*Are you out of your mind?*
*You spent the money we saved for five years on a flat for your pregnant mistress? My money toogone! I dont even have words How could you*
Thirteen years Anna had spent with her husband. Shed loved Edward beyond reason, simply for existinghis perpetually tousled chestnut hair, that tired, tender smile hed always wear when looking at their eight-year-old son, Oliver. Life in their quiet market town had flowed predictably, barely changing over the years.
Edward came home at exactly 9:30 PM. Lately, hed been working late, but Anna hadnt thought much of ituntil now. He slammed the door, shrugged off his jacket, which smelled wrong. Not his usual cologne. Something floral, cloying. Anna noticed it instantly.
*»Hello,»* he muttered, kissing the top of her head. *»Dead on my feet. Brutal day.»*
*»Hello. Hungry? Ill fix you a plate.»*
*»No, thanks. Just need a shower.»*
He walked past her, and Anna felt a cold prickle of unease. Again, refusing food. Was there someone else? Hed been coming home later, his phone always on himnever left on the side table like before. Now, it was either in his pocket or face-down, locked. Any touch toward it made him flinch.
*»Late again,»* she said, clearing the teacup. *»Busy at work?»*
Edward paused by the bathroom door.
*»Yeah, Annie. End of the quarter. Reports. Endless paperwork.»*
*»Why do you smell like that?»* The question slipped out sharper than she intended.
He froze. She saw itthe flicker of panic before he schooled his face.
*»Smell like what?»* His voice was too light.
*»Flowers. Sweet, like perfume. Not yours.»*
*»Oh. Probably from someone at the office. Lucy in accounts was showing off some new scent. Reeked of it.»* He waved a hand. *»Dont keep me, Annie. Im knackered.»*
*»Lucy from accounts,»* Anna thought as she returned to the conservatory. *»Right. Of course.»*
That scent had haunted her for weeks. Shed told herself it was coincidencehis colleagues wore perfume, didnt they?
Their familys dream had lived in a savings account opened five years agoa flat for Oliver by the time he turned eighteen. Theyd scrimped every spare penny. Edward, from his engineers wages at the local factory; Anna, from her modest earnings as a seamstress. No holidays for five years, no new car, no luxuriesexcept for Olivers future. Nearly £25,000 sat there, a fortune for their town, a guarantee their son wouldnt be stuck in student digs.
The blow came without warning. A client paid Anna early, even tossed in a tip for her quick work. She went straight to the bankshe couldve done it online, but she fancied a walk in the crisp autumn air.
The teller, a young woman named Emily whom shed known for years, gave her a polite smile.
*»Afternoon, Mrs. Whitmore. How can I help?»*
*»Afternoon, Emily. Just wanted to check the balance on our savings. And deposit a bit, if I may.»*
*»Of course. Your ID, please.»*
Anna handed it over. Emilys fingers tapped the keyboard. Thena frown.
*»Mrs. Whitmore its empty.»*
*»What?»* Anna blinked. *»That cant be.»*
*»Zero balance. Not a penny left.»*
The floor tilted. Anna gripped the counter.
*»Emily, thats impossible. Check again. We opened it five years agoEdward Whitmore, my husband. Ive been paying into it every month!»*
*»Yes, Mrs. Whitmore,»* Emilys voice dropped to a murmur. *»The last withdrawal was two weeks ago. Cash. A very large sum.»*
*»How much?»* Annas throat was sandpaper.
*»Twenty-four thousand nine hundred pounds. The account was closed.»*
Two weeks ago. Edward had come home late that night, muttered something about a meeting.
*»Thank you, Emily. I need a full statement. Now.»*
Anna left the bank swaying. She didnt remember driving home. Twenty-five thousand. Gone.
When Edward returned, Anna sat at the kitchen table, the printed statement folded neatly in half. Her face was dry, eerily calmthe quiet before the storm.
Edward tossed his keys onto the shelf, rubbing his temples.
*»Hey. You alright?»*
*»Sit down, Edward,»* Anna said. Her voice was flat, alien.
He glanced at the table. Saw the papers. Understanding dawned slowly, dread creeping into his expression.
*»Whats this?»* He didnt move.
*»Sit. We need to talk.»*
He sank into the chair opposite her.
*»Annie, I dont»*
*»Dont lie,»* she cut in. *»I was at the bank today. The savingsempty. Twenty-four thousand nine hundred. Gone. Two weeks ago.»*
Edward stared at his hands. He didnt deny it.
*»Howd you find out?»*
*»Does it matter? Wheres the money, Edward?»*
*»II bought a place.»*
*»A place? Where? For who?»*
He exhaled sharply. When he looked up, there was no guiltjust irritation, defiance.
*»For her.»*
*»Whos ‘her’?»* Annas voice was lethally soft.
*»Sophie. Her names Sophie.»*
Anna stared. Edward wilted under her gaze but kept talking.
*»Annie, I dont know how it happened Remember that team-building weekend last year? The one the boss forced us all to go to? Thats where I met her»*
Anna didnt blink. *»Go on.»*
*»Sophieshes different. Wild. Youre steady, safe. Shes a storm. Made me feel twenty again. Shes only nineteen, rides a motorbike, tattoos everywhere I lost my head, Annie. With you, its like like a habit. Comfortable. But Sophie»*
Annas hands clenched under the table. She wanted to scream, smash plates, claw his face. Instead, she stood, walked to the window.
*»So youll protect your mistresss child, but not your own son? Brilliant. Heres whats going to happen. Tomorrow, youll sign your half of this house over to Oliver. When hes older, Ill sell ithell have his own place. As for you? I dont care. Ill file for divorce in the morning. Try to stop me, and Ill ruin you.»*
Edward begged. He waited outside the house, sent pleading texts, left voicemails dripping with regret. Anna never answered. The divorce went through. And Sophie? She didnt want him either. The baby girl, born right on time, wasnt histhe almond-shaped eyes made that painfully clear.
Some dreams arent worth saving.
