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Hearing Footsteps, Olivia Swiftly Deleted the Text Saying Someone Missed Her Badly and Couldn’t Wait to Meet Again, Then Placed the Phone on the Nightstand Where It Lay Untouched

Hearing footsteps, Olivia quickly deleted the message announcing that the sender missed her dearly and couldnt wait to meet again, then placed the phone back on the bedside table where it had been.
She kept rereading the text on her husbands phone, struggling to believe it was real and not a nightmare. Her husband, her rock, her beloved Paulwas betraying her again.
And not just with some young, stunning model like before, but this time with a woman at least fifteen years older than him.
Footsteps approached. Olivia swiftly erased the message, feigning calm as Paul strolled in, whistling. Hed just received a hefty bonus at work, which meant he could buy his wife an anniversary giftand still afford a seaside trip with Natalie.
The thought of Natalie made him smile. Hed had many loversyoung girls, divorcees, even married womenbut none like Natalie, his colleague. She was plump, but the way she dressed, carried herself, spoke… and how she was alone with him. Age might be catching up, but she was still in her prime, and he intended to savor every last drop.
Seeing Olivias grimace, Paul snapped out of his daydream. “Something wrong? Youre not yourself.”
“Nothing, just thinking about the anniversary. Could you give me some money to organize it?”
“Of course, love.”
Olivia didnt understand why shed responded so mildly. In the past, shed have thrown a fit at the slightest hint of infidelity, threatening divorce. Now, she acted as if nothing had happenedas if she hadnt just read that damning text.
Paul took his phone, pretending to call a colleague about work before slipping onto the balcony to send Natalie a few heated messages. Olivia forced a calm expression. Screaming and crying had never changed anything.
This wasnt his first affair. He used to blame her weight gain after childbirth, claiming shed let herself go. But now? She was in perfect shapetoned body, long silky hair, light makeup, a dress that made her look more like a soap opera star than a housewife.
Her friends didnt get it. She came from a well-off family, had a career to fall back on, and three children whod ensure shed never struggle alone. Yet she endured Pauls betrayals, only occasionally erupting in rage, threatening divorceuntil his parents intervened.
“Look at our neighbor, Grace,” her mother-in-law would say. “Widowed, working two jobs, sewing at night. Or Veraher husband drinks, she wears rags, so do the kids.”
“But”
“No buts! You live like a queenno job, designer clothes. Why complain if he strays? Men are like catsthey love warmth and affection. Scold him, and hell leave for good. My Gregory used to stray too, but I stayed quiet. Now? Hes the perfect husband. So stop whining and make sure Paul doesnt look elsewhere.”
Olivia smirked. Shed recently seen her father-in-law leaving Graces house. Some perfect husband.
“Youre lucky he tolerates your nagging,” her father-in-law added. “My wife ever spoke to me like that, Id put her in her place. Dont like it? She can clear off!”
Her mother-in-law would smile placatingly, but Olivia felt sick. Her own parents had raised her differentlylove honestly, leave if you fall out of it. No one deserved deceit. So why was it fine for men to cheat, and the womans fault?
Shed cried rivers, wasted years on psychics promising to “fix” Paul. Friends urged her to leave. But where? Her parents house was full. Rent? Could she afford it alone?
She didnt work. Raising three kids alone? Hard. And… she still loved him. Theyd been together since primary school, confessed their love at sixteen. Maybe her in-laws were rightmaybe hed settle down.
But then she remembered that text and wanted to scream. Before, hed blamed her looks. Now? What was wrong? What did this older woman have that she didnt?
Their anniversary loomed. Olivia browsed party planners, arranging a consultation.
The next day, Leon, the co-founder, arrived. Apologizing for his absent colleague, he promised perfection. “Whats your husband into? Fishing? Cars?”
“Women. And cheating.”
“Pardon?”
“My husband cant go a day without betraying me.”
She burst into tears, drawing stares.
“Why tolerate it?” Leon said. “You teach people how to treat you. My younger sister… she stayed silent too. Until she couldnt. Now Im raising her kids. Do you have children?”
“Yes…”
“Live for them. Youll find a job, a home. Lifes too short.”
Olivia dabbed her eyes. “Youre right. I know what gift to give him.”
The next week, she oversaw preparationsa lavish party at a countryside villa. Invitations went to friends, family, even Pauls colleagues. Leon encouraged her whenever she doubted.
Now, in a black lace dress, she admired herself in the mirror. Perfect hair, makeup, accessories. Leon hugged her. “Ready? Last chance to back out.”
“No turning back.”
The party was in full swing. Paul flirted with Natalie, sneaking off to the bathroom whenever Olivia disappearedexactly as planned.
“Time for gifts!” Olivia announced. “Darling, in ten years, Ive learned one thingnever argue with a man like you. Accept him as he is. So… thank you.”
A giant cake rolled in. Out popped three womenblonde, brunette, redhead. Olivia watched Pauls stunned face, then whispered to Natalie:
“Think youre his only? Look how he stares at them. Now look at yourself.”
As Natalie paled, Olivia turned to her mother-in-law. “Turns out Gregory still visits Grace.”
Before the woman could retort, Olivia faced Paul.
“Like it? You always loved womenhow many? Three? Five? Ten? Blondes, brunettes… now Natalie. Your parents were rightI wont fight anymore. Enjoy this life… without me.”
She took the kids and left. Leon waited outside.
The divorce was tedious. Paul blamed her but stalled. Eventually, it was finalized.
Friends marveled at quiet Olivias boldnesshowd she afford it? Simple. Paul had funded the party himself, topping up her card weekly.
Years later, she never regretted leaving. Now remarried to Leon, she was happyadored, her children loved as his own.
Never fear starting over. Infidelity is comparisonseeking better. Why stay where one thrives and the other suffers?
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