My husband left me for my best friend after my miscarriagethree years later, I saw them at a petrol station and couldnt stop smiling.
My husband walked out on me for my school friend after I lost our babythree years later, I spotted them at a petrol station and couldnt wipe the grin off my face.
When he first started pulling away, I turned to my best friend for comfort. She told me I was overreacting. Turns out, I wasnt. But fate let me see the consequences of their betrayal three years later.
I used to think infidelity happened to other peoplesomething you read about in dramatic online stories or heard murmured over dinner. Not to us. Never to us.
For five years, Michael and I built a life together. It wasnt lavish, but it was oursfilm nights curled on the sofa, Sunday mornings with tea, jokes only we understood.
And all that time, there was Emilymy best friend since school, my sister in everything but blood. She stood by me through every milestone, even at my wedding, where she held my hands as my bridesmaid, crying happy tears.
When I got pregnant, I thought it was the next perfect chapter. Then Michael changed.
At first, it was little thingsworking late, smiles that didnt reach his eyes. Then it got worse. He barely looked at me. Conversations shrank to one-word replies. Nights were spent with his back turned, as if I didnt exist.
I didnt understand. Exhausted and heavily pregnant, I desperately tried to fix whatever had broken between us. So I turned to Emily.
I dont know whats happening, I sobbed into the phone, curled up in the dark while Michael slept soundly beside me. Its like hes already gone.
Charlotte, youre overthinking it, she said gently. He loves you. Its just stress. I wanted to believe her.
But the relentless tensionsleepless nights, the gnawing loneliness despite having a husbandate away at me.
Then one morning, I woke to a dull ache in my stomach. By evening, I was in hospital, watching the doctors lips move but hearing nothing.
No heartbeat.
No baby.
They say grief comes in waves. Mine was an avalanche.
The miscarriage shattered me, but Michael? He was already gone. He sat beside me in the hospital, cold and silent, never taking my hand or offering a single word of comfort. Just waiting, like a man bored at a bus stop, not a father grieving his child.
A month later, he finally said the words I think hed rehearsed for weeks.
Im not happy anymore, Charlotte.
That was it. No explanation, no emotion. Just a hollow excuse.
The day he left, there was no shouting, no tears. Just icy silence.
Im not happy anymore, Charlotte.
I blinked at him across the kitchen table. His words landed like a stone on my chest.
What? My voice trembled.
He sighed, rubbing his temples as if *I* were the problem.
I just dont feel anything anymore. Its been a long time.
A long time.
I swallowed.
Since we lost the baby?
His jaw tightened.
Its not about that.
The lie was almost funny.
I searched his face for remorse, guiltanything. He just sat there, avoiding my gaze.
Just like that? Five years, and you walk away? My fists clenched under the table.
Another sigh, this time irritated.
I dont want to argue, Charlotte.
I laughedthat brittle, fraying sound you make when youre teetering on the edge.
Oh, you dont *want* to argue? Funny, because I didnt get a choice in any of this.
He stood, grabbed his keys.
Ill stay at a mates.
Before I could speak, the door slammed.
Emily, my best friend, followed soon after. My rock, my lifeline. Thengone. No calls answered. Messages ignored. Then blocked everywhere.
I didnt understand until I did.
Mum found out first. One evening, her voice tense, she called.
Charlotte, love look at this.
She sent a link to Emilys Instagram.
And there they were.
Michael and Emily. Hugging on a beach, laughing, looking like theyd been in love for years.
I scrolled with shaking hands. Photo after photo, week after week. Fancy restaurants, ski trips, cosy nights by the fire. Posted freely, openlywhile I was still his wife.
The betrayal burned like acid. But if they thought Id crumble, they were wrong.
I channelled the pain into strength. Michael had been careless, too wrapped up in his new life to cover his tracks. In court, his infidelity became my advantage. I walked away with the house, half his savings, and the satisfaction of knowing hed have to start over.
He took my trust. I took what was mine.
Starting over wasnt easy. But life rewards persistence.
A year later, I met Daniel.
Nothing like Michaelhe was everything Michael wasnt. Kind. Present. Never made me feel like my feelings were too much.
We built a real life, not some social media fantasy. And soon, our daughter arrivedmy mirror image with his smile.
Then fate gave me the perfect ending.
One evening, I stopped at a petrol station. And there they were.
Michael and Emily.
But no designer clothes, no happy photos now. Their cara rusted wreck, a screaming argument in the shop, a crying toddler, a declined bank card.
We cant even afford petrol? Emily hissed.
You knew money was tight, Michael snapped.
Emily laughed bitterly.
Guess Charlotte won in the end.
I started the car and drove home. To my real happiness.
