My wife takes care of the house while I’m here with you, my love.
An unknown caller rang me, and I heard my husband’s voice say, “My wife is cooking and scrubbing the toilet while I’m here with you, darling.”
When my husband told me he had to attend a work party, I didnt suspect a thing. But then I received a call that left me frozen. What I heard on the phone made me grab my car keysI was ready to confront him and, by the next day, pack his bags.
After ten years of marriage, I thought I knew James like the back of my hand. But last week, I realised that not even a decade together shields you from betrayalor the satisfaction of watching karma strike at just the right moment.
It all started innocently enough.
On Thursday evening, James walked through the door humming, an unusual spring in his step.
“Brilliant news!” he announced. “Tomorrow night, the companys throwing a team celebration. Staff only.”
He kissed my forehead and dropped his briefcase by the sofa.
“Probably dullno need for you to come. Just a lot of shop talk and spreadsheets.”
I raised an eyebrow.
James was never one for parties. His idea of fun was watching golf on telly. But I shrugged.
“Fine by me,” I said, already mentally planning the next days chores.
The next morning, he was sweeter than usual. Too sweet.
As I made breakfast, James slipped his arms around my waist and whispered,
“You know youre amazing, dont you?”
I laughed. “Whats this about? Trying to score points?”
“Maybe,” he replied, handing me his favourite white shirtthe one with the annoyingly loose button.
“Could you iron this for me? And while Im out, how about making my favourite lasagne? Extra cheese. You know how I like it.”
“Anything else, your highness?” I teased.
“Actually yes,” he grinned. “Could you clean the loo? You know I like it spotless. Never know when we might have guests”
I rolled my eyes but chuckled.
James had his quirks, and though his requests sounded high-maintenance, I didnt think much of it. If only Id known
That day, I threw myself into housework.
The vacuum roared, the washing machine spun, and the house filled with the smell of lasagne. In the background, my cleaning playlist played, and for a moment, life felt normal.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
I nearly ignored it, but something made me answer.
“Hello?”
At first, I just heard loud music and muffled laughter. I frowned, thinking it a prank.
But then I heard Jamess voice.
“My wife?” he said, laughing. “Shes probably cooking or scrubbing the loo. Shes so predictable. And here I am, with you, darling.”
A woman giggled in the background.
My stomach twisted.
I stood frozen, the phone glued to my ear, as my world tilted.
The call dropped.
Seconds later, a text appearedjust an address.
No explanation. Just a location.
I stared at the screen, heart pounding.
Maybe a mistake. A joke. But deep down, I knew it wasnt.
I didnt cry. Not yet.
Instead, I grabbed my coat, snatched the keys, and drove straight to the address.
The lasagne could wait.
James was about to get the shock of his life.
The GPS led me to a lavish rental house across town.
The place was enormous, with gleaming windows and manicured hedges. Outside, a row of expensive cars lined the drive. Through the glass doors, I saw people laughing, drinking, living it up.
My stomach churned at the sight of familiar faces.
Whod be more stunnedJames or me? I was about to find out.
As I approached the entrance, a security guard stepped forward.
“Can I help you, madam?”
I forced a smile. “Yes, just delivering something to my husband.”
The guard eyed me suspiciously, especially when he noticed the cleaning bucket in my handinside, a toilet brush and a bottle of bleach.
“Tall bloke, white shirt,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
The guard hesitated but, deciding I wasnt a threat, stepped aside.
The moment I walked in, every head turned.
And there was James.
He stood at the centre of the room, his arm around a woman in a tight red dress.
He looked more alive than he had in years, laughing, sipping champagne, as if nothing mattered.
My chest tightened.
Every part of me wanted to lunge at him, but a voice in my head whispered, *Be smarter. Make it count.*
James saw me.
The colour drained from his face. He choked on his drink and stumbled back.
“Emily?” he stammered, pulling away from the woman beside him. “What what are you doing here?”
“Hello, darling,” I said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “You forgot something at home.”
James blinked, confused.
I held up the bucket, showing him the toilet brush and bleach.
“Since you love talking about my cleaning skills, I thought you might need these to tidy up the mess youve made of our marriage.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
The woman in red edged away, visibly uncomfortable.
But I wasnt finished.
“You see,” I said to the room, “James likes to play the devoted husband at home. But as you can see, he prefers playing house with whoever strokes his ego.”
“Emily, please,” James begged, lowering his voice. “Lets talk outside.”
“Oh, now you want privacy?” I shot back. “Where was that concern when you were mocking me behind my back?”
I turned to the crowd.
“Enjoy the party. And rememberonce a cheat, always a cheat.”
With that, I dumped the bucket at his feet and walked out, my heels clicking sharply on the marble floor.
Back in the car, my phone buzzed again.
Same unknown number.
The message read:
*You deserved to know the truth. Im sorry it had to happen this way.*
My hands shook as I dialled the number.
A woman answered.
“Hello?”
“Who is this?” I demanded.
“My names Charlotte,” she said after a pause. “I work with James.”
“Why did you do this?”
“Because someone had to,” she sighed. “I watched him lie and cheat for months. It made me sick. You didnt deserve that.”
I swallowed hard.
“I had a friend call you, so you could hear it for yourself. You needed to know.”
I closed my eyes for a second.
I didnt feel anger. I felt relief.
The next morning, James found his suitcases by the door.
When he tried to get in, the locks had been changed.
I dont knowor carewhere he spent the night.
On his phone, my only message:
*Enjoy.*
And for the first time in years, I smiled.
Not out of spite.
But because, finally, my life was back in my own hands.
Sometimes, the truth hurtsbut its the only thing that sets you free.
