**Diary Entry 16th May**
I never thought Id write these words, but here we are. Annas fury was colder than a Yorkshire winter when she found out.
*”Have you lost your mind? You spent the money we saved for five yearsmy money tooon a flat for your pregnant mistress? How could you?”*
Thirteen years. Thirteen years Anna spent loving Edward with all her heart, adoring his perpetually messy chestnut hair and that quiet, tired smile hed wear whenever he looked at their eight-year-old son, Oliver. Life in their little town had been steady, predictableuntil it wasnt.
Edward walked in at half past nine, as he had every night lately, muttering something about workload. His jacket smelled wrongnot his usual cologne, but something sickly sweet, floral. Anna noticed immediately.
*”Hello,”* he muttered, kissing the top of her head. *”Rough day. Exhausted.”*
*”Dinner?”* she asked, forcing calm.
*”No, ta. Just need a shower.”*
He brushed past her, and something twisted in her gut. Lately, hed been dodging meals, keeping his phone glued to him, face-down, locked. Every little thing set him on edge.
*”Late again,”* she said, clearing a cup. *”Busy at the office?”*
He paused at the bathroom door. *”Quarter-end reports. Paperwork hell.”*
*”Why do you smell like perfume?”* The question slipped out sharper than she meant.
Edward stiffened. *”Perfume? Mustve been Emily from accounts. She was showing off some new scent.”* He waved a hand. *”Dont fuss. Im knackered.”*
*Emily from accounts.* Anna clenched her jaw. That smell had clung to him for weeks.
—
Their dream had lived in a Barclays savings accounta flat for Oliver, a future. Five years of scrimping. Edwards engineers wage, Annas sewing side jobs. No holidays, no new car. Every spare penny went into that account. Over £25,000 nowenough for Oliver to study in London without slumming it in student digs.
Then the sky fell.
A client paid Anna early, with a tip for good measure. She walked to the bank, cheerful, ready to deposit it. The teller, Saraha girl shed known yearssmiled politely.
*”Need to check our savings balance,”* Anna said. *”And add a bit more.”*
Sarahs smile faltered. *”Mrs. Whitmore the accounts empty.”*
*”What?”* Annas fingers dug into the counter.
*”Zero balance. Last withdrawal was two weeks ago. Twenty-four thousand nine hundred. Mr. Whitmore closed it.”*
Two weeks ago. The night Edward claimed hed been stuck in a meeting.
—
When Edward came home, Anna was waiting, the printed statement folded neatly on the table. Her face was stone.
*”Sit,”* she said.
He eyed the papers. His shoulders slumped. *”Annie, I can explain”*
*”Twenty-five thousand gone. Where is it?”*
Edward exhaled. *”I bought a flat.”*
*”For who?”*
*”Sophie,”* he muttered.
Anna didnt shout. She didnt need to. *”Sophie. Right. Go on.”*
Edward crumbled. *”Met her last year at that team-building retreat. Shes wild. Nineteen when we started. Rides a motorbike, tattoos everywhere. Made me feel alive again. Then she got pregnanther mum kicked her out. I couldnt leave her on the streets, Annie!”*
Anna stood, turning to the window. *”So youll save your mistresss child but throw ours to the wolves? Fine. Tomorrow, youll sign your half of this house over to Oliver. And Ill file for divorce. Try to stop me, and Ill ruin you.”*
Edward begged, called, sent pathetic texts. Anna never replied.
The divorce was swift. And Sophie? Turned out the baby wasnt even histhe girl had her Thai fathers eyes.
**Lesson learned:** Some men will burn their own future to warm a stranger. And in the end, theyre left with neither.
