What are you on about? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
Emily couldnt shake the gnawing feeling that her husband was cheating. She sensed it deep in her bones, a restless unease she couldnt ignore. One evening, she finally mustered the courage to confront him outright.
She asked him point-blankwas it true or not? But all he did was laugh and say,
What are you on about? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
On the surface, James sounded sincere. There was no tell in his smile, no hesitation in his words, no flicker in his eyes. Yet something still unsettled her.
Emily wasnt one to leave things to fate. She was determined to uncover the truthbut how?
After scouring advice online, she decided to check his phone first. Nothing stood outjust idle chatter with a couple of old schoolmates. Harmless enough, she thought.
James never even bothered with a passcode. Nothing to hide, hed always say. No secret chats, no deleted messages. A saint in the flesh.
Sometimes, Emily convinced herself she was imagining things. But every time James came home late from work, that same dread crept back in.
Her best friend, Sophie, always brushed it off.
Youre overthinking! James adores youhed never look at another woman! Youre just sabotaging your own marriage!
But Emily didnt listen. Her gut told her otherwise, and the thought of sharing her husband was unbearable.
One evening, she even followed himrushed to his office to see if he was really working or sneaking off elsewhere. When he spotted her, he was furious. Embarrassing me in front of my colleagues! She spent days apologising, but he forgave her quickly.
By all accounts, their life was perfect. A lovely home in Surrey, two children, financial comfort. Yet Emily kept hunting for trouble.
As they sayseek and ye shall find. Only, she hadnt found anything yet.
At thirty, with two kids, the fear of being left alone gnawed at her. She appeared calm, but inside, she was boiling.
There were no obvious signsno lipstick on his collar, no unfamiliar perfumes, no sudden changes in behaviour. But she *knew* something was off.
If not for sheer luck, she might never have discovered the truth. Real or imagined? Only time would tell.
When their youngest started primary school, Emily decided to learn to drive. She took evening lessons after work, passed her test in three months, and got her licence.
James was so proud he bought her a carsmall, but perfect for her petite frame.
Of course, hed never admit it, but hed only bought it to keep her from asking to drive his Audi. You need more practice first, hed say.
One weekend, Emily woke early, wanting to surprise the family with their favouritechicken and mushroom pie. But she was out of flour.
Outside, frost clung to the ground, but shed grown confident driving in winter. She headed to the caronly for the engine to refuse to start. Back inside, everyone still slept.
Walking in the cold didnt appeal, so she decidedjust this onceto take Jamess car without asking. It was only a short drivehed never know.
Keys in hand, she went back out. While the car warmed up, she wiped the windscreen, reaching into the glovebox for tissues.
Her fingers brushed somethinga phone clattered to the floor.
She picked it up. Whose was this?
Definitely not Jamess. She knew his phone wellthis one was unfamiliar. At first, she assumed hed accidentally taken someone elses. But curiosity won. She pressed the buttonno passcode.
The first thing she saw was a text from a woman named *Charlotte*.
*My love, I miss you so much! Come to me quicklyI cant wait!*
Emily blinked. No lock meant she scrolled further. The messages stretched back *months*.
She soon realised James finished work at five but never came home before seven. Shed never thought to check.
Nearly every day, hed visit this *Charlotte* for an hour before returning as if nothing happened. The things he wrote to herwords Emily had never heard from him.
The photos showed an older woman, easily forty. What on earth did he see in her?
Fury burned through her.
Just as she stepped out of the car, she spotted James leaving their house.
Shed left a note saying shed gone to the shophe mustve seized the chance to message *Charlotte* again.
Now she rememberedhow often hed pop down to the car in the evenings. Forgot my wallet, or some other excuse. Quick trips shed never questioned.
James froze when he saw her behind the wheel.
Who said you could take it? We *agreed* you wouldnt!
Rage flared. She buckled up, slammed the car into reverse, and hit the accelerator.
The Audi screeched into the fence behind her. The impact satisfied something raw inside her.
She stormed out, glaring at James. Go to her, then! Lets see how much she wants you without your house and car! Get out of my sight!
For emphasis, she hurled his car keys into a snowdrift and marched inside.
The boys were awake but oblivious. Minutes later, James tried the doorshed bolted it.
Go to her! Dont you *dare* come back! she shouted.
Left with no choice, James trudged offin slippers, a dressing gown, and a thin jacketto *Charlottes*. Surely shed take him in.
But when she opened the door, a mans voice called from inside.
Darling, are you coming back? Ive been waiting!
James had only ever visited on weekdaysnever weekends. Turns out, *Charlotte* had two men in her life. Why waste a Saturday alone?
She gave him a pitying look and shut the door.
Defeated, James dragged himself to his mothers house two streets over.
Margaret took one look at him and understood. She fed him, listened to his tale of a cruel wife whod thrown him out over nothing, then patted his shoulder.
Dont fret, love. Who knew Emily would turn out like this? Your luck will changeyoure only thirty-five! Youll find love again, mark my words.
So James stayed with his mother, determined to start fresh. He even felt relievedfree at last.
Until Emily filed for child support.
*Then* he realised starting over wouldnt be so easy. At least his mother hadnt abandoned himbecause otherwise, hed have been truly lost.
