“Just keep doing your job,” David’s voice was flat. He didn’t even look up from his phone. “Your role is to make a home. I provide for the family; you manage the house. Fair deal.”
I froze, a plate in my hand. In twenty-three years of marriage, I’d heard plenty—but this?
Across the table, my best friend, Natalie, snorted into her wine glass. “What’s so wrong with that? Plenty of women would kill to be in your shoes, Liv.”
My gaze darted to our son. Alex sat with his head down as his phone buzzed.
“David,” I set the plate down. “Did it ever cross your mind I might be more than a maid?”
“Here we go,” he rolled his eyes. “We agreed on this when you quit your job.”
“Or did you just convince me it was for the best?”
Something in my tone made him finally look up. Our eyes locked, and for a split second, I saw fear flicker in his. Did he really think I hadn’t noticed the glances, the accidental touches?
Alex suddenly pushed back his chair. “Can I go? Got a coding assignment.”
“Of course, love,” I said, still staring at David.
The front door slammed. Natalie made herself scarce. David stacked plates in silence.
“Leave those. Sit down.”
“What’s this about?” he stalled at the sink.
“About me not being your dishwasher. Remember who I was before you decided the kids needed a stay-at-home mum?”
“Not this again.”
“No. *You* decided. Like always.”
His phone chimed softly. A message.
“Not answering? From Natalie?”
“Stop it. You’re being irrational.”
“Irrational? Let’s talk about rationality. Explain this ‘work project’ with my best friend.”
A slap cracked through the air—but it wasn’t him hitting me. It was me striking him.
“Mum?” Alex’s voice from the hallway startled us both. “I’m going to Chris’s. Cool?”
“Of course, sweetheart.”
At 3 AM, the front door woke me. Alex?
“Where have you been?” I leaned in the kitchen doorway.
He jumped, shoving something into his pocket.
“Alex, what’s going on?”
“I… I dropped out. Two months ago. I don’t want to code—it’s *his* dream, not mine.”
“And the money? Who’s after you?”
“Took a loan. Fifteen grand. Photography course. Now they’re threatening to tell Dad.”
“We’ll sort the money tomorrow,” I said.
The lock turned. David.
“Can’t sleep?” His voice was rough, whisky thick on his breath.
“Dad, I can explain—” Alex stepped between us.
“Explain what? That my son’s a liar? Natalie told me about uni.”
I stiffened. “Natalie?”
“Surprise, surprise. At least *someone* here tells me the truth.”
“Enough,” I said to David.
“‘Enough’? *You* raised him like this.” He turned on me. “Speaking of lies—how’s Natalie? Tired of ‘business meetings’?”
“Shut up,” David hissed.
“Or what? Hit me? In front of *him*?”
Alex grabbed his jacket. “I’m out. You two—you deserve each other.”
The door slammed.
“Happy now?” David’s voice shook.
Then—the doorbell rang.
Natalie stood there, mascara smudged, hair a mess.
“We need to talk.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” David snapped.
“What I do best,” she brushed past him, collapsing at the table. “Wrecking lives. Liv, he promised *me* he’d leave you too. Said I was special. Then I found out about Laura from accounts. *And* Sophie from the gym.”
“Shut your mouth!” David slammed the table.
“Oh, no. Truth time. Your son’s uni dropout? I told his girlfriend. Convinced her he’d dump her. She panicked—started blackmailing him.”
“Why?” I finally spoke.
“Who knows? Maybe I wanted you all to feel as empty as me.”
She headed for the door, then paused.
“Funny part? I really did think you were my best friend.”
The door closed.
“Liv…” David stepped toward me.
“Don’t. Just go.”
“Let’s talk—”
“About *what*? It’s 4 AM. Our son’s gone. Your mistress just confessed. And I… I’m tired of ‘keeping house.’ Leave the keys.”
He nodded, slowly pulling them from his pocket. Hesitated at the door.
“I’m sorry.”
Another slam. Alone. My phone buzzed—Alex. *”Mum, I’m okay. Don’t look for me. Just let go.”*
I typed back: *”Be safe. Love you.”*
Then I opened my contacts. Natalie. *Delete?*
My finger hovered. In the end, she’d done what I never could—shattered the pretty lie. I hit *Delete.* And for the first time in years, I smiled.
