Im sorry its come to this.
“Oliver, are you sure youve packed everything? Should I double-check?” I called, pausing outside the closed bathroom door.
“Emily, leave it! Ive got it allan entire suitcase. You saw it yourself,” he replied over the sound of the shower. But his voice it trembled. Or was I imagining it?
“I saw the suitcase. Not what you stuffed inside,” I muttered, stepping back.
“Emily, make me a coffee, will you? Strong. No milk,” he added calmly as the water shut off.
I walked to the kitchen, wordlessly grabbing the coffee pot, filling it with water, adding ground coffee, a pinch of saltjust how he liked it. We own a coffee machine, but Oliver prefers the way I make it. “Youre so thoughtful,” hed said just last night when he came home late from work and saw Id wrapped his dinner in a tea towel to keep it warm, just like my nan used to do.
Lately, hed been staying out laterwork, supposedly. Career stuff. Preparing for a promotion. And me? I stood still beside him. Cooking, ironing, enduring.
“Divine smell of a divine drink!” Oliver said as he walked into the kitchen, pushing damp hair from his forehead. He sat at the table and reached for his mug.
“Emily, theres a delivery coming todayI ordered new seat covers for the car. Can you take them in? Cash on delivery,” he said, stirring a spoonful of sugar into his coffee.
“Sure. Like always,” I sat across from him.
“This business trip couldnt have come at a worse time,” he sighed. “But I cant back out. You understandits an opportunity, maybe the only one. Department headno joke.”
“Right Didnt think youd have to travel for a promotion.”
“Bosss whim. Anyway, Ive got half an hour leftjust need to finish up some emails.”
He stood and walked to the next room, leaving his mug behind. Fine. Cant blame himhes wound tight.
I reached for his cup when my phone buzzeda text. I opened it.
“Emily, Olivers lying. This isnt a business trip. Hes flying to Italy with Charlotte Parker. Stop him before its too late. Hes ruining his life.”
Sophie. His younger sister.
Something snapped in my head. Him with Charlotte? No way. A joke? But Sophie isnt the type to mess around like that. And shed never lie.
Everything blurred. The air turned thick as cement. I could barely breathe. Stumbling, I poured myself waterthen sank back into the chair.
I wanted to scream. To smash everything. But one question burned in my mind: “Why?”
I clenched my fists. Wanted to storm in, confront him, tear the mask off his face. But I didnt. He didnt deserve the drama.
Let him go. Ill give him a surprisenot a fight, an action.
I opened the banking app. Our joint account£40,000. Impressive, but hed already been quicker: £10,000 missing. My money, by the way. My freelance earnings, my late nights. And he blew my savings on a holiday with his ex.
I knew about Charlotte. Oliver had mentioned her, and Sophie once let it slip. School crush, a proper nightmare. Dumped him twiceonce for an older bloke, then for some “up-and-comer.” Now shes back. And Olivers falling for it. Lying.
Couldnt he at least be honest? “Emily, Ive fallen for someone else. Sorry.” It wouldve hurt, sure. But not this disgust. Instead, he sneaked aroundwithdrew cash, spun tales of work trips, packed his bags
Fine. Ill take the rest. Today. Every last penny. Thendivorce. His things? Courier to his parents.
Checked my calendarbig online presentation tomorrow. If it goes well, Ill book leave. Not Italy. Portugal, maybe. Somewhere hes never been.
“Emily, Im off. Best leave early,” he said, striding in, perfectly dressed, tie knotted.
“Bye. Safe trip,” I forced out, gripping the mug.
“Whats with the tone?”
“Your imagination.”
“Ill miss you”
“Doubt youll have time for that.”
“Arent you seeing me out?”
“Rather do the washing-up.”
“Alright, then. Im off.”
“Take care.”
The door slammed. Oliver had no idea hed just left for good. Tomorrow, Im changing the locks.
I slumped into a chair. Sobs tore out of mebitter, humiliated. Traitor.
Another text from Sophie:
“Emily, you okay?”
I wiped my face and called her.
“Sophie, whered you hear this?”
“Charlottes mate spilled it. Shes latched onto Oliver again. Hes falling for it. Emily, Im sorry its”
“Thanks for warning me. I didnt stop him. Let him go.”
“Hes an idiot. Shell dump him a third time.”
“His choice. Sophie, dont tell him I know.”
“Wouldnt anyway. Cant be bothered with him.”
“Thanks. Well stay in touch. Even after the divorce.”
“Course, Emily. Stay strong.”
I reopened the banking app. Another £4,000 gone. Hurry! No. Calm down. Transfer the rest to my mum. My own. Hes lost his right to it.
“Mum, sending you £36,000. Hes already taken his share.”
“What happened, love?”
“Were divorcing. Hes jetting off to Italy with his fling.”
“Bloody hell Emily, hold on. Were here. Itll pass. Youll find someone who deserves you.”
“No, Mum. Im not looking. Maybe Ill just have a baby. Alone. And thats fine.”
“Well thats one way. By the way, Aunt Margarets got that nephew nice lad”
“Mum, not now.”
“Alright. Just dont give up, love.”
I hung up. Pulled myself together. Tomorrows a new day. Olivers gone, but Im still here. Whole. True. And Ive got everything aheadno lies, no betrayal. Without him.
