Shadows of Betrayal: A Path to New Happiness
Katherine often traveled for work. Once a month, she’d spend two or three days at the company’s headquarters in a neighboring city. Anthony was used to her absence and didn’t mind. They worked for different firms, met in the evenings, and spent weekends together—when they could. Anthony had a hobby—hunting. He often went away with his friends, and Katherine never objected, understanding he needed his own space.
They had been together for twenty-four years, trusting each other without question. Their daughter had recently married and moved away with her husband. Left alone, Katherine read books and met with friends. Peace and quiet ruled their home—she was easygoing, avoided arguments, and nipped conflicts in the bud. Anthony was content.
But there comes a time when some men, as the saying goes, “get a devil in their ribs.” That moment came for Anthony. He fell for a colleague, Veronica—ten years younger, single, lively, and outgoing. She’d quickly settled into the office, befriended everyone, and set her sights on Anthony. Among all the men there, he stood out as the most confident, stylish, and—seemingly by chance—always nearby.
Their colleagues, noticing the budding romance, were surprised. Anthony had a reputation as a devoted family man. Yet there he was, lovestruck like a teenager! They whispered warnings to Veronica, telling her Anthony had a loving wife. But she waved them off. Veronica was the type who pursued married men, seeing them as easy prey. She’d had practice—her last job ended in scandal after a confrontation with her boss’s wife.
Anthony, who had never cheated before, lost his head. At forty-seven, he felt at the peak of his vitality. Never one to hide his feelings, he openly admired Veronica. Weekends, he disappeared, claiming hunting trips. Katherine grew suspicious and joked once, “Anthony, you’re never home on weekends. Found someone else, darling?”
“Don’t be silly, Kate!” he dismissed. “You know how the lads are.”
For six months, Anthony led a double life. Veronica drew him in deeper. He spent more time with her, even bringing her home when Katherine was away. Returning early from a business trip in high spirits—her report submitted, her project defended—Katherine drove home a day ahead of schedule. Her silver car glided smoothly down the motorway, music playing softly.
“I’ll skip work tomorrow,” she thought. “It’s Friday—I was supposed to return then. I’ll get some wine, spend time with Anthony. Otherwise, he’ll just dash off hunting again.”
Opening the door, she saw Anthony’s shoes—and a pair of women’s heels. “Maybe our daughter’s here?” she thought. But stepping into the living room, she froze. A young woman in a short robe sat on the sofa, while Anthony emerged from the bedroom, buttoning his shirt.
“Kate? What—you were supposed to be back tomorrow—” he stammered.
“I’m back today,” she said coldly. “What’s going on? Who is she?”
“Hello, I’m Veronica,” the woman chimed in. “Anthony and I work together. Just stopped by for—”
“In *that*?” Katherine spun around, slammed the door, and fled.
Reaching her car, she broke down. Her world had shattered. She’d heard stories like this but never imagined it would happen to her. Now, betrayal stared her in the face.
“So much for Anthony,” she thought bitterly. “And I believed him. How long has this been going on? Must’ve been a while if he’s bold enough to bring her *here*.”
She spent the night at her mother’s. The next morning, she bought a new lock, asked her son-in-law to install it, and packed Anthony’s things into a bag by the door. After a sleepless night weighing her options, she decided on divorce. Knowing Anthony’s silver tongue, she wouldn’t give him a chance to explain.
That evening, she met him at the door as he struggled with the new lock. She shoved the bag at him and blocked the entrance. “Take your things and leave. I don’t want to see you. You know me—I don’t forgive. Fine if it was elsewhere, but you brought her into *our* bed. See you in court.” She shut the door.
Anthony pleaded, “Kate, listen! I can explain! I don’t know what came over me—” But she wouldn’t budge. He waited outside the house, her office, her mother’s, her friend’s—Katherine never relented. At the divorce hearing, he tried apologizing again, but her gaze stayed icy.
With Veronica, the spark faded. Anthony grew irritable; she refused to understand. Soon, she announced she was pregnant. “A *baby*?” he scoffed. “I’m nearly fifty—no interest in sleepless nights. I want peace.”
“Suit yourself,” she snapped. “I’m keeping it. Don’t want to be involved? Pay child support.”
Anthony ended up raising the boy, stuck with Veronica, who demanded more than he could give. By the time his son turned three, he often thought of leaving. His friends told him, “You’ll never find another wife like Kate.” He regretted everything.
Katherine adapted to solitude over five years. She weathered the betrayal, let go of the pain. A friend urged her, “Kate, remarry—if only to spite Anthony! Enough of being alone. Let’s find you someone.”
“I don’t need anyone,” Katherine replied. “I’m afraid of being hurt again.”
She lied. The loneliness ached, but she wouldn’t admit it. She decided filling the void with just anyone wasn’t the answer. Better to live for herself and her family, even if they were far away.
One night, a toothache kept her awake. At the dental clinic, the waiting room buzzed with patients. The receptionist directed her to an examination room, where the dentist said, “Looks like a wisdom tooth. Wisdom comes in time. Let’s get an X-ray.”
The imaging room was packed. After the scan, she waited in the hall. Fifteen minutes later, a nurse collected the films, nodding, “Follow me.” Katherine trailed behind. Inside, two dentists worked—one young, the other older. The senior one gestured to the chair.
Studying the X-ray, he frowned. “Wait—this isn’t right. Everything’s fine here.”
Katherine exhaled. “They said my wisdom tooth was coming in.”
He checked the name. “Your surname?”
“Miller.”
“This says *Millerson*,” he replied.
A voice piped up from the next chair: “That’s *me*.”
Everyone laughed. The dentist, still chuckling, said, “Mixed up the scans—similar names. Lucky we caught it.” His warm gaze met hers. “Don’t worry, wisdom’s on its way. Come back for a follow-up—say, seven on Thursday?”
Katherine told her friend about the mix-up, and they laughed for ages. When she returned, the dentist asked, “Everything alright? Any pain?”
“No, followed your advice,” she said.
He studied her, then blurted, “I’m James. Saw your name—Katherine, right? Fancy a coffee sometime? I noticed you’re single… and I’m glad.”
She blinked. “Do you ask all your patients out?”
“First time,” he admitted, smiling. “When you walked in, I just knew. I’ve been alone too long. Maybe fate’s saying, ‘Enough tests—time for happiness.’”
“Alright,” she said softly. “I’d like that.”
They lingered over coffee for hours, meeting again and again. James had been divorced for six years, too busy with work to dwell on loneliness. At fifty-two, he’d buried himself in his practice—until now.
One evening, over dinner, James pulled out a velvet box. “Katherine, my love, marry me. I’ll cherish you. You’ll never regret choosing me.”
Her eyes shimmered. “Yes—absolutely. With you, I’ll be safe. We met for a reason. Together, we’ll build something beautiful.”
