The Legacy of His Father

“Thanks, Johnny! I dont know what Id do without you,” flashed the notification on her phone screen.

Her husbands phone vibrated right in her hand. Emily glanced automatically at the message. The sender was someone named Maisie. It ended with a pink heart, like a little kiss.

Emily froze. Maisie? Johnny? She mightve brushed it off as a distant relative or a colleagueexcept for one detail: her husband had never mentioned anyone by that name. Or had he kept her hidden?

She looked up sharply. She needed the truth first, not wild assumptions. But jealousy twisted her chest.

“Whos Maisie?” Emily asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.

John, sipping his tea calmly, blinked in confusion.

“What?”
“Maisie,” she repeated, shoving the phone toward him. “Who is she?”

He glanced at the screen, and a flicker of tension crossed his face before he shrugged.

“Oh Thats just Mary.”
Emilys blood ran cold.
“What Mary?”
“My ex. Its nothing serious.”

She set the phone down and crossed her arms.
“Your ex calls you ‘Johnny’ and thanks you with hearts? You think thats normal?”

John shrugged again, as if it werent worth discussing.
“Yeah. I lent her some money. She needed help.”

Emilys temper flared.
“You gave money to your ex?!”
“So? Whats the big deal?”
“The big deal?!” She scoffed. “Seriously? You think its fine to take our money and hand it to some Maisie?”

Finally, he met her gaze.
“Emily, youre making a mountain out of a molehill. Weve known each other forever. Why shouldnt I help her?”

She laughed, but there was no joy in it.
“Youre married, John. To me! Yet youre still wrapped up in her, your ex.”

He sighed, irritated, like he was explaining something obvious to a child.
“We didnt end on bad terms. Shes not a stranger to me.”
“And I am?”

John fell silent. Emily shook her head and exhaled sharply.

“How long has this been going on?”
“What?”
“Your cosy little friendship.”

He looked away.
“Weve always stayed in touch. Even before you. I just never mentioned it. Didnt want to upset you.”

Emilys whole body burned with anger.
“So, for two years, you hid it?”
“I didnt hide it! There was no reason to tell you. Im not cheating. Why are you overreacting?”

She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to shout.
“And how often do you help her?”
“Now and then. Small things. Fixing her laptop, setting up her Wi-Fi.”
“So my husband runs errands for another woman like a handyman?”
“Now youre being ridiculous!” he snapped. “I helped her, lent her money! Is that a crime? Id do the same for you!”

Emily stared at him coldly.
“If you cant see whats wrong with this, we have very different ideas of what marriage means.”

She turned and walked out of the kitchen. She couldnt bear to look at him.

The day passed in a haze for Emily. Anger, hurt, confusion. She tried to stay calm, but one question screamed in her mind: *How did I miss this?*

John didnt seem guilty. Now he didnt even hide talking to Maryjust acted like it was nothing.

Over the next two weeks, everything became clear. Her husband was often late from work. Every few days, Mary had some urgent problem.

“Im going to Marys tonight,” he said casually over dinner. “Her washing machines broken.”

Emily set her fork down and stared.
“No other repairmen in town?”
“Come on, is it so hard to help someone?”
“For you, no. For me, its hard to accept.”
“Here we go again! Must we keep rehashing this?”
“Yes, again,” she said flatly. “Because your ex always needs rescuing. At least you dont share kids.”

John sighed but kept eating.
“If it were the neighbour or my mum, would you react this way?”
“The difference is, they wouldnt call you every other day.”
“Emily,” he said wearily, “youre acting like Ive cheated.”
“I dont know if you have. But this isnt normal. And it bothers me,” she shot back.

He smirked.
“You dont trust me.”
“Have you given me reason to?”

Silence settled between them.

Three days later, Mary reappeared.
“Mary rang,” John said offhandedly. “Shes buying a fridge but cant get it delivered.”

Emily turned slowly toward him.
“So now youre dropping everything to deliver her fridge?”
“Whats the problem?”
“John, do you really not see it?”
“I see you making drama out of nothing.”
“No, *youre* the one making a circus. And I wont be part of it. If youre so eager to help Mary, move in with her. Save on petrol.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly.”
“Youre kicking me out?”
“No, John. Im giving you a choice. Either youre in this marriage, or you walk. But I wont have you here like this.”

She turned and left. She wouldnt fall for his games anymore. Maybe he thought honesty meant admitting where he went. But to Emily, it wasnt honestyit was betrayal.

Twenty-four hours passed after their last fight. Emily sat in the kitchen, staring at her phone. John hadnt called, hadnt texted. Hed left. Maybe for good.

After ten days of silence, Emily realised sometimes a breakup isnt a lossits a lesson teaching you not to settle for less than you deserve.