**His Ex**
“Thanks, Johnny! I dont know what Id do without you,” flashed the notification on the phone screen.
Her husbands phone vibrated right in her hand. Emily glanced at it automatically. The sender was someone named Lucy. The message ended with a pink heart, like a little kiss.
Emilys eyes widened. Lucy? Johnny? She might have brushed it off as a distant relative or a colleague, except for one detail: her husband had never mentioned anyone by that name. Or had he been keeping her a secret?
She looked up sharply. She needed the truth first, not wild assumptions. But her chest tightened with jealousy all the same.
“Whos Lucy?” Emily asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
John, calmly sipping his tea, blinked in confusion.
“What?”
“Lucy,” she repeated, shoving the phone toward him. “Who is she?”
He glanced at the screen, and for just a second, something flickered in his eyes. He shrugged it off too quickly.
“Oh Thats just Louise.”
Emily froze.
“Which Louise?”
“Well My ex. Theres nothing between us now.”
She set the phone down and crossed her arms.
“Your ex calls you Johnny and thanks you with hearts? You seriously think thats normal?”
John shrugged again, as if it wasnt worth discussing.
“Yeah. I lent her some money. She asked for a loan, so I helped her out.”
Emily felt fury rise in her chest.
“You gave money to your ex?!”
“Yeah, whats the big deal?”
“Whats the big deal?!” she snapped. “Seriously? You think its fine to take from *our* money and hand it to some Lucy?”
He finally met her gaze.
“Emily, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. Weve known each other forever. Why shouldnt I help her?”
She laughed, but there was no joy in it.
“Youre married, John. To *me*! And yet youre still wrapped up in her, your past.”
He sighed, irritated, like he was explaining something obvious to a child.
“We didnt end badly. Shes not a stranger to me.”
“And *I* am?”
John stayed silent. Emily shook her head and exhaled sharply.
“How long has this been going on?”
“What?”
“This lovely little friendship of yours.”
He looked away.
“Weve always stayed in touch. Even before you. I just never mentioned it. Didnt want to upset you.”
Emilys whole body burned with anger.
“So for two years, you hid it?”
“I didnt hide it! There was just no reason to bring it up. Im not cheating. Why are you overreacting?”
She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to shout.
“And how often do you help her?”
“Now and then. Small things. Fixing stuff, sorting her computer.”
“So my husband runs after another woman like a handyman?”
“Dont be ridiculous!” he snapped. “I helped her out, gave her money! Is that a crime? Id do the same for you!”
Emily stared at him, her voice ice-cold.
“If you dont see anything wrong with this, then we have very different ideas of what a marriage should be.”
She turned and walked out of the kitchen. She couldnt bear to look at him.
That day passed like a blur for Emily. Anger, hurt, confusion. She tried to think calmly, but one question echoed in her mind: *How did I not notice?*
John didnt act guilty. He no longer hid his contact with Louise, but he pretended it was nothing.
Over the next two weeks, everything became clear. Her husband was often late from work. Every few days, Louise had some urgent problem.
“Im going over to Louises tonight,” he said casually over dinner. “Her washing machines broken.”
Emily set her fork down and fixed him with a hard look.
“Are there no other repairmen in town?”
“Come on, is it so hard to help someone?”
“For you, no. For me, its hard to accept.”
“Here we go again! Is this all we talk about now?”
“Yes,” she said flatly. “Because your ex always *needs* help. At least you dont have kids together.”
John sighed but kept eating.
“If it were the neighbour or my mum, would you react like this?”
“The difference is, they wouldnt call you every day.”
“Emily,” he said, exasperated. “Youre acting like Ive cheated.”
“I dont know if you have,” she shot back. “But this isnt normal. And it bothers me.”
He smirked.
“You dont trust me.”
“Have you given me reason to?”
Silence settled between them.
Three days later, Louise reappeared.
“Louise called,” he announced carelessly. “She wants to buy a fridge but cant get it delivered.”
Emily slowly turned to him.
“So now youre dropping everything to handle her fridge?”
“Whats the problem?”
“John, do you *really* not see it?”
“I see you making a scene over nothing.”
“No, *youre* the one making this a circus. And I dont want to be part of it. If you want to help Louise so badly, you can move in with her. Save on petrol.”
“Youre serious?”
“Absolutely.”
“So youre kicking me out?”
“No, John. Im giving you a choice. Either youre in this marriage, or you walk. But I dont want you here anymore.”
She turned and left. She wouldnt fall for his games again. Maybe he thought honesty meant admitting where he was going. But to Emily, it wasnt honestyit was betrayal.
Twenty-four hours passed after their last argument. Emily sat in the kitchen, staring at her phone. John hadnt called, hadnt texted. He was gone. Maybe to
After ten days of silence, Emily realised sometimes a breakup isnt a loss, but a lessonone that teaches you not to settle for less than you deserve.
