“Sorry about how things turned out,” I muttered under my breath.
“Michael, are you sure you packed everything? Maybe double-check?” I called out, lingering outside the bathroom door.
“Emily, just leave it, yeah? Ive got it allsuitcase is full, you saw it,” he shot back over the showers roar. But his voice it wavered. Or did I imagine it?
“I saw the suitcase. What you stuffed in there, thoughnever mind,” I mumbled, stepping back.
“Emily, make me a coffee, love? Strong. No milk,” he added calmly as the water shut off.
I wandered into the kitchen, pulled out the cafetière without a word, poured the water, added the ground coffee, a pinch of saltjust how he liked it. Weve got a coffee machine, but Michael always preferred my brewed coffee. “Youre so thoughtful,” hed said just the other night, coming home late from work and finding dinner wrapped in a tea towel to keep warmjust like my nan used to do.
Lately, hed been working latesupposedly. Climbing the career ladder, prepping for a promotion. And me? I stayed in the shadows. Cooking, ironing, enduring.
“God, that smells divine,” Michael said, stepping into the kitchen, pushing his damp hair off his forehead. He sat at the table, reaching for the mug.
“Emily, the couriers coming todayordered a car cover. Can you take it? Cash on delivery,” he said, stirring in a spoon of sugar.
“Course. Same as always,” I replied, sitting across from him.
“This trip couldnt have come at a worse time,” he sighed. “But I cant say no. Its an opportunitymaybe the only one. Senior managerno joke.”
“Right Didnt realise a role like that meant traipsing around the countryside.”
“Bosses and their whims. Anyway, Ive got half an hourIll catch up on emails.”
He stood, walked into the other room. Left his mug behind. Whateverhes stressed.
I reached for his cup, and then his phone buzzeda message. I unlocked it.
*”Emily, Michaels lying. Theres no work trip. Hes flying to Italy with Roxanne Morley. Stop him before its too late. Hell ruin his life over this.”*
Adeline. His younger sister.
Something snapped in my head. Him with Roxanne? No way. A joke? But Adeline doesnt joke like that. And she wouldnt lie.
The room spun. The air thickened, like concrete. I gulped water, slumped back into the chair.
I wanted to scream. Smash everything. But all that echoed was*”Why?”*
I clenched my fists. Wanted to storm in, tear the mask off his face. But I didnt. He wasnt worth it.
Let him go. And Id prepare a surprise of my ownnot with shouting, with action.
I opened the banking app. The joint account£12,000. Surprisingly, hed already helped himself£3,000 gone. My money, by the way. Earnings from freelance projects, late nights working. And him funding his first loves holiday with my savings.
I knew about Roxanne. Michael had told me himself, and Adeline mentioned her once. High school sweetheart, wild thing. Dumped him twicefirst for an older bloke, then for some “up-and-comer.” Now she was back. And Michael fell for it. Again.
He couldve just been honest: *”Emily, Ive fallen for someone else. Im sorry.”* Wouldve hurt, yeah. But not this slimy. Instead, he took the money, lied about the trip, packed his case like a rat.
Fine. Ill take the rest. Today. Every last pound. Thendivorce. His stuff? Courier to his parents.
Checked the calendarbig online presentation tomorrow. If it goes well? Im off on holiday. Not Italy. Spain, maybe. Somewhere hes never stepped foot.
“Emily, Im offheading out early,” he said, walking in, sharp in his suit and tie.
“Safe travels. Hope its successful,” I replied, gripping the mug.
“Whats with the tone?”
“Imagining things.”
“Gonna miss you”
“Doubt youll have time for that.”
“Not helping with the suitcase?”
“Rather do the washing up.”
“Right. Off I go.”
“Go on, then.”
The door slammed. Michael had no clue he was leaving for good. Tomorrow, Im changing the locks.
I sat down. Burst into tears. Bitter. From the pain, the humiliation. The betrayal.
Another message from Adeline: *”Emily, you alright?”*
Wiped my face, dialled her number.
“Adeline, howd you know?”
“Mate of Roxannes told me. Shes latched onto Michael again. And hes fallen for it. Emily, Im so sorry”
“Thanks for telling me. Didnt stop him. Let him go.”
“Hes an idiot. Shell drop him a third time.”
“His choice. Adeline, dont tell him I know.”
“Dont even want to speak to him. Had enough!”
“Thanks. You and Iwe stay close. Even after the divorce.”
“Course, Emily. Stay strong.”
Opened the banking app again. Another £1,000 gone. In a rush? No. Took a breath. Transferred the lot to my mums account, closed my phone, watched the sunset through the windowknowing tomorrow, the sun would rise without him.
