“I’m sorry its come to this.”
“William, are you sure youve packed everything? Should I double-check?” I called, pausing outside the closed bathroom door.
“Emma, leave it! Ive got a whole suitcaseyou saw it,” he answered over the sound of the shower. But his voice it trembled. Or was I imagining it?
“I saw the suitcase. Not what you stuffed inside,” I muttered, stepping back.
“Emma, make me a coffee, would you? Strong. No milk,” he added calmly as the water shut off.
I went to the kitchen without a word, fetched the coffee pot, filled it with water, scooped in ground coffee, a pinch of saltjust how he liked it. We had a machine, but William loved the coffee I brewed. “Youre so thoughtful,” hed said just last night, coming home late to find his dinner wrapped in a tea towel to keep warm, like my nan used to do.
Lately, hed been staying out morework, supposedly. Career stuff. Prepping for a promotion. And me? I stood still beside him. Cooking, ironing, enduring.
“Divine aroma of a divine drink,” William said, walking into the kitchen, pushing damp hair from his forehead. He sat at the table and reached for the mug.
“Emma, a deliverys coming todaynew car seat covers. Can you take them? Cash on delivery,” he said, stirring a spoon of sugar into his coffee.
“Sure. As always,” I sat across from him.
“This business trip couldnt have worse timing,” he sighed. “But I cant back out. You understandits an opportunity, maybe the only one. Department headno joke.”
“Yeah Didnt realise youd have to travel for a role like that.”
“Bosss whim. Anyway, Ive got half an hour leftneed to finish some emails.”
He stood and went to the next room, leaving his cup behind. Fine. No point holding it against himhes stressed.
I reached for his mug when my phone buzzeda message. I opened it.
“Emma, Williams lying. Its not a work trip. Hes flying to Italy with Sophie Miller. Stop him while you still can. Hes ruining his life.”
Claire. His younger sister.
Something snapped in my head. Him with Sophie? No way. A joke? But Claire doesnt joke like that. And shed never lie.
My vision blurred. The air turned thick as cement. I barely breathed. With effort, I stood, poured myself waterthen sank back into the chair.
I wanted to scream. Break something. But my mind stuck on one question: “Why?”
I clenched my fists. Thought of storming in, causing a scene, ripping off his mask. But I didnt. He didnt deserve the drama.
Let him go. Ill give him a surprisenot a fight, an action.
I opened the banking app. £42,000 in the joint account. Impressive, but hed beaten me here too£10,000 gone. My money, by the way. My freelance earnings, my late nights. And him blowing my savings on a holiday with his ex.
I knew about Sophie. William had mentioned her, and Claire brought her up once. School sweetheart, a snob. Dumped him twicefirst for an older bloke, then for someone “promising.” Now shes back. Williams falling for it. And lying.
At least he couldve been honest: “Emma, I love someone else. Im sorry.” It wouldve hurt, sure. But not like this. Insteadsneaking around. Withdrawing cash, babbling about work trips, packing his case
Fine. Ill take the rest. Today. Every last penny. Thendivorce. His things? Courier to his parents.
I checked my calendarbig online presentation tomorrow. If everything goes well, Ill book time off. Not Italy, no. Maybe Portugal. Somewhere hes never been.
“Emma, Id better head off nowtraffics bad,” he said, stepping into the kitchen, perfectly dressed, tie and all.
“Bye. Safe trip,” I forced out, gripping the mug.
“Whats with the tone?”
“Your imagination.”
“Ill miss you”
“Doubt youll have time for that.”
“Arent you seeing me out?”
“Ill wash up instead.”
“Right. Off I go, then.”
“Take care.”
The door slammed. William had no idea hed just left for good. Tomorrow, Id change the locks.
I sat down. Cried. Bitter tearsfrom betrayal, humiliation. Traitor.
Another message from Claire:
“Emma, you okay?”
I wiped my face and called her.
“Claire, whered you hear this?”
“A friend of Sophies mentioned it. Shes back in Williams life. Hes falling for it. Emma, Im so sorry”
“Thanks for warning me. I didnt stop him. Let him go.”
“Hes an idiot. Shell ditch him again.”
“His choice. Claire, dont tell him I know.”
“Wouldnt anyway. Sick of his nonsense!”
“Thanks. Well stay in touch. Even after the divorce.”
“Course, Emma. Stay strong.”
I reopened the banking app. Still £32,000 left. Nobetter transfer it now. To my mum. My own account. Hes lost all rights to it.
“Mum, sending you £32,000. Hes already taken his share.”
“What happened, love?”
“Were divorcing. Hes flying to Italy with his fling.”
“Good Lord Emma, hang in there. Weve got you. Itll pass. Youll find someone who deserves you.”
“No, Mum. Im not looking. Maybe Ill just have a child. Alone. And thatll be enough.”
“Well its one way. Just dont give up, girl.”
I ended the call. Pulled myself together. Tomorrows a new day. Williams gone, but Im still here. Whole. True. And everythings ahead of meno lies, no betrayal. Just me.
Sometimes the hardest goodbyes are the ones you dont say aloudbut the ones that set you free.
