“Whats wrong with you? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre all I need!”
Valerie couldnt shake the gnawing feeling in her gut. She was convinced her husband was cheating, though she had no proof. The uncertainty ate at her until, one evening, she finally confronted him.
“Just tell me the truth,” she insisted.
He laughed it off. “Whats wrong with you? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre all I need!”
Edward sounded sincere, his smile warm, his eyes steady. Yet something still felt off.
Valerie wasnt one to leave things to fate. Determined to uncover the truth, she scoured the internet for advice and settled on checking his phone. She found nothing suspiciousjust idle chatter with a couple of old schoolmates. No passwords, no hidden messages. By all accounts, he was an open book.
Still, every time he came home late from work, that uneasy feeling returned.
Her best friend, Emily, dismissed her worries. “Youre imagining things! Edward adores youhed never look at another woman. Youre just sabotaging your own happiness!”
But Valerie couldnt shake her suspicions. The idea of sharing her husband was unthinkable.
One evening, she even followed him to the office, convinced he was sneaking off to see someone. When he spotted her, he was furious. “Youre embarrassing me in front of my colleagues!” She apologised profusely, and he forgave her quickly.
On paper, their life was perfecta lovely home in Surrey, two growing children, financial stability. Yet Valerie kept searching for trouble.
As they say, those who go looking will always find something.
Then came the turning point.
When their youngest started primary school, Valerie decided to learn to drive. After months of evening lessons, she passed her test on the first try. Edward, proud, bought her a small hatchbackperfect for her petite frame and easier to park.
Secretly, though, he hoped it would stop her asking to borrow his Audi. “You need more experience first,” hed say.
One weekend, Valerie woke early, determined to surprise the family with their favourite chicken and mushroom pie. But she was out of flour. Snow blanketed the ground, but shed grown confident driving in winter.
Her car wouldnt start.
Not wanting to wake anyone, she quietly took Edwards keys instead. *Its just a quick triphell never know.*
As the engine warmed, she wiped the windscreen, reaching into the glovebox for tissues. Something clattered to the floora phone. Not his.
Her stomach lurched.
She turned it on. No password. The first message was from a woman named Sharon:
*”I miss you, my love! Come over soonI cant wait!”*
Valeries hands trembled as she scrolled through months of texts.
Turns out, Edward finished work at five but didnt come home until seven. Every day.
*An hour with Sharon.*
Photos revealed a woman in her forties. *Why her?*
Valeries blood boiled.
Just as she stepped out, she spotted Edward leaving the houseprobably sneaking another message.
He froze when he saw her behind the wheel. “Who said you could take my car?”
She slammed into reverse, crashing into the fence. The impact felt satisfying.
Storming out, she hurled his keys into a snowbank. “Go to her, then! See how much she wants you without your house and car!”
Back inside, she locked the door as Edward begged to be let in. “Forget this address!” she shouted.
In slippers and a dressing gown, he trudged to Sharons flatonly to hear another mans voice inside.
*”Hurry up, darling!”*
Sharon gave him an apologetic look and shut the door.
With nowhere else to go, Edward walked to his mums house two streets over.
Margaret took one look at him and sighed. She fed him, listened to his tale of woe, and patted his hand.
“Dont worry, love. Who knew Valerie would turn out like this? Your luck will changeyoure only thirty-five! Youll find love again.”
So Edward moved back in with his mother, ready to start freshuntil the child support demands arrived. Reality hit hard.
At least he still had one woman who hadnt given up on him.
For now.
