Hearing footsteps, Emily quickly deleted the messagesome love-struck text about missing her and counting down to their next meet-upand tossed her phone back onto the nightstand, right where it had been.
She kept rereading the message on her husbands phone, unable to believe it wasnt a bad dream. Her husband, her rock, her beloved *James*, was cheating again.
And not even with some young, glamorous model like before. This time, it was a woman a good fifteen years older than him.
Footsteps againEmily deleted the message in a flash, just as James strolled in, whistling. Hed just gotten a fat bonus at work, which meant he could buy Emily an anniversary gift *and* whisk his new fling, *Natasha*, off to the seaside.
The thought of Natasha made him grin. Hed had plenty of affairsyoung girls, divorcees, even married womenbut Natasha was different. She was a colleague. A bit plump, but the way she dressed, carried herself, spoke and the way she was when they were alone. Shame she wasnt getting any younger, but she was still in her prime, and he planned to enjoy every last drop.
Noticing Emilys frown, James snapped back to reality.
*”Everything alright? You seem off.”*
*”Fine. Just thinking about the anniversary party. Could you transfer me some money to organise it?”*
*”Yeah, of course.”*
She didnt even know why she said that. Before, shed have eruptedscreaming, threatening divorcebut now? Nothing. Like she hadnt just read those texts.
James grabbed his phone, made a fake work call, then slipped onto the balcony to fire off a few steamy messages to Natasha. Emily stayed calm. She knew tears and tantrums changed nothing.
Hed cheated before, always blaming *her*how shed *”let herself go”* after the kids, how she wasnt *”the woman he married.”* But now? She looked *perfect*. Toned body, long blonde hair, light makeup, a stylish dressshe couldve passed for a Bond girl.
Her friends didnt get it. *”Youve got money, an education, three kidsyoud be fine without him!”* But Emily stayed, enduring the affairs, only occasionally snapping and threatening divorce. Each time, James parents would jump in, scolding her.
*”Look at our neighbour, *Maggie*widowed, working two jobs, sewing at night just to get by. Or *Vera*her husbands a drunk; shes in rags, the kids too.”*
*”But”*
*”No *buts*! You live like a queenbig house, designer clothes, no job. So he strays? Big deal. Men are like cats; they love warmth and affection. If Id nagged your father-in-law, hed have left. Now? Hes a model husband. So stop whining and make sure James doesnt *want* to look elsewhere.”*
Emily smirked. Shed *seen* her father-in-law sneaking out of Maggies house. Guess hed just gotten better at hiding it than James.
*”Paulines right. If hes straying, *youre* not giving him what he needs. If my wife nagged like you, Id put her in her place. Doesnt like it? She can leave!”*
Her mother-in-law would nod along, and Emily would feel sick. Her own parents adored each other, never cheated, raised her to believe in honesty*”If you fall out of love, say it. Dont live a lie.”*
No one *deserved* to be lied to. So why was cheating *his* fault one minute and *hers* the next?
The tears, the wasted money on psychics promising to *”fix”* himuseless.
Her friends begged her to leave. But where would she go with three kids? Her parents? Her brother lived there. Rent a flat? With what money?
She didnt work, and raising three kids alone? Brutal. And she still loved James. Theyd been together since primary schoolfirst love confession at eleven, never apart since.
Maybe her in-laws were right. Maybe hed grow out of it. Maybe *she* was the problem.
Then she remembered that text and wanted to scream. *What was wrong with her now?* Before, it was *”Youve gained weight.”* Now? She was flawless. And this womanolder, with that weird hair colourwhat did she have that Emily didnt?
Their anniversary was coming up*ten years*and he was at it again.
Grabbing her phone, she scrolled party planners sites, eventually calling one.
The next day, *Leonard*, the companys co-owner, arrived. Apologising for his colleagues absence, he assured her theyd make it perfect.
*”Weve got gift catalogues, themesor suggest your own. Whats your husband into? Fishing? Cars? Sports?”*
*”Women. And cheating.”*
*”Sorry?”*
*”My husband *loves* women. Cant go a day without betraying me.”*
Leonard sighed. *”Why do you put up with it? Youre letting him disrespect you. If you dont respect yourself, why should he?”*
*”You dont understand”*
*”I *do*. My little sister *was* in your shoes. She stayed quiet too. Then she did something irreversible. Now Im raising her kids. Youve got children?”*
*”Yes.”*
*”Live for *them*. Youll find a flat, a jobbut you only get one life.”*
Emily wiped her tears. *”Youre right.”*
The next week, she worked closely with Leonard, planning the *perfect* anniversarya lavish party at a countryside villa. Invites went out to friends, family, even James colleagues (including *Natasha*).
The night arrived. Emily stood in a black lace dress, flawless. Leonard squeezed her shoulder. *”Still sure?”*
*”No going back.”*
The party was in full swing. James parents ignored her, while he flirted openly with Natasha, sneaking off to the guest toilet whenever Emily wasnt looking.
Time for the *gift*.
*”Darling, these ten years taught me one thingnever argue with a man like you. Just accept him. And thank you. For showing me what *real* marriage looks like.”*
A giant cake rolled inout popped three women: a blonde, a brunette, a redhead. Emily watched James face, then whispered to Natasha:
*”Think youre the only one? Look how he *lights up* for them. Now look at yourself.”*
Natasha paled as Emily turned to her mother-in-law.
*”Guess your husband *hasnt* grown out of it. Still popping round to *Maggies*, isnt he?”*
Before the spluttering reply, Emily faced James.
*”Like your gift? You *love* women. How manys it been? Three? Ten? Blondes, brunettes now Natasha. Your parents were rightI wont make a scene anymore. Enjoy this life. But not with *me*.”*
She took the kids and leftstraight to Leonards waiting car.
The divorce was messy. James blamed *her*, refused to sign but it happened.
Her friends were stunned. Howd quiet, meek Emily pull this off? SimpleJames funded it all. Weekly allowances, anniversary money shed saved every penny.
Years later, shes never regretted leaving. Shes remarriedhappily. Leonard adores her, treats her kids like his own.
Starting over isnt easy. But cheating? Thats just comparisonsearching for *better*. Why stay when ones living and the others just surviving?
