«You’re home earlywhat’s going on?» Her husbands voice came from the bedroom, sounding startled.
«Who was that on the phone? Its nearly midnight,» Paul asked his wife, Emma, confused.
«Oh just my boss,» she replied hesitantly. «Ive got to leave for an urgent work conference.»
«At midnight? And what conference is this? Are you sure its absolutely necessary?»
«Yes, unfortunately. Its one of the biggest events in our fieldI cant miss it. Top experts, groundbreaking developments»
«But you just flew to that expo in Manchester last month. Seriously, no one else can go?»
«I dont want to go either, but you know how important this is for my career. Its only two weeks. You understand, dont you?»
«Fine, if its really that important» Paul frowned. «Im just getting used to being left alone, and I dont like it. Ill miss you terribly.»
«Me too, love. But the quicker I go, the quicker Ill be back. And then well book a proper holiday, just the two of us!» Emma pressed herself against him.
«Alright, Ill try to survive these two weeks.»
Two days later, Paul helped Emma load her suitcase into the taxi.
«Right, Im off then. Love youdont miss me too much!»
As soon as the car pulled away, Emma took out her phone and opened a familiar number in her messages.
«Just left the house. Be at the airport soon,» she typed.
«Perfect. Im waiting in our room. Cant wait to see youIve missed you!» came the reply, complete with flirtatious emojis.
Emma smirked, glancing at her wedding ring. Yet again, shed lied to her devoted husbandand she didnt feel the slightest bit guilty. Paul was lovely, but lately, hed just become dull. But James? The mere thought of him sent a warm shiver through her.
Two weeks under scorching sun, turquoise waters, and wild nights with her loverthats what she needed now. The «conference» was just a cover so Paul wouldnt suspect a thing. She knew it was wrong, but her mind was powerless against the temptation.
The island was paradise. Emma lounged on the beach, mesmerised by the shimmering sea, blissfully happy in Jamess company.
She watched as he emerged from the water, his toned muscles glistening. The sight of him, wet and radiant, sent desire coursing through her. She wanted to drag him back to their room, where they could lose themselves in each other.
A pang of sadness hit herthese were their last days. Shed told Paul she was away for work, using it as an excuse to escape even from him, though shed never admit that aloud.
She wasnt planning to divorce himnot yet. Not until she was certain she had a safe landing spot.
«James,» she murmured, «do you think we could actually make this work? After I leave Paul?»
He sprawled on the lounger, draping a towel over his shoulders, his rough hand resting on her knee.
«Youll need to plan it carefully. Get a solicitordont try to handle it alone hoping for the best.»
His lack of enthusiasm stung. Shed imagined that once she was free, theyd spend weeks tangled up in each other, finally happy.
That evening, they dined at a restaurant, toasting their last night in paradise. Emma sipped her wine, laughing with James, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Pauland the difficult conversation ahead.
To her, Paul was a naive fool, a mummys boy too blind to see his wife was cheating without a shred of guilt. But divorce? That could be messy. If his mother got involved, the legal battle might drag on forever.
«Once Im divorced, Ill move in with you, and well be happy,» Emma declared, raising her glass.
«Whoa, nothat was never part of the deal!»
Emma froze. He was righttheyd never discussed it. A cold dread washed over her.
«Weve had a great time, sure, but no, youre not moving in. Ive got a wife, two kidsdid I not mention that?»
She shook her head slowly, stunned.
«Want to divorce your husband? Fine, thats on you. But Im not wrecking my family. Everythings good as it is.»
Emma couldnt speak. She spent the rest of dinner in silence, and the next day, they flew home.
«Dont overthink it, Em. I never promised you anything. This was just a holiday, nothing more. And with my wife expecting our third, this is it. Time to be a proper family man.»
«Right,» she snapped, furious at the hopes hed fed her.
But he was righthed made no promises. The future shed imagined was just that: imagination.
The flight was agonising. Her heart ached with disappointment, a crushing weight she hadnt felt in years.
«So youre really not leaving her?»
«Emma, no sane man leaves his wife for his mistress. If youll cheat on him, youll cheat on me. I dont need that drama. My familys happyweve got kids, another on the way. You were never part of the long-term plan.»
He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. Normally, shed meltnow, she wanted to slap him.
Once they landed, he called them separate taxis.
«Alright, Em, Ill call you.»
«Dont bother,» she muttered, refusing to look at him.
Shed hoped hed chase after her. Instead, he shruggedalready indifferent.
The ride home was suffocating. The future shed dreamed of was ashes. Shed have to go back to Paul, pretend, try to salvage something. She couldnt stand being alone.
Her whole life, shed jumped from one relationship to anothernever alone, never unloved.
The taxi stopped outside her building. She dragged her suitcase inside, dreading the confrontation. Maybe they could talk, see a therapist, rekindle what theyd lost?
She unlocked the doorthen froze at the sound of voices.
«Youre home earlywhats going on?» Paul stepped out, startled.
Emma shoved past him and stormed into the bedroomwhere a woman scrambled to cover herself with the duvet.
Instead of collapsing, Emma yanked her off the bed. A fight broke outPaul barely pulled her back in time.
«How dare you? Im working, and you bring some floozy home? I hate you both!» she screamed.
The terrified woman grabbed her clothes and fled.
Paul only let go when Emmas rage faded into exhaustion.
«I know you werent at a conference,» he said coldly. «You were with James. So while you were off playing by the sea, I planned a little surprise of my own.»
Emma searched his eyes for regretbut found none.
Silently, she repacked her suitcase and walked out.
An hour later, she sobbed into her best friend Lucys lap.
«Every marriage hits rough patches,» Lucy soothed. «Real love means forgiveness.»
Emma had always sworn shed never forgive infidelity. Yet here she was, reconsidering.
By morning, the idea didnt seem so absurd. Theyd both behaved horribly. Were they still the people whod once loved each other unconditionally?
The next day, she returned to Pauls flat, rehearsing what to say.
To her shock, he welcomed her in, put the kettle on.
«Ive thought about it,» he said. «We should try again. Weve hurt each other, but I think we can fix this.»
She stared, speechless.
He took her hands. «Lets forgive each other and move on. Well get a bigger place, start a familyproperly this time. No more lies.»
Emma burst into tears, collapsing against him.
Somehow, their marriage grew stronger. They talked, planned, vowed never to stray again.
Emma didnt know how long it would last. But for now, theyd fight to keep it alive.
