**His Ex**
“Thanks, Johnny! I dont know what Id do without you,” flashed across the phone screen.
Her husbands phone vibrated right in her hand. Emma glanced at it automatically. The sender was someone named Lucy. The message ended with a pink heart, like a little kiss.
Emma froze. Lucy? Johnny? She might have assumed it was a distant relative or a colleague, except for one thingher husband had never mentioned anyone by that name. Or had he been keeping her hidden?
She looked up sharply. She needed the truth first, not to jump to conclusions. But her chest tightened with jealousy.
“Whos Lucy?” Emma asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.
John, sipping his coffee calmly, blinked in confusion.
“What?”
“Lucy,” she repeated, shoving the phone toward him. “Who is she?”
He glanced at the screen, and a flicker of tension crossed his eyes. He shrugged quickly.
“Oh Thats just Lucy.”
“Which Lucy?”
“My ex. Theres nothing between us now.”
Emma 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 werent worth discussing.
“Yeah. I lent her some money. She needed a loan, so I helped her out.”
Emmas anger flared.
“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 savings and hand it to some Lucy?”
He finally met her gaze.
“Emma, youre 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, the one you were with before.”
He sighed impatiently, as if explaining something obvious to a child.
“We didnt end badly. Shes not a stranger to me.”
“And am I the stranger?”
John fell silent. Emma shook her head and exhaled heavily.
“How long has this been going on?”
“What?”
“This cosy little friendship of yours.”
He looked away.
“Weve always talked. Even before you. I just never mentioned it. Didnt want to upset you.”
Emmas entire body burned with fury.
“So youve been hiding it for two years?”
“I wasnt hiding! There was no reason to bring it up. Im not cheating. Why are you making it a thing?”
She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to shout.
“And how often do you help her?”
“Occasionally. Small things. Fixing stuff, setting up her laptop.”
“So my husband runs around after another woman like a handyman?”
“What are you on about?!” he snapped. “I helped her, lent her money! Is that a crime? Id do the same for you!”
Emma stared at him with cold resolve.
“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 right now.
That day passed like a blur for Emma. Anger, hurt, confusion. She tried to reason through it calmly, but one question echoed in her mind: *How did I not notice?*
John didnt act guilty. Now he didnt even hide speaking to Lucy, but he acted like it was no big deal.
Over the next two weeks, everything became clear. Her husband was often late from work. Every few days, Lucy had some urgent problem needing fixing.
“Im going to Lucys tonight,” he announced casually over dinner. “Her washing machine broke.”
Emma set her fork down and stared at him.
“Are there no other repairmen in town?”
“Come on, is it really so hard to help someone?”
“For you, no. For me, yes.”
“Here we go again! Must we keep talking about this?”
“Yes, again,” she said coldly. “Because your ex always needs saving. At least you dont share kids.”
John sighed but kept eating.
“If it were the neighbour or my mum, would you react the same?”
“The difference is, they wouldnt call you every other day.”
“Emma,” he said wearily, “youre acting like Ive cheated.”
“I dont know if youre cheating, but this isnt normal. And it bothers me,” she shot back.
He smirked.
“You dont trust me.”
“Have you given me reason to?”
Silence settled between them.
Three days later, Lucy reappeared.
“Lucy called,” he said casually. “She wants to buy a fridge but cant get it delivered.”
Emma turned slowly toward him.
“So now youre dropping everything to deliver her fridge?”
“Whats the issue?”
“John, do you really not see the problem?”
“I see you making drama over nothing.”
“Im not the one making a circus. You are. And I dont want to be part of it. If youre so desperate to help Lucy, move in with her. Save on petrol.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly.”
“So youre kicking me out?”
“No, John. Im giving you a choice. Either youre in this marriage, or you walk your own path. I dont want you here anymore.”
She turned and left. She wouldnt be manipulated anymore. Maybe he thought honesty meant admitting where he was going. But to Emma, it wasnt honestyit was betrayal.
Twenty-four hours passed since their last argument. Emma sat in the kitchen, staring at her phone. John hadnt called, hadnt texted. He was gone. Maybe to
After ten days of silence, Emma realised that sometimes a breakup isnt a loss, but a lesson teaching you to never settle for less than you deserve.
