I Discovered My Ex-Husband Was Cheating When He Suddenly Took Up Sweeping the Street—It Sounded Ridiculous, But That’s Exactly How It Happened

I realised that my ex-husband was cheating on me because he suddenly started sweeping the street.

It sounds ridiculous, but thats exactly how it happened. He was an electrician and worked from home. He had a workshop set up in the garage and spent his days tangled in wires and tools, serving customers. He was never a man for housework not for any particular reason, just because he didnt enjoy it. Whenever he had some free time, hed use it to relax watch the telly, share a pint with his mates, maybe fire up the barbecue. He was easy-going, not into wild parties, never aggressive, not the sort youd suspect of anything dodgy.

Our road was a quiet cul-de-sac off the High Street, wide and lined with old sycamore trees. There were always leaves about, plus dust and bits of mud. Sweeping was nearly a daily necessity. Id usually get it done myself, early in the morning while brewing the tea and doing the breakfast. Then one day, a new neighbour moved into the house next door. Nothing unusual in that the place was always being let out and the tenants switched pretty regularly.

A few months after she arrived, he suddenly started saying to me, No, dont worry, Ill sweep up today. At first, I thought it was rather sweet. I just used the extra time to get on with other things washing up, cleaning the bathroom, tidying the kitchen. I hardly paid any notice. There wasnt any reason to.

But then he started doing it every single day.

And always at exactly the same time seven oclock every morning. Not a minute earlier, not a minute later. What struck me was that hed never had a routine for anything, except his work. One morning, out of sheer curiosity, I glanced out the window.

Thats when I saw him.

He was standing in the driveway with the broom in his hand, not sweeping at all. He was chatting, smiling. Opposite him, the new neighbour. Coincidence, I thought. But the next day, it happened again. And the one after that. Every single morning, hed go outside and so would she. As though theyd planned it.

I started paying more attention. It wasnt just in the mornings. One Saturday, he said he was popping out for a pint with his friends. Fair enough. But as he left, I had a strange feeling, so I peered out the window. The neighbour stepped out at almost the same instant, calling out, Oh, evening, neighbour! Have a nice night. He replied, acting completely natural, and then she added, Funny that, Im heading that way too. Off they went together.

The next weekend, he said he was off for a game of footie which was unlike him; he rarely played. He left, and a few minutes later, there she was again, stepping out, chatting on her phone, heading in the same direction.

I had no proof. No texts, no photos, nothing. Just patterns. Times. Coincidences that werent coincidences anymore.

Eventually, I decided to confront him. I didnt ask, just said straight out, I know youre with the woman next door. He looked genuinely shocked. At first, he denied it, but I told him, I see you. Every day. Dont lie to me.

He went silent, looking at his feet, and finally said, Yes. I am. Im in love with her.

I screamed at him to get out of the house. There were no children involved, nothing to negotiate over. And, of course, the most ironic part was that he moved in directly next door, with her.

They didnt last long a couple of months at most. Then the two of them packed up and left. No one really knows what went on. They left the village and I never heard from either of them again. Neighbours gossiped, the family had a few words, but I didnt want to know any more.

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I Discovered My Ex-Husband Was Cheating When He Suddenly Took Up Sweeping the Street—It Sounded Ridiculous, But That’s Exactly How It Happened