Broken Hearts and a Hidden Spell
Emily came home from a parents’ evening in a small town near Manchester. As soon as she stepped inside, she went straight to her son’s room for a serious talk.
“Mum, enough already! I’m sick of your lectures!” snapped Daniel.
“Enough? I’ve barely started! Miss Thompson is furious with you,” Emily said, giving him a disapproving look.
“I’ll do what I want, just like Dad! No wonder he’s got another woman—you probably nagged him, too!” Daniel blurted out.
“Another woman? What are you talking about?” Emily froze, her voice shaking in shock.
She’d just come from the meeting where the teacher had complained again—Daniel wasn’t doing his homework, wasn’t paying attention, and had started talking back. What was going on with him? He’d become distant, quiet, never sharing anything. She needed to talk to her husband—maybe he could get through to him.
Then she spotted his car parked by the kerb. Had he come to pick her up? How sweet! She quickened her pace—only to stop dead. Her husband, Oliver, stepped out with a bouquet of flowers… but he wasn’t heading toward her. Instead, he handed them to a stranger. They hugged, got in the car, and drove off.
Emily stood there, paralysed. Who was that woman? Tall, with long auburn hair and a figure-hugging dress—nothing like her, short with dark curls. Oliver had said he’d be working late, discussing a new project. Was *she* his colleague? In fifteen years of marriage, Emily had never doubted him.
They’d married for love right after uni. His well-off parents had bought them a flat in central Manchester, and they’d doted on her. When their daughter was born later, she became the apple of their eye. Oliver took over the family business when his dad retired, struggled at first, but earned his team’s respect. They had enough—holidays abroad, weekends at their cottage with friends and family. He’d once asked her to quit her nursing job to focus on the family, but she loved helping people too much.
And now this. If he had someone else, he must have fallen out of love. Soon, he’d leave… Tears burned her cheeks. How could he? They weren’t just spouses—they were best friends, sharing everything, never lacking intimacy. He’d never even glanced at other women, handsome as he was.
At home, she confronted Daniel.
“Mum, enough of your speeches!” he snapped.
“Enough? Miss Thompson says you’ve completely let yourself go!”
“I do what I want, like Dad! No wonder he’s got another woman—you drove him to it!”
“What woman? Explain yourself!” Emily’s voice cracked.
“I saw him in a café with some stunner. He didn’t even notice me. What’ve you got to say now?”
Emily collapsed onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands. The tears wouldn’t stop.
“Mum, don’t cry…” Daniel, always protective of her, looked lost.
“That’s it, then… All those years, all that love, and he goes and finds someone else…”
“Stuff happens. I love Dad too, but if he’s treating you like this, let him go. We’ll manage. I’m thirteen—not a kid. But it hurts. He’s being a right git.”
He handed her a tissue. She wiped her eyes and hugged him.
“I’ll talk to him. He owes me the truth.”
Oliver came home hours later, looking exhausted.
“Em, I ate with colleagues. Just need a shower and sleep. Long day.”
“Ollie, I saw you… You gave her flowers. Then you left. I was walking back from school…”
He froze, face paling.
“You saw? Yeah… I’ve been seeing my new assistant, Scarlett. Don’t know how it happened.”
“And now what? Leaving us?”
“Em, I don’t want to go… But I’m drawn to her, like a magnet. I love you, but it’s like an obsession. She invited me over to help with paperwork, introduced me to her mum. Then kept asking me back. I… fell for her. We met at the cottage. I’m sorry…”
“Our cottage? *Our* home?! Oliver, how could you?!” Emily could barely breathe from the pain.
“I’m sorry. We should divorce. I can’t pretend nothing happened. I’ll support Daniel. You keep the flat—I’ll take the car and cottage.”
“You’ve got it all sorted… She’ll toss you aside once she’s bored. Use your head!”
The next day, Oliver packed his things and left while they were out. He left Daniel a letter, trying to explain. Emily stared at the empty wardrobe, heart shattering. She’d loved him completely. Money never mattered—family did. Divorce? Fine, let him file it. She and Daniel would manage.
Her mother-in-law called in tears.
“Em, Oliver told us. How could this happen? Everything was perfect! Midlife crisis? What now? What does he want with that girl? You’re such a good wife…”
“Margaret, I’m in shock too. Daniel’s furious—won’t speak to him.”
“Oh, this is awful… Stay strong, love. We’ll always be here.”
“Thanks. We love you too.”
Two weeks later, Oliver came for the rest of his things.
“Em, hi. Mind if I grab a few bits?”
“Go ahead.” She frowned—he looked ill, gaunt, drained.
“Daniel won’t answer my calls. I get it. Maybe with time…”
“Maybe. You look terrible. Young love wearing you out?” she scoffed.
“Something’s wrong. Weak, tired, no energy. Scarlett irritates me, but I can’t leave.”
Emily told her colleague Sophie, a close friend from the hospital.
“Em, something’s off. My neighbour knows about these things. Fancy going to see her?”
“I don’t believe in that rubbish. I’m a nurse—since when is magic real?”
“Just humour me. Bring Oliver’s photo, just in case.”
That evening, they visited Sophie’s neighbour, old Vera. A plain woman in a dressing gown—nothing like a “fortune-teller.” She took Oliver’s photo, lit a candle, and closed her eyes. Emily barely held back laughter, expecting a performance.
“He didn’t leave willingly. He loves you,” Vera said.
Emily snorted.
“Loves me? Is that why he’s shacking up with someone else?”
“Listen. There’s a spell on him—through food. Her mother’s behind it. They want his money, not him. Without the spell, he’d never have left—your bond’s too strong.”
“A spell? He’s a grown man—he chose this!”
“Her mother’s a witch. They’ll drain him. He’ll weaken, fade. Could end badly. Karma will get them, but later.”
Emily hesitated. Vera wasn’t charging, seemed sincere.
“What do I do? He’s already gone.”
“Bring him home, away from them. I’ll give you a prayer—say it in church before the Virgin Mary. Leave the photo. He’ll improve in a week.”
She agreed, sceptical but desperate. Oliver wasn’t answering calls, so she drove to the cottage.
The taxi pulled up at the gate. Once, they’d been happy here—barbecues, laughter, dancing. Now she knocked like a stranger. Scarlett answered.
“Emily? Didn’t expect you…”
“I need Oliver.”
“He’s resting.”
“Now.”
She walked into the bedroom. Oliver lay curled up, pale, unshaven.
“Ollie? You’re ill?”
“Em? What’s wrong?”
“Daniel’s in trouble—needs you. You weren’t answering.”
“What happened?” Oliver scrambled up, grabbing clothes.
“Can you drive? You look awful.”
“Feel worse… But I’ll manage. Wait outside.”
Scarlett blocked the door.
“Where’s he going? What’s happening?”
“Home, to his family. You shouldn’t have done this…”
“Done what?” she snapped.
“You know. Stop it before it backfires. Not scared?”
“Jealousy’s ugly. He’s with me because he wants to be!”
“Never mentioned a spell… Busted.”
“Take him, then! Useless lump! We could’ve been in a penthouse—stuck in this dump!”
Oliver stepped out.
“So that’s it? My money?” His face darkened. “Get out.”
Scarlett grabbed her things and left. They locked up and got in the car.
“Em, I don’t know what to say… You saw everything.”
“They hexed you. Sounds mad, but it fits. I forgive you. This wasn’t your fault.”
OliverOliver squeezed her hand, whispering, “I don’t deserve you, but I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to you both.”