What on earth? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
Emily couldnt help herself. She just *knew* her husband was cheating. The uncertainty ate at her. One day, she finally worked up the courage to ask him outrightwas it true or not? But all he said was:
What on earth? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!
Honestly, James sounded sincere. His smile, his words, even his eyesnothing gave him away. And yet, something still gnawed at her.
Emily wasnt the type to leave things to chance, so she was determined to get to the truth. But how?
After scouring the internet for advice, she decided to check his phone first. Nothing stood outjust harmless banter with a couple of old school friends. No big deal, right?
James never even locked his phone. Nothing to hide, he always said. No secret chats, no deleted messages. Practically a saint.
Sometimes, she wondered if she was imagining thingsbut every time he came home late from work, that uneasy feeling crept back in.
Her best mate, Lucy, always told her: Youre overthinking it! James adores youhed never look at another woman! Youre just pushing him away with all this suspicion!
But Emily didnt listen. Her gut told her otherwise, and she *refused* to share her husband with anyone.
Once, she even followed him to work, just to check if he was really there or off with some other woman. When he spotted her, he was furious. Youre embarrassing me in front of my colleagues! She had to apologise for ages, but he forgave her quickly.
On paper, their life was perfect. Nice house in Surrey, two kids, everything they could want. But Emily just couldnt let it go.
As they saylook hard enough, and youll *always* find something. Problem was, she hadnt yet.
Truth was, Emily was terrified. Like so many women in their thirties, she couldnt bear the thought of being left alone with two kids. She *seemed* calm, but inside, she was a mess.
No lipstick on his shirts. No unfamiliar perfume. Not even a change in his routine. And yetshe *knew* something was off.
If it hadnt been for pure chance, she might never have found out the truth. Imagined or real? Well youll see.
When their youngest started Year 1, Emily decided to learn to drive. She took evening lessons after work, passed her test in three months, and got her licence. James was so proud, he bought her a carsmall, but perfect for her. Petite as she was, it suited her just fine.
(Of course, James *claimed* he just didnt want her asking to borrow his Audi. She needed more experience first, he said.)
Then, one weekend, Emily woke up early and decided to surprise the family with their favouritechicken and mushroom pie. She got started only to realise they were out of flour.
Freezing outside, snow everywherebut shed learned to drive in winter by now. So she thought, *Quick trip to Tesco, no problem.*
But her car wouldnt start. She tiptoed back insideeveryone still asleepnot wanting to wake them.
Walking in the cold was *not* happening, so she did the unthinkable: she took Jamess car without asking. *Its just a couple of mileshell never know.*
Keys in hand, she headed back out. While the car warmed up, she decided to wipe the windows. Reaching into the glovebox for tissues, her hand brushed against something*clunk*.
She picked it up. A phone. But *whose*?
Definitely not Jamess. She knew his phone inside outthis one was different. At first, she thought he mustve accidentally picked it up (as he always said). But curiosity got the better of her. She pressed the buttonno passcode.
The first thing she saw? A text from someone named *Jessica*.
*My love, I miss you so much! Come over soonI cant wait!*
Emily blinked. *What?*
No password meant she could read everything. The car idled as she scrolled.
The messages went *on and on*like a whole secret life.
Turns out, James finished work at 5 p.m. every day but didnt come home till 7. Shed never thought to check his actual hours.
Almost *every day*, he stopped by his precious Jessicas for an hour first. Then came home like nothing happened. And the things he wrote to her? Words Emily had *never* heard from him.
Photos showed a woman in her forties. *What does he even see in her?*
Emily was *livid*.
She was about to storm back inside when she saw James stepping out of their front door.
Shed left a note saying shed gone to the shop. He mustve seized the moment to sneak another message to Jessica.
*Now* she rememberedhow he often forgot things in the car at night. His wallet, his phone. Little excuses to slip outside.
James spotted her in *his* Audi and marched over.
Who said you could take it? We *agreed*
Emily snapped.
Seatbelt on. Reverse gear. *Slam* on the gas.
The car screeched*CRUNCH*straight into the fence behind her.
She got out, glaring at her shocked husband.
Go on, then! Off to *Jessicas*! Lets see how much she wants you with *no house and no car*!
With that, she hurled his car keys into a snowdrift and stormed inside.
The boys were awake now, confused. A few minutes later, James tried to followbut she *bolted* the door.
GO TO *HER*! DONT COME BACK!
James had no choice. In his slippers, dressing gown, and a hastily thrown-on jacket, he trudged to Jessicas.
Surely *shed* take him in, comfort him
Jessica opened the doorbut from inside, a mans voice called:
Babe, you coming back? Ive been waiting!
Turns out, Jessica only saw James *weekdays*. Weekends? She had *another* man for that.
She gave him an apologetic look and shut the door in his face.
So James dragged himself to his mums housetwo streets over.
Margaret took one look at him and *knew*. She fed him, warmed him up, listened to his sob story about his horrible wife kicking him out over nothing. Then she patted his shoulder.
Dont worry, love. Who knew Emily would turn out like this? Your luck will changeyoure only thirty-five! Youll find love again, mark my words.
So James moved back in with Mum, ready to start freshuntil Emily filed for child support. *Then* he realised fresh starts arent so easy.
Good thing his mum didnt abandon him. Otherwise? Hed have been *completely* lost.
