Emily stumbled upon her husbands betrayal quite by accident…
As often happens, wives are the last to know. It was only afterward that Emily understood the meaning behind the strange glances from her colleagues and the whispers behind her back. Everyone at work knew her dear friend, Charlotte, was having an affair with her husband, James. Yet nothing in Jamess behaviour had ever raised her suspicions.
She found out that evening, coming home unexpectedly. Emily had worked for years as a doctor at a London hospital. That day, she was meant to be on night shift. But late in the afternoon, her younger colleague, Lucy, asked her a favour:
“Emily, could you swap shifts with me? Ill cover tonight if you take my Saturdayunless youve other plans. My sisters getting married, and the weddings on Saturday.”
Emily agreed. Lucy was kind and helpful, and a wedding was a fair reason.
That night, Emily hurried home, excited to surprise her husband. Instead, the surprise was hers. The moment she stepped inside, she heard voices from the bedroomJamess and another she recognised immediately, though never expected under those circumstances. It was her best friend, Charlotte. What Emily heard left no doubt about their relationship.
She slipped out as quietly as shed entered and spent the night at the hospital, wide awake. How could she face her colleagues now? Theyd all known while she, blinded by love, had trusted James completely. Hed become the centre of her world, even giving up her dream of children whenever James said he wasnt ready, urging her to wait and enjoy life. Now she understoodhed never seen a future with her.
That night, Emily made the only choice that seemed right. She wrote a leave request followed by a resignation letter, went home, packed her things while James was at work, and hurried to the train station. Shed inherited a small country cottage from her grandmother and realised no one would think to look for her there.
At the station, she bought a new SIM card and tossed the old one away. Emily cut all ties with her past and embraced a fresh start.
Twenty-four hours later, she stepped off the train at a familiar stop. Her last visit had been a decade ago, for her grandmothers funeral. The place was just as she rememberedquiet and empty. “Exactly what I need now,” she thought. After a short shared ride and a twenty-minute walk, she reached her grandmothers cottage. The garden was so overgrown she barely made it to the front door.
It took weeks to tidy the house and clear the garden. Shed never have managed alone, but luckily, the neighbours, who still remembered her grandmotherMargaret, a schoolteacher for over forty yearslent a helping hand. Emily was touched by their kindness and grateful for their support.
Word of a doctor in the village spread quickly. One day, a neighbour, Sarah, rushed over in a panic.
“Emily, Im so sorry to bother you, but I cant help today. My little girls eaten something badshes got terrible stomach pains.”
“Lets have a look,” Emily said, grabbing her medical bag.
Young Sophie had food poisoning. Emily treated her and explained to Sarah what to watch for.
“Thank you so much,” Sarah said, relieved. “Youre our doctor now. The nearest hospitals an hour away. We used to have a nurse, but he left and was never replaced.”
From then on, villagers turned to Emily for medical help. She couldnt refusetheyd welcomed her so warmly.
When local authorities heard of her work, they offered her a position at the district clinic.
“No, Ill stay here,” Emily said firmly. “But if youll let me run the village surgery, Id be happy to.”
They were surprised a London-trained doctor would choose a humble practice, but Emily stood her ground. Months later, the surgery reopened, and Emily began seeing patients.
Late one evening, a knock at her door didnt surprise herillness didnt keep office hours. She opened it to a stranger.
“Dr. Emily?” he said. “Ive come from Woodbridgeits ten miles away. My daughters very ill. At first, I thought it was just a cold, but her fevers been raging for days. Please, will you see her?”
Emily quickly gathered her things, listening as the man described his daughters symptoms. When they arrived, she found a pale little girl struggling to breathe. After examining her, Emily said, “Shes very poorly. She needs hospital care.”
The man shook his head. “Its just her and me. Her mother passed when she was born. Shes all I have… I cant lose her.”
“But the hospital has the right medicine. I dont have it here.”
“Tell me whats needed, and Ill get it. Just dont take her away. Theres an all-night chemist in town, but… Ive no one to watch her while Im gone.”
Emily saw the desperation in his eyes. She studied him properly for the first timetall, lean, with thick chestnut hair and dark green eyes full of resolve.
“Ill stay with her,” Emily said. “Whats her name?”
“Clara,” he answered softly. “Im Daniel. Thank you, Doctor.”
Daniel left with the prescription while Emily stayed, cradling the feverish child, humming lullabies until Clara settled.
Hours later, Daniel returned with the medicine. Emily administered it and said wearily, “Now we wait.”
They kept vigil all night. By dawn, Claras fever broke, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.
“Thats a good sign,” Emily said, exhaustion outweighed by relief.
“You saved her,” Daniel murmured, gratitude clear in his voice.
A year passed. Emily still worked at the surgery, treating villagers and those from nearby. But now, she lived in Daniels lovely, spacious house. Theyd married six months after that desperate night when Claras life hung in the balance.
It took weeks for the girl to fully recover, but she grew deeply attached to Emily, who loved her just as fiercelythough sometimes she wondered about the child shed never had.
Each evening, weary but content, Emily returned home to the two people who mattered most. One night, Daniel met her at the door, grinning.
“So, got your leave approved? Ive planned everythingjust the three of us on holiday.”
Emily smiled mysteriously. “Leaves sorted, but we wont be going as three… but as four.”
For a moment, Daniel froze. Then he swept her into his arms, lifting her with joy.
