Write the police report, then sit tight and dont draw any attention! Jenny snapped. Theyll be at his door soon, and hell have to prove your disappearance wasnt his doing!
What if they lock him up? Lucy asked, eyes wide.
Let him sit in a cell! Hell pay for the betrayal, mark my words! Jenny replied, voice low, a hint of mirth. Hes got to answer for cheating on you!
Its a relief we sent Pete to the Sandhurst training camp, Lucy sighed heavily. Otherwise Id never have managed to get out of this mess
Exactly! Jenny exclaimed. If we hadnt plotted our revenge, who knows how youd have escaped!
Your husband Greg isnt exactly a paragon of virtue, and youve seen it for yourself. He could have thrown you out on the street with empty pockets, and even stripped you of parental rights!
Do you really think hell take that step? Lucy winced.
Ill bet my tea that he will, Jenny said confidently. Hes bound to do it.
Whys that? Lucy pressed.
Because it makes sense! Jenny answered with a sly smile. Hes already gone off the rails. Youre not number one in his life any more. In fact, youre just a housewife with no qualifications or job.
And now hes found a replacement, so a new woman will be moving into his house soon and shell be number one!
Meanwhile your Pete is safely at Sandhurst, so the new lover wont even see him!
Hell still pop round on weekends, though, and you can swing by to see your son, Jenny added.
If they ever cut your parental rights, you wont even cross paths with his new flame.
Good heavens, its all so complicated, Lucy muttered, shaking her head.
Nothings complicated, love. Its just logic! When we finally get him for his cheating, when his last nerve snaps, youll not only clear your tarnished honour but also demand child support or a share of the assets. Or at the very least, get something out of his property!
Im not after his money, Lucy slumped. Its just it hurts. All these years and he
Dont lose heart! Jenny encouraged. Well have our revenge and his punishment, and well be living on cake afterward! For now, keep a low profile. Hell be looking for you, already posting notices and flyers
Jennys eyes widened.
Drama! Chaos! And if some random chap in a shop recognises you? Thatd be a disaster, our whole plan would go up in smoke!
I get it, Lucy said, distant.
Ill still swing by his place, give him a good talkingto, unless the cops nab him first.
Two weeks later Jenny returned with news: Greg had been released on a nonmovement bail. No body had been found, and the police could present nothing.
Im amazed at his calm, Jenny mused, shaking her head. I should drop by, stir his nerves a bit.
Do you think thats wise? Lucy hesitated.
I think its necessary before his new lady settles in your bed! Jenny replied, sure of herself.
When she came back, she recounted the encounter.
I confronted him, asked where hed hidden you, Jenny said. He denied everything. I told him I wasnt born yesterday, and I know about his betrayal!
She threatened to tell the police that hed had you removed so you couldnt interfere with his new relationship.
He turned pale, scared. He started babbling that itd be better for him if you showed up so you could divorce him! Jenny reported.
Thats it then, Lucy sighed bitterly. Hes not even been interested; he just found a standin.
Stop sulking, Lucy! Jenny warned sharply. Well spin things so hard hell kick his own new woman out because hell miss the fun hes having now.
Will I be able to go back to him? Will everything be like before? Lucy asked, a glimmer of hope.
If youve got any pride left, dont even think about it, Jenny replied, shaking her head. Never forgive a traitor you destroy them. Thats what were doing now. Theyre being questioned, statements taken, facts checked!
Hes being shaken so badly you cant imagine! Hes paying with his nerves, that treacherous wretch!
Exactly, Lucy agreed. Let him pay.
But you need to stay put for a while, Jenny said.
How long? Lucy asked.
At least a month, Jenny guessed. In a month theyll drive him either to a mad house or a fullblown nervous breakdown.
Then youll show up, expose his sins, and hell have to hand over the house, the support, even his parental rights. Hell give you everything just to be left alone!
What am I supposed to do in a flat with no exit? Lucy wondered aloud.
Gregs infidelity was a gutpunch. Nothing had hinted at it. Thank heavens for Jenny, who stopped Lucy from spiralling into hysteria and concocted this clever revenge plan.
Deep down, Lucy kept wondering what pushed Greg to cheat. Nothing
***
When Greg proposed to Lucy, she didnt think twice. She hadnt even weighed the fact that he came from a wealthy family; she fell for him completely.
She could have been his plaything, a puppet, if he had loved her any less.
Their marriage was seen as a show, their family dubbed a project. People called it all sorts of things, ridiculed it.
Lucy grabbed a ticket to a carefree life, and Greg turned into a domineering master.
But Greg and Lucy were happy. Their love was the altar on which money, family connections, and domestic skills were mere ornaments.
They lived joyfully, had a son, raised him well, and never really hit a snagthough it didnt start that way.
First, Pete wanted to join the army. He was so serious he begged his parents to send him to Sandhurst.
They warned him, scared him with talk of hardship and homesickness, but it didnt sway him.
Raising him on his own head, Greg said with a grin, shaking his head. A selfreliant boy with character! Proud of him, but sad to let him go.
Lucy sighed. We raised him to be independent, clever, brave, strong. We never expected him to grow up so fast. I thought hed be my baby for at least six more years!
Nothing could be done. The boy chose his path, and Greg and Lucy had to accept it.
It must have pushed Greg to his own exploits, Lucy mused while sorting through the fallout.
Then, one notsopleasant day, Lucy received a message from an unknown number:
Take Greg out of my life! Hes mine now!
It was followed by a grainy, intimate video clip. The woman was unrecognisable, the man even less so. The picture jumped, the quality was awful, but for a split second Gregs face was crystal clear. Those two seconds were enough to send Lucy into a hysteria.
Jenny, her sister, walked in just as Lucy was in that state.
People say the gods lead us where were most needed, Jenny said, trying to calm her.
Lucy, a little steadier, showed the video. Jennys fury erupted, her words dripping with epic metaphors and scathing epithets.
This is more than betrayal! Its a sacrilege against the holy family! Yes, he loved another, but be a decent bloke, leave the family, get a divorce! Then everythings sorted!
No, Jenny snarled, theyll keep denying, lying, and then blame you! You didnt give him enough love! theyll whine. Thats why he went off the rails!
Her speech was fiery, but what to do? Wait for Greg, press charges, file for divorce yourself, or just hope its a fluke?
Jenny fed Lucy these heretical thoughts.
You dare think you could forgive him? No one will respect you then! Youll stop respecting yourself! This isnt forgivableits treason! You must have revenge!
How do I get revenge? Lucy asked. Cook him a stew? Feed him purgatory? I cant match his senior position; Im just a housewife!
Well do something else, Jenny smiled, teeth bare. We cant act, so others will.
Whats the plan? Lucy asked, bewildered.
Simple. You come over to my flat. Ill make it look like a brawl broke out. Then Ill file a missingperson report for you. Therell be suspicion that Greg didnt want a divorce to protect his assets, and hell get rid of you in the most direct way!
But no one can prove it, because its not true, Lucy protested.
Yes! They cant prove it! While theyre digging, his nerves will be stretched to zero. Just hearing your name will make him crumble.
Whats the point? Lucy wasnt following the scheme.
Later youll show up! Hell have to share the assets fairly, not hide you behind his connections. Hell be forced to give you something.
***
Lucy had been holed up in Jennys flat for two months, turning over every memory, every reason. She was ready to break free.
Jenny kept repeating:
He still owes! Ive written to the Crown Prosecution Service to make the police look for you. Theyve left Greg alone, so I keep dropping by to rattle his nerves!
What about him? How does he react when I show up?
Hes furious, cant do a thing! Im his sister, Im just showing concern. I tell him, If you didnt steal and bury Lucy, then find her!
Im rattling his head so much his desire for women will vanish forever!
Lucys patience was wearing thin. Yet she stayed, clinging to willpower. If Jenny were home, shed have stopped Lucy.
Lucy brushed her hair, put on makeup, dressed sharply, and, clutching the keys to the flat she shared with Greg, set off to settle the scores.
How long will you suffer? she demanded. He abandoned you and your son! He stole from the safe, the jewellery, smashed your wedding photo! He wont come back, Greg!
He couldnt havehe was duped, hypnotised, maybe even cursed! Lucy snarled. How long are you planning to hunt him?
Ill find him, look him in the eye! Our love cant just vanish!
The betrayal wont be forgotten, Lucy whispered. Ill be there for the boyhis aunt, his mother figure!
She heard the words as she slipped into the flat. Even a lifelong housewife can add two and two without trouble.
What else will you be? Lucy shouted as she entered the room.
Here I am! Jenny shouted back. Greg, get her out! No place for traitors in our house!
Lucy! Greg shoved Jenny aside and lunged at his wife.
A heated argument erupted, voices clashing. Their shouts were just emotions; the stolen jewellery were real evidence. Jenny didnt sell or dump them.
Theres no specific law for breaking up a family, but there is one for theft, Greg said, as officers cuffed Jenny. Youll answer for everything!
May you choke on your own love! Jenny screamed.
True love cant be snuffed out, Lucy said gently. It can only be eclipsed. And like the sun after an eclipse, it will shine again. Youll never understand that.
