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, fate let me see the consequences of their betrayal at a roadside BP.
When my husband first grew distant, I turned to my closest friend for comfort. She told me I was overreacting. Turned out, I wasnt. But three years later, life granted me a glimpse of how their deceit had repaid them.
I used to think infidelity happened to other peoplesomething you read about in tabloids or overheard in hushed pub gossip. Not to us. Never to us.
For five years, Michael and I built a life together. It wasnt lavish, but it was oursfilm nights on the sofa, Sunday mornings with tea, inside jokes no one else understood.
And all that time, there was Annamy best mate from secondary school, my sister in everything but blood. She stood by me through every milestone, even at my wedding, where she clutched my hands as my maid of honour, crying happy tears.
When I got pregnant, I thought it was just the next chapter of our perfect little story.
Then Michael changed.
At first, it was small thingslate nights at the office, smiles that never reached his eyes. Then it got worse. He barely looked at me. Our conversations shrank to grunts. He slept turned away, as if I werent even there.
I didnt understand. I was exhausted, heavily pregnant, desperately trying to fix whatever had broken between us.
So I turned to Anna.
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.
Eliza, youre overthinking it, she said gently. He loves you. Its just stress.
I wanted to believe her.
But the constant tensionthe sleepless nights, the dread, the loneliness despite having a husbandwas eating me alive.
Then one morning, I woke to a dull ache in my stomach. By evening, I was in hospital, staring at the doctors moving lips 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 that hospital room, cold and silent, never taking my hand, never offering a word of comfort. Just sitting there like a man waiting for a bus, not mourning his child.
A month later, he finally said the words I think hed been rehearsing for weeks.
Im not happy anymore, Eliza.
And that was it. No explanation, no emotion. Just a hollow excuse.
The day Michael left, there was no shouting, no tears. Just icy silence.
Im not happy anymore, Eliza.
I blinked at him across the kitchen table. His words crushed my chest like a stone.
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 hard.
Since I lost the baby?
His jaw tightened.
Its not about that.
The lie was almost laughable.
I searched his face for any trace of remorse, guilt, anything. But he just sat there, eyes down.
Thats it? Five years, and you just walk away? My hands clenched under the table.
Another sigh, this time annoyed.
I dont want to argue, Eliza.
A sharp laugh escaped methe kind that comes when youre dangling over 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 with a mate.
Before I could reply, the door slammed.
Anna, my best friend, followed soon after. She had been my lifeline, my anchor. Then she vanishedignored calls, left messages on read, blocked me everywhere.
I didnt understand until I did.
Mum found out first. One evening, she rang, her voice tight.
Eliza, love look at this.
She sent me a link to Annas Instagram.
And there they were.
Michael and Anna. Arms wrapped around each other on some beach, laughing like theyd been in love for years.
I scrolled further, hands shaking. Photo after photo, week after week. Fancy restaurants, ski resorts, cosy nights by the fire. She posted them freely, openlywhile I was still his wife.
The betrayal burned like acid. But if they thought Id crumble, they were wrong.
I took my pain and turned it into power. Michael had been careless, too wrapped up in his fantasy 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.
He was everything Michael wasntkind, attentive, never once making me feel like my feelings were too much.
We built a lifereal, not just for show. And before long, our daughter was bornmy mirror image with his smile.
Then fate handed me the perfect ending.
One evening, I stopped at a petrol station. And there they were.
Michael and Anna.
But now, no designer clothes, no happy snaps. Their cara rusted heap, their voices sharp over a crying child, their card declined at the till.
We cant even afford petrol now? Anna hissed.
You knew money was tight, Michael snapped back.
Anna laughed bitterly.
Guess Eliza won this one.
I started the engine and drove hometo my real happiness.
