«Can you let my husband go, please?»
«Where are you off to so late, Oliver?» asked Emily, watching as her husband hastily buttoned his shirt.
The clock showed half past seven in the evening. Oliver didnt even glance at his wife as he continued getting ready.
«Work emergency. The projects on fire,» he muttered over his shoulder, grabbing his jacket from the hook. «Dont wait up.»
Lately, these urgent calls had become more frequent. A quiet unease simmered inside Emily, though she tried to push it down.
«Again? Thats the third time this week,» she said, fighting to keep the accusation out of her voice.
«Cant be helpedits the job,» Oliver finally looked at her, but his gaze was distant, hollow. «Ill try not to be too late.»
The front door clicked shut. Emily stared at the empty hallway for a moment before turning away.
«Mum, wheres Dad going?» Lily, their seven-year-old daughter, emerged from her room clutching a board game. «He promised to play with me tonight.»
Emily crouched down, smoothing a hand over Lilys shoulder. The girls eyes shimmered with disappointment.
«Dads swamped at work, love. Theres an important project he has to finish,» Emily said, trying to sound convincingthough she barely believed it herself.
Lily sighed, shoulders slumping, and trudged back to her room. Emily watched her go before heading to the kitchen.
To cheer Lily up, she decided to bake her favourite oatmeal raisin biscuits. Kneading the dough, her hands moved on autopilot while her thoughts spiralled.
The signs were all there: constant late nights, secrecy, the growing distance between them. Oliver no longer hugged her in the mornings or kissed her goodbye. Their conversations had dwindled to household chores and Lilys school updates.
At dinner, Lily perked up, munching on warm biscuits and chattering about her day. Emily nodded and asked questions, but her mind was elsewhere. After tucking Lily in with a bedtime story, she returned to the kitchen, scrubbing dishes as one question looped in her head: should she confront him?
Two more weeks passed. Oliver grew jumpier, flinching at phone calls and angling his phone away when she entered the room.
Then, one Saturday, he stayed home. They lounged on the sofa while Lily did homework. The quiet shattered when Emilys phone rangan unknown number.
«Hello?»
«Is this Emily?» a womans voice asked.
«Yes. Whos speaking?»
«My name is Margaret Whitmore. We need to talk about something important.»
«Im sorry, but I think youve got the wrong»
The woman cut in sharply.
«Oh, Im not mistaken. Im speaking to Olivers wife, arent I?»
Emily froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Oliver tense.
«Yes, thats right,» she said slowly, switching the call to speakerphone.
«Good. Im Sophies motherthe girl your husbands been seeing for a year,» Margaret said, as casually as discussing the weather. «Sophies only twenty, and Oliver is her first proper relationship. She adores him! Im asking you to step aside and stop making my daughter miserable. Were modern people, after all.»
Emily lifted her eyes to Oliver. His face had gone pale.
«Sophie cries every night,» Margaret continued. «She cant even be seen with the man she loves. They have something real! You need to move onyou must know you cant force affection.»
Emily cleared her throat, forcing calm into her voice. «Thank you for the information, Margaret. Ill see what can be done.»
She hung up and turned to Oliver, who sat gripping the armrest.
«Well, Oliver? Care to explain?» She was surprised how flat her voice sounded.
«Emily, itsits lies! All of it!» Oliver leapt up, waving his hands. «I dont know any Sophie!»
A text pinged. Emily opened itphotos of Oliver embracing a young blonde, kissing her, holding hands in a café.
«Margaret sent proof of your true love. Enjoy,» she said, turning the screen towards him.
His face twisted with rage.
«Fine! Yes, its true!» he shouted. «Im seeing Sophie! We met at a conference, and things just happened! What did you expect?»
Emily stood slowly, eyebrows lifting.
«And thats my fault? Did I push you into her arms?»
«Yes! It *is* your fault!» Olivers face flushed. «You stopped paying attention to me! When was the last time you asked about my day? Made my favourite meal? Smiled at me?»
Emily blinked.
«Hold ondoes that logic not go both ways? Youve been cold for years, but I didnt run off with someone else!»
«Thats different!» Oliver exploded. «Im busy providing for this family! Working my fingers to the bone! Keeping the spark alive is *your* job!»
Emily actually took a step back.
«Since when? Where is that written? And in case you forgot, *I* work too! Then I come home and handle Lily, the laundry, the cookingand now Im supposed to baby you as well?»
Oliver opened his mouth, then shut it. Silence settled over the room.
Emily nodded slowly.
«You know what? Ive suspected this for ages. Now that the truths out, I can file for divorce with a clear conscience. Be happy with Sophie.»
«No!» Oliver grabbed for her hands, but she stepped back. «Its not serious with her! Just a flinga mistake!»
«A *mistake*?» She laughed bitterly. «Are you joking?»
«Emily, pleaselets talk properly,» he begged. «I cant leave this family!»
«Why not?»
«Where would I live? Under a bridge?» The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Emilys breath caught.
«So *thats* it,» she said, a harsh laugh escaping. «You werent hiding this to spare meyou just didnt want to end up homeless.»
Oliver looked down. His silence said everything.
«Pack your things. Now.»
She walked to Lilys room, where the girl stood wide-eyed at the shouting. Emily hugged her tightly.
«Come on, sweetheart, lets finish your homework,» she murmured, guiding her away.
For the next hour, she helped Lily with schoolwork, smiling reassuringly whenever the girl glanced up. The muffled sounds of Oliver packing echoed through the house.
When she finally stepped out, Oliver stood in the hallway with two bulging suitcases, dishevelled and defeated.
«Emily, give me another chance,» he pleaded. «Ill make it rightIll end things with Sophie!»
She opened the front door and pointed wordlessly.
«Go to Sophie. Let *her* comfort you, Oliver. Since shes worth betraying your family for.»
He stepped out. Emily shut the door, turned the lock, and leaned against it, eyes closed. Inside, there was emptinessbut beneath it, relief. She wouldnt tolerate a cheat in her home. Not for anything.
