

So, this finance guy did what a finance guy does best: he found a loophole. He played along, pretending to cooperate while secretly orchestrating a grand, international escape plan. He sold their house, moved every last penny of their assets to his home country, and then, after stringing her along for a while, made his final move. He boarded a plane, vanished, and immediately stopped all alimony payments.

Now, safe in a country where she has “no legal recourse,” he has left her with a pittance, a brutal act of financial revenge. But his victory has come at a cost. His own children are now split, with his son on his side and his daughters siding with their mother. He’s now asking the internet to be the final judge in a family war of his own making.

Woman with a stressed expression holding her head, reflecting on the end of her easy-going lifestyle after affair discovery.

Woman with a stressed expression holding her head, reflecting on the end of her easy-going lifestyle after affair discovery. - 16

The court’s initial alimony ruling, while infuriating to the husband, is a standard outcome in a high-income, long-term marriage. As legal experts explain, spousal support is calculated based on the “marital lifestyle.” A 20-year marriage where one partner was a SAH parent almost always results in a significant award. Her infidelity, while emotionally devastating, is not a factor in a no-fault state, making the court’s decision a legal reality.

This situation is also a classic “gray divorce,” which, as the BBC notes, still has a divisive impact on adult children. They are forced to navigate the emotional fallout and are often put in a position of taking sides, just as his have. His decision to continue supporting the kids financially while cutting off their mother is a common, though fraught, attempt to separate his parental role from his spousal anger.

However, the husband’s “perfect” escape plan comes with an enormous and irreversible personal cost. To protect his assets in his home country, he wrote that he had to renounce his U.S. citizenship, as China does not recognize dual citizenship for adults. This means he can likely never return to the U.S. to see his children or attend major life events like weddings or graduations without significant legal hurdles.

His act of financial revenge was a legal maneuver at first, but it became an act of self-exile. In his quest to punish his ex-wife, he has also inflicted a second, profound loss on his children, who have now not only lost their intact family but also their father’s physical presence in their lives. His “victory” is a lonely and permanent one. Cut off your nose to spite your face much?

The internet was wildly divided, with some celebrating his cold revenge while others reminded him of the lasting scar he is leaving on the kids

Text conversation between two users discussing contributing to children’s needs, reflecting on a woman’s easy-going lifestyle abruptly ending.

Text conversation between two users discussing contributing to children’s needs, reflecting on a woman’s easy-going lifestyle abruptly ending. - 17

Screenshot of an online discussion about a woman’s easy-going lifestyle and her husband’s reaction to discovering her affair.

Screenshot of an online discussion about a woman's easy-going lifestyle and her husband's reaction to discovering her affair. - 18

Comment discussing alimony and labor relations after a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ends due to affair discovery.

Comment discussing alimony and labor relations after a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ends due to affair discovery. - 19

Woman facing consequences of affair as husband discovers it and leaves, ending her easy-going lifestyle abruptly.

Woman facing consequences of affair as husband discovers it and leaves, ending her easy-going lifestyle abruptly. - 20

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after her husband discovers her affair and leaves.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after her husband discovers her affair and leaves. - 21

Comment about a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after husband discovers affair and leaves, mentioning kids and moving abroad.

Comment about a woman’s easy-going lifestyle ending after husband discovers affair and leaves, mentioning kids and moving abroad. - 22

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing infidelity and the impact on a woman’s easy-going lifestyle after her affair.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing infidelity and the impact on a woman’s easy-going lifestyle after her affair. - 23

Thanks! Check out the results:

Subscribe to Access <br/> Exclusive Polls - 24

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Unlock an Enhanced Experience with Bored Panda Premium

Go ad-free, access unlimited content, and enjoy our sleek dark mode. Your favorite stories, uninterrupted.

Man Must Pay Cheating Wife 20 Years Of Alimony, Plots An Epic And Life - 25

No fees, cancel anytime

Melissa Joan Hart Opens Up About James Van Der Beek Being Her First On-Screen Kiss - 26 Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge's Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations - 27

Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge’s Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations

Lady Throws Big Party For Hubs’ B-Day Even When He Didn’t Want It, In Tears As He Doesn’t Praise Her - 28

Lady Throws Big Party For Hubs’ B-Day Even When He Didn’t Want It, In Tears As He Doesn’t Praise Her