Hearing footsteps, Emily swiftly deleted the messageone that confessed how much the sender missed her and longed to meet againbefore placing the phone back on the nightstand where it had been.
She reread the text on her husbands phone repeatedly, unable to believe it was real. Her husband, her rock, her beloved James, was betraying her again.
And not with some young, model-like beauty, as he had before. This time, his lover was a woman nearly fifteen years his senior.
James walked in, whistling. Today, all his colleagues had received hefty bonuses, which meant he could splurgebuy his wife an anniversary gift and whisk Natalie away for a seaside getaway.
The thought of Natalie made him smile. Over the years, there had been plenty of affairsyoung girls, divorcees, even married womenbut none like Natalie, his coworker. She wasnt conventionally attractive, but the way she dressed, carried herself, and spoke… and how she was when they were alone. A pity about her age, but she was still vibrant, and he intended to savor every last drop.
Noticing the frown on his wifes face, James snapped back to reality.
“Everything all right? You seem off.”
“Fine, just thinking about the anniversary. Could you give me some money to organize the party?”
“Of course, love.”
Emily didnt understand herself. In the past, discovering his infidelities would have led to screaming matches and divorce threats. Now, she acted as if nothing had happenedas if she hadnt just read those damning messages.
James picked up his phone, pretended to call a colleague about work, then slipped onto the balcony to send Natalie a flurry of steamy texts. Emily forced calm. She knew tears and arguments changed nothing.
This wasnt the first time. Before, hed blamed her for letting herself go after childbirth. Now? She was flawlesstoned body, long hair, elegant makeup, a chic dress that made her look like a Hollywood star.
Her friends didnt understand. She came from money, had a degreeshe wouldnt struggle raising three children alone. Yet she endured his betrayals, only occasionally erupting in rage before his parents intervened.
“Look at our neighbor, Grace,” her mother-in-law would say. “Widowed, working two jobs, sewing at night. Or Vera, whose husband drinks away their money while she wears rags. You live like a queenwhy complain?”
Emily would smile bitterly. Shed seen her father-in-law leaving Graces house. Some things never changed.
“No man deserves to be deceived,” Emily whispered to herself. But why was cheating excused when it was the husband? Why was the woman always to blame?
Shed spent fortunes on fortune-tellers promising to “fix” James. Friends urged her to leave, but where would she go with three children? To her parents? Her brother lived there. Rent a flat? Could she afford it?
She loved James. Theyd been together since primary school, confessed their love at sixteen. Maybe his mother was rightmaybe hed grow out of it.
But then she remembered that text and wanted to scream. Before, hed claimed shed lost her beauty. Now? What was wrong with her? What did this older woman have that she didnt?
Their anniversary loomed. Ten years together. And here he was, repeating history.
She booked an event planner. The next day, the companys co-owner, Liam, arrived.
“Any hobbies your husband enjoys? Fishing? Cars?”
“Women. And cheating.”
Liams expression hardened. “Then why tolerate it? If you dont respect yourself, why expect him to?”
“You dont understand”
“I do. My younger sister… she stayed silent too. Until she couldnt. Now Im raising her children. Do you have kids?”
“Yes.”
“Live for them. Theres always a wayjobs, homes. Lifes too short.”
Emily wiped her tears. “Youre right.”
The next week, she poured herself into planning. The venuea lavish countryside estatewas set. Invitations went out to friends, family, even Jamess colleagues.
The day arrived. Emily stood in a black lace dress, flawless. Liam squeezed her shoulder.
“Ready?”
“Theres no turning back.”
The party was in full swing. Jamess parents held court, oblivious to her absence. He toasted guests, stealing glances at Nataliewho Emily had also invited.
“Time for gifts!” Emily announced. “Darling, ten years with you taught me one thing: never argue with a man like you. So heres my thank-you.”
A towering cake was wheeled in. Out burst three womenblonde, brunette, redhead.
Emily turned to Natalie. “Think youre the only one? Look how he stares at them.”
To her mother-in-law: “Funny, your husband still visits Grace.”
Finally, to James: “Like my gift? You always loved variety. Blondes, brunettes… now Natalie. Your parents were rightI wont fight anymore. Enjoy this life. Without me.”
She took the childrens hands and left. Liam waited outside.
The divorce was tedious. James blamed her but refused to signuntil the court forced it.
Friends marveled at her audacity. How had she funded it? Simple: James had funded the anniversary himself.
Years later, Emily never regretted leaving. She remarriedto Liam, who adored her and her children.
Betrayal is a search for something “better.” Why stay when one thrives and the other suffers?
Starting over isnt failure. Its courage.
