«Are You Out of Your Mind?»
«Have you lost your senses? You spent the money we’ve been saving for five years on a flat for your pregnant mistress? You threw away my hard-earned wages tooon some… I can’t even find the words! How could you?»
Thirteen years Anna had been married to James. She had adored him utterly, simply for being himselfhis perpetually tousled chestnut hair, that weary but tender smile he always wore when looking at their eight-year-old son, Oliver. Life in their quiet market town had been steady, unchanging for years.
James arrived home at exactly half past nine. Lately, hed been working late more often, but Anna hadnt thought much of ithe was providing for the family, after all. The door slammed shut as he shrugged off his jacket, which carried an unfamiliar scentsomething sweet and floral, not his usual cologne. Anna noticed it immediately.
«Evening,» he muttered, kissing the top of her head. «Im shattered. Rough day.»
«Hello. Fancy some dinner? Come on, Ill fix you a plate.»
«No, thanks. Just need a shower.»
He walked past her, and a knot of unease tightened in Annas chest. Hed been skipping meals lately. Was there someone else? James had been coming home later, his phone always on him. Before, hed left it on the nightstandnow, it was either in his pocket or face-down, always locked. Any mention of it made him tense.
«Youre late again,» she said, clearing away a teacup. «Busy at work?»
James paused in the bathroom doorway.
«Yeah, love. Quarter-end reports. Endless paperwork.»
«Why do you smell like that?» The question came out sharper than she intended.
James froze. He hadnt expected that.
«Smell like what?» He tried to sound casual, but his shoulders stiffened.
«Perfume. Something sweet and floral. Its not your aftershave.»
«Oh, mustve been someone at the office. Lucy from accounting was showing off a new bottleprobably rubbed off on me.» He waved a hand dismissively. «Dont keep me, Annie. Im knackered.»
«Lucy from accounting,» Anna thought bitterly as she retreated to the conservatory. «Right.»
That scent had haunted her for weeks. At first, shed convinced herself it was coincidencecolleagues wore perfume, after all.
…Their familys dream had lived in a savings accountone theyd opened five years earlier, scrimping for Olivers future. A flat for him when he came of age. Theyd denied themselves holidays for years, skipped new cars, pinched pennies on everything except Olivers schooling. By now, there shouldve been nearly £30,000enough to secure his university flat in Manchester.
The blow came unexpectedly. A client paid Anna early, adding a tip for her quick work. She decided to deposit it in personperhaps just craving a walk in the fine weather.
The teller, a young woman named Claire whom shed known for years, offered a polite smile.
«Hello, Mrs. Bennett. How can I help?»
«Just checking the balance on our savings, Claire. And Id like to add a bit more.»
«Of course. May I see your ID?»
Anna handed it over. Claires fingers tapped briskly at the keyboard.
«Um…» Claire frowned. «Mrs. Bennett, its… empty.»
«What do you mean, empty?» Annas voice wavered.
She thought there must be some mistake.
«Zero balance. Not a penny left.»
Annas knees buckled. She gripped the counter.
«Claire, thats impossible. Check the dateswe opened it five years ago, under James Edward Bennett. Ive been paying into it every month!»
«Im afraid so,» Claire said softly, sympathy creeping into her tone. «The last withdrawal was two weeks ago. A cash withdrawala very large sum.»
«How large?» Anna barely choked out the words.
«Twenty-nine thousand eight hundred pounds. Account closed.»
Two weeks ago… James had come home late that night, claiming a meeting.
«Thank you, Claire. I need a full transaction history. Now.»
…Anna stumbled out of the bank, barely registering her steps to the car. Thirty thousand. Gone.
***
When James returned, Anna sat at the kitchen table, the printed statement folded neatly before her. Her face was dry, eerily calmthe stillness before the storm.
James walked in, tossed his keys onto the shelf, rubbing his temples.
«Hey. Hows things?»
«Sit down, James,» Anna said, her voice low and steady, nothing like her usual tone.
James blinked at her, then noticed the papers. Understanding dawned slowly.
«Whats this?» he asked, still standing.
«Sit. We need to talk.»
He lowered himself into the chair opposite.
«Annie, I dont follow.»
«Dont lie, James. You know exactly.» Her fingers tapped the statement. «I went to the bank today. The savings are gone. Twenty-nine thousand eight hundred. Vanished two Tuesdays ago.»
James stared at his hands. He didnt deny it.
«How did you find out?»
«Does it matter? What did you do with it, James?»
«I… I bought a flat.»
«A flat? Where? For whom?»
He exhaled sharply. When he met her eyes, there was no remorsejust irritation and grim resolve.
«For her.»
«Whos ‘her’?» Annas voice was icy.
«Sophie.»
Anna stared. James shrank under her gaze but pressed on.
«Annie, I dont know how it happened… Remember that team-building weekend last year? The one the boss forced us into? Thats where I met Sophie.»
Annas voice was steel. «Go on.»
«She… she was different. Wild. Youre steady, safebut she made me feel alive. Nineteen when we met. Rode a motorbike, tattoos everywhere… I lost my head, Annie. With you, its like were just mates now. Comfortable.»
Annas throat locked. She wanted to scream, to smash platesbut she held firm. Never let a betrayer see you break.
«Keep talking.»
«We split for a while. She ditched me, said I bored her. I was gutted. Called her, begged… Then she rang me out of the blue seven months ago. We got back together. Next thing I knewshe was pregnant.» His voice cracked. «Annie, I couldnt abandon my child! Sophies mum kicked her out. I couldnt let my daughter live in some dodgy bedsit!»
Anna stood, walking to the window.
«So youll protect your mistresss child, but not your own son? Brilliant.» Her tone was lethal. «Heres what happens next. Tomorrow, you sign your half of our 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, and if you fight me, James, Ill ruin you. Everyone will know what youve done.»
James begged her to reconsiderlurked outside the house, sent pleading texts. None were answered. The divorce went through. As for Sophie? She didnt want him either. The baby, born right on time, wasnt histhe childs unmistakably East Asian features made that clear.
Some betrayals cost more than money.
