Betrayal, Take Two
Veronica and Tanya always drove to work together. Tanya was the serious, responsible one behind the wheel—pretty but practical. Veronica, on the other hand, was cheerful, a little careless, and undeniably beautiful. They’d been friends since they started at the same office nearly a decade ago, sharing not just a workspace but two other colleagues as well.
Neither was married anymore. Their grown-up children had lives of their own. Tanya had lost her beloved husband seven years earlier in a car crash. Since then, she hadn’t given romance a second thought.
“Tanya, you need someone in your life—not necessarily marriage, but at least someone to go out with,” Veronica often said. She herself never gave up hope of finding love again.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” Tanya would reply sadly. “My husband and I were two halves of a whole. Now that he’s gone, there’s no one else for me.”
Veronica was striking—slim, intelligent, and free-spirited. She’d divorced her husband eight years ago after walking in on him in their flat when she’d returned early from visiting her mother in the countryside. No arguments, no scenes. She’d packed his bags, kicked him out—the flat was hers—and filed for divorce.
She’d had her share of suitors since, but none had measured up. Still, she held out hope that one day, she’d find the right man.
Recently, Veronica had celebrated her forty-fifth birthday—her “berry jubilee,” as she called it. She was two years older than Tanya. They’d toasted in a restaurant, and the evening had been lovely.
She’d done the same for her fortieth, despite Tanya’s warnings.
“Vera, you know what they say—fortieth birthdays are bad luck. And you’re throwing a restaurant party?”
“Oh, Tanya, I don’t believe in old wives’ tales. If you let superstitions rule you, life becomes dull,” Veronica laughed.
That evening, a handsome stranger—bearing a passing resemblance to a film star—had caught her eye from across the room. Before Tanya knew it, Veronica had dragged him to their table.
“Where did you find him?” Tanya whispered as soon as she could.
“He invited me to dance, so I told him it was my birthday. He promised me a gift tomorrow,” Veronica grinned.
After that, Veronica started seeing James. By their second date, she’d learned he was married.
“My wife and I are filing for divorce,” he assured her. “The kids are grown, and we’ve barely anything holding us together.”
James wooed her beautifully—flowers, dinners, countryside drives. Soon, he was staying over regularly. Tanya barely recognised her carefree friend.
“Vera, you’re floating around like a butterfly, not a care in the world,” Tanya observed.
“You’ve no idea, Tanya. He’s wonderful. I think I’ve lost my head,” Veronica sighed dreamily.
“Don’t dive in too deep,” Tanya warned. “I can see it in his eyes—he’s a smooth talker, a proper ladies’ man.”
Veronica only laughed. “Tanya, envy isn’t a good look.”
“Envy? I’m trying to spare you heartache. You’re so passionate—I don’t want you getting hurt.”
A year and a half passed. James stopped mentioning divorce. Worse, he’d set his sights on a younger woman—a decade Veronica’s junior. He started seeing her less, until finally, she confronted him.
“James, what’s going on? Have you patched things up with your wife, or is there someone else?”
“Look, I’ll be honest—I’ve fallen for her. I meant to tell you sooner, but your intuition beat me to it. Let’s part as friends, yeah?”
Veronica sobbed on Tanya’s shoulder. The betrayal stung, and Tanya ached for her, comforting her as best she could.
“Vera, he’s not worth your tears. He got bored and moved on. A cheat, plain and simple. Look at yourself—you’ve lost weight, barely smile. Don’t wreck your health over him.”
“I know, in my head… but my heart won’t listen,” Veronica whispered.
To distract her, Tanya dragged her to cinemas, events, even her mother’s cottage in the countryside. They grilled burgers, hosted friends, laughed.
“Tanya, you’re a real friend,” Veronica said once she’d steadied herself.
“Thank God you’re yourself again,” Tanya smiled.
Veronica dressed up, laughed more. She never mentioned James, and Tanya assumed the wound had healed. Then one weekend, Veronica refused a trip to the cottage.
“Can’t today. Got things to do,” she said vaguely.
Tanya didn’t push it. But on Sunday evening, stepping out of her building, she froze. Parked outside Veronica’s flat was James’s car—and there he stood, leaning against it.
Tanya turned sharply, slipped into her own car, and sped off.
“So that’s what she meant by ‘things to do’,” Tanya muttered. “Back to the same old rake.”
Monday morning, Veronica breezed in, glowing—then faltered under Tanya’s stare.
“Hello, everyone,” she said, taking her seat.
“Hello. Saw your ‘Mister Smooth’ outside your flat.”
“Tanya, don’t look at me like that. Yes, I’m back on the same old rake—I know what you’re thinking. But listen, James came to me this time. Ran into him by chance.”
“And you believed him again?”
“He asked me to go to Spain with him. Said he missed me—that life’s vibrant there, passion everywhere, and I’d outshine all the local beauties.”
“You bought that?”
“He apologised, said he’d made a mistake but always loved me. Called it a ‘pause’ to refresh things.”
Tanya sighed. She knew arguing was pointless but tried anyway.
“Vera, you’re forty-five, not fifteen. And have you forgotten how his last ‘pause’ left you? I thought you’d sent him packing.”
“Don’t be cross, Tanya. I can’t help it. Besides, no one else is queueing up for me.”
“I don’t trust him. He’s slippery—eyes never stay still. Handsome, yes, but—”
“Relax, I’m wiser now. Maybe I’ll just enjoy a free holiday. Never been to Spain.”
Tanya knew Veronica wasn’t that calculating—she was just deflecting.
“She’s still in love,” Tanya realised. “Willing to forgive a cheat. But I’d never humiliate myself like that. I worry she’ll dive back in—and how will it end? She won’t survive a second betrayal.”
She couldn’t explain her certainty—instinct, perhaps, or her own refusal to tolerate cheats.
“Tanya, darling! We landed safely,” Veronica chirped over the phone days later. “Spain’s breathtaking! James is an angel—barely glances at the locals!”
Hanging up, Tanya frowned.
“Either I’m wrong about him, or he’s a master manipulator.”
Veronica returned sun-kissed, radiant, bearing gifts.
“I’m so happy, Tanya! James is filing for divorce—then we’re getting married!”
“That’s… wonderful,” Tanya said, unconvinced. A nagging doubt lingered.
As autumn arrived, rainy and blustery, Tanya found herself appreciating the season’s melancholic beauty. Then, one Saturday, Veronica called in tears.
Tanya rushed over. On the sofa, she held Veronica as she sobbed.
“He left me. Again. Found some twenty-year-old this time.”
“Vera, I warned you. You were in love—you didn’t want to see it. Now you must: he’s not the one. This was betrayal, take two. Let that sink in.”
“I get it, Tanya. I really do.”
Tanya soothed her, certain Veronica had finally learned her lesson. But only time would tell.
