**The Price of a Mistress**
*»Have you lost your mind? You spent the money we saved for five years on a flat for your pregnant mistress? Including my hard-earned cash? I dont even have words! How could you?»*
Thirteen years. Thats how long Anna had been married to Henry. Shed adored himhis perpetually messy chestnut hair, that tired but tender smile he reserved for their eight-year-old son, Oliver. Life in their quiet little town in Devon had always been predictable, comfortably slow.
Henry walked in at exactly 9:30 PMlately, hed been working late, but Anna hadnt thought much of it. Until now. The moment he shrugged off his jacket, the scent hit hernot his usual cologne, but something sickly sweet, floral.
*»Hey,»* he muttered, kissing the top of her head. *»Exhausted. Rough day.»*
*»Dinner?»* she offered.
*»Nah. Just need a shower.»*
He brushed past her, and Anna felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Again, refusing food. The phone always in his pocket now, never left unattended. And if she so much as glanced at it, hed tense like a coiled spring.
*»Youre late,»* she said, picking up her teacup. *»Busy at work?»*
Henry paused at the bathroom door.
*»Yeah, end of quarter. Reports. Paperwork nightmare.»*
*»Why do you smell like perfume?»* The question slipped out sharper than shed intended.
Henry froze.
*»Smell like what?»* His voice was too casual. *»Oh, probably one of the girls in the office. Emily from accounting got some new floral nonsensereeked of it all day.»*
*»Right,»* Anna said flatly. *»Emily from accounting.»*
The scent had clung to him for weeks. Shed tried to ignore it, told herself it was nothinguntil today.
Their familys dream had lived in a savings accountfive years of scraping together every spare pound. Henry, an engineer at the local factory; Anna, taking sewing commissions from neighbours. No holidays, no new car, just sacrifice after sacrifice for Olivers future. Nearly £25,000 sat in that accountenough for university, a flat, a proper start for their son.
Then, the blow.
Anna had gone to the bank to deposit a clients paymenta rare stroke of luck, tipped generously for her speed. The teller, Sophie, a woman shed known for years, frowned at the screen.
*»Anna, love the accounts empty.»*
*»What?»*
*»Completely. Zero balance. A large withdrawal two weeks ago£24,900. The account was closed.»*
Two weeks ago. Henry had come home late that night, muttering about meetings.
Anna left the bank in a daze.
When Henry returned, she was waiting at the kitchen table, the bank statement neatly folded before her. No tears. Just ice.
*»Sit down,»* she said.
He hesitated, then slowly took a chair.
*»I went to the bank today,»* she continued, voice steady. *»Our savings are gone. All of it.»*
Henry didnt deny it.
*»I bought a flat,»* he admitted.
*»For who?»*
*»For her.»*
*»Name?»*
*»Chloe.»*
Anna stared. Henry, squirming, launched into his confession:
*»Remember that team-building weekend last year? The one the boss forced us on? Thats where I met her. Nineteen, tattoos, rode a motorbikecompletely mad. I lost my head, Anna. With you, its comfortable. Familiar. But with her, I felt alive again.»*
Annas hands clenched under the table, but her voice didnt waver. *»Go on.»*
*»We split for a bit. She dumped me, started seeing some bloke. I was gutted. Then she called meseven months ago. And well, shes pregnant now. Her mum kicked her out. I couldnt leave her homeless, Anna! Not with my child!»*
Anna stood, walking to the window. *»So your mistresss child matters, but your son doesnt?»* She turned, steel in her voice. *»Heres what happens now. Tomorrow, you sign your half of this house over to Oliver. Ill file for divorce. And if you fight me, Henry, Ill ruin you.»*
He begged, of course. Waited outside the house, sent pleading texts. But Anna never replied.
The divorce went through.
As for Chloe? She dumped Henry too. The baby, born right on time, had distinctly Asian featuresproof, as it turned out, that Henrys *»daughter»* was never his to begin with.
Some men never learn.
