What are you on about? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
Charlotte couldnt shake the gnawing feeling in her gut. Every instinct screamed that her husband was cheating. The uncertainty ate at her. One evening, she finally mustered the courage to confront him.
She asked him outrightwas it true or not? But he only scoffed.
What are you on about? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
On the surface, Edward seemed sincere. His smile was easy, his words smooth, his gaze steady. Yet something still clawed at her.
Charlotte wasnt one to leave things to fate. She was determined to uncover the truthbut how?
After scouring the internet for advice, she decided to check his phone first. Nothing suspiciousjust idle chatter with a couple of old schoolmates. Harmless.
Edward never even bothered with a passcode. Nothing to hide, hed always say. No secret chats, no deleted messages. A bloody saint in the flesh.
Sometimes, she wondered if she was imagining things. But every time he came home late from work, that sickening twist in her stomach returned.
Her best friend, Rebecca, rolled her eyes. Youre paranoid! Edward adores youhed never stray! Youre sabotaging your own marriage!
But Charlotte wouldnt listen. Her gut told her otherwise. And sharing her husband? Unthinkable.
Once, she even stalked him to the office, desperate to know if he was really working or chasing skirts. When he spotted her, he was livid. Embarrassing me in front of my colleagues! She apologised for days before he cooled off.
On paper, their life was perfect. A lovely home in Surrey. Two kids. Yet Charlotte couldnt stop digging.
They say if you go looking for trouble, youll find it. And she did.
One morning, she woke early, determined to surprise the family with a chicken and aubergine pietheir favourite. But she was out of flour.
A biting frost had settled outside, but shed grown confident driving in winter. She hurried to the caronly for the engine to sputter uselessly. Back inside, the house was still asleep.
No way was she walking in this cold. So she did the unthinkabletook Edwards Audi without asking. Just a quick trip. Hed never even notice.
While the car warmed, she wiped the windows. Reaching into the glovebox for tissues, her fingers brushed against something. A phone clattered to the floor.
Not his. Edwards phone she knewthis was different.
Her thumb hovered over the power button.
The first thing she saw was a message from some woman named Natasha.
*My love, I miss you so much! Come to me quicklyI cant wait!*
Her stomach dropped. No passcode. She scrolled.
Messages stretched back months. Years.
Turns out, Edward finished work at fivebut never came home before seven. Every day, he stopped at Natashas flat first.
The words he wrote herwords Charlotte had never heard in their marriage.
Natasha was older. Mid-forties, at least. What the hell did he see in her?
Rage burned through her. She was halfway out of the car when Edward emerged from the house.
Hed seen her note about popping to the shop. Now he was sneaking out to text his mistress.
Suddenly, it made senseall those evenings hed forgotten his wallet or needed to check something in the car.
Edward froze when he saw her behind the wheel.
Who said you could take it? he snapped.
Charlotte buckled up, slammed into reverse, and floored it. The Audi screeched into the fence behind her. The crash sent a jolt of satisfaction through her.
She stormed out, keys in hand. Go to her, then! Lets see how much she wants you when youve got no house, no car, *nothing*!
With that, she hurled the keys into a snowdrift and marched inside.
The boys were awake but confused. Minutes later, Edward tried the door. Shed bolted it.
Go to her! she screamed. Dont you *dare* come back!
Edward trudged off in slippers and a coat, straight to Natashas.
But the door swung open to another mans voice. Darling, you coming back to bed?
Turns out, Natasha had weekends offand another lover waiting.
She gave Edward a pitying look and shut the door in his face.
Defeated, he dragged himself to his mothers house two streets over.
Margaret took one look at him and sighed. She fed him, listened to his sob story about his ungrateful wife, and patted his shoulder.
Dont fret, love. Who knew Charlotte would turn out like this? Your luck will changeyoure only thirty-five! Plenty of time to find real love.
So Edward moved in with Mum, convinced he was freeuntil the child support papers arrived.
Turns out, starting over wasnt so simple.
At least he still had his mother.
Without her? Hed have been well and truly stuffed.
