Waking up that morning was a struggle. Emily had spent a sleepless night in her cosy, warm bedroom. The brutal and unfair argument with her husband the day before had left her completely drained. It had erupted over his demands to sell their flat and invest in some shady business venture.
Emily got up, gulped down a strong cup of coffee, and started packing her husbands things into a large suitcase. Only then did she notice his passport was missing.
«Right, so hes gone on his own then. Good riddance,» she muttered, hot tears spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Mark had threatened to leave after every row before, but somehow things always smoothed over, and they carried on. Only now, she was a senior sales assistant at a shopping centre, while Mark scraped by with questionable side hustles, always chasing his next big dream.
His latest scheme? Investing in a shipment of brandy supposedly coming from Azerbaijanbulk barrels to be bottled at a local distillery, then sold to independent corner shops. He swore there were contracts in place, inspections guaranteed, and the distillery was fully on board. But Emily saw right through it. This was no legitimate businessit was a disaster waiting to happen.
The worst part? The upfront cost was enormous, money they didnt have, which meant selling their flat. Thats when the fight exploded.
The flat had been left to her by her parents. No way was she risking homelessness for his ridiculous plan. Mark called her a penny-pinching miser, they had a massive row, and he stormed out. Emily knew exactly where hed goneto his ex-wife, Claire.
Claire had divorced him years ago, then reappeared suddenly after leaving her wealthy second husband, taking their kids and the house with her. Shed been calling Mark lately, luring him over for «old times sake.» Emily always suspected if it werent for Claires kids, hed have moved back in with her permanently.
But now? No jealousy, no angerjust numb indifference. Mark had failed as a husband, as a man. Always pretending to be hustling, when really, he was just scheming for a quick paydayas hed say, «where to grab some easy cash.» Well, good riddance. Let his ex-wife bankroll his nonsense.
Emily wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and decided it was time to take control. No more wasting energy on Mark and his mad ideas. The flat was staying hers, her future was hers alone. She grabbed her phone and called her old friend Jessica, who worked at a big law firm.
«Jess, I need help,» Emily said firmly. «Marks gone, and I want a divorce. Plus, I need to check if hes dragged me into any debts or scams.»
Jessica got straight to work. Within days, she uncovered that Mark had already signed dodgy paperwork with his so-called Azerbaijani partners, trying to use the flat as collateral. Luckily, without Emilys signature, it was worthless.
Even worse, Jessica found out Mark had pawned his dads cara sleek BMWto get an advance for the deal. How hed convinced his stubborn, tight-lipped father (a retired army man who rarely spoke to anyone) was beyond Emily.
Meanwhile, Mark, convinced of his «genius plan,» had moved in with Claire. Flattered by his attention, she agreed to back his scheme, even investing her own savingsmoney shed squeezed out of her ex. Shed sent the kids to her parents, clearing the way to rekindle their «old flame.»
Mark promised her the world, spinning tales of wealth just months away. He borrowed from gullible mates too, all convinced theyd strike it rich. He paid the hefty deposit and waited for the shipment.
Thenshockno brandy ever arrived. The «partners» vanished with the cash, the distillery denied any involvement, and Mark was left with debts, lawsuits, and furious «investors,» including Claire.
Furious, Claire kicked him out. He tried crawling back to Emily, but shed already changed the locks and filed for divorce. In the end, Mark had nothingno family, no money, no reputation. Soon after, he was arrested for fraud and given a proper prison sentence.
Meanwhile, free from the toxic marriage, Emily thrived. She took a small loan against the flatnot for scams, but to open her own eco-friendly beauty shop. Her retail experience paid off, and soon shed repaid the loan and turned a steady profit. Jessica helped with the legal side, and for the first time, Emily felt truly in control.
Only one question nagged at her: How had she ever fallen for a man like Mark? Youth? Naivety? Probably.
Theyd met at a work party her mum had dragged her to. She was twenty-five, her uni friends long gone, and no promising new connections in sight.
Markbrooding, divorced, and ten years olderhad swept her off her feet. Handsome, intense, talking big about breaking free from the «rat race.» Her mum had warned her.
«Emily, love, dont get serious with this bloke,» shed said gently.
«Why not? Hes sincere, maturenot like the boys Ive known.»
Her mum, a sharp woman who ran a big department, sighed. «You grew up without your dad. Sometimes, we look for that missing figure in the wrong places.»
But Emily didnt listen. She was head over heels.
Three months later, her mum passed awayquietly, never letting on how ill shed been. Mark had been her rock then, moving in, refusing to leave her side. A year later, they marriedjust as he quit his job to chase «his destiny.»
Then came the miscarriage. Emily was shattered. Marks cold «Maybe it wasnt meant to be» cut deep. Soon, he started disappearing at night. And thenwell, the rest unfolded.
Now, sitting in her cosy office, Emily gazed out the window and smiled. She thought of everything shed survived, her mums warnings echoing in her mind.
Mark was rotting in prison, probably full of regrets. But that didnt matter anymore. Her life was hers now, bright and full of promise.
The next day, a warm Sunday, Emily bought a bouquet of red rosesher mums favouriteand visited her grave. Birds chirped in the trees as she knelt by the headstone, her mums portrait smiling backyoung, wise, unable to shield her from mistakes.
«Everythings alright now, Mum,» Emily whispered. The roses swayed in the breeze, and her heart felt light, as if her mum had heard.
She remembered her mums last words:
«My darling, Ill always be with youright here in your heart. When it feels heavy, just listen to its beat. Youll feel me there. Dont grieve too long, love. Live.»
Emily pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the steady thump. Warmth spread through her palm, tears rolled down her cheeks, and she knewshed never betray her mums memory again. No more bitter mistakes. Just life, lived right.
