Foolish Anna: For 15 Years Everyone Called Her Simple – Her Husband Cheated Openly Since Their Wedding Day, While She Endured With a Smile. Little Did He Know, the Quiet Toy Factory Accountant Had a Master Plan That Would Turn His World Upside Down on Their Son’s Tenth Birthday

Everyone always said Emma was a simpleton. Shed been married to Tom for fifteen years and they had two kidsEmily was fourteen, and Sam was seven. Tom would have affairs almost openly. The first time he cheated was the second day of their marriage, with a waitress no less. And after that, it was impossible to keep count. Emmas friends tried to make her see sense, but shed only smile sweetly and stay quiet.

Emma worked as an accountant at a children’s toy factory. Her pay, by her estimation, was absolutely measly, and she was always drowning in work. Sometimes she even had to come in on weekends. When it came to quarterly or yearly reports, she might not even make it home for the night.

Tom, on the other hand, was bringing in a good income. But Emma wasnt much of a homemaker, to be honest. No matter how much money Tom gave her, it never seemed enough for groceries; the fridge was always empty, and if there was food at all, it was usually basiclike stew or mince and pasta. That was just how they lived. Everyone around town gossiped when they saw Tom out with a new fling. And to top it off, he often rolled in, looking as rough as old boots.

Oh, Emmas a fool, why does she put up with that womaniser? people would mutter.

On the day Sam turned ten, Tom marched in and told Emma he wanted a divorce. Claimed he was in love and the family life just wasnt for him anymore.

Dont take it the wrong way, Em, but Im filing for divorce. Youre cold as ice. If at least you kept a proper house, but you havent even got that, he said.

Emma just replied, Alright, I agree to the divorce.

Tom nearly fell off his chair. Hed been expecting fireworksa huge row, a river of tears. But her calm reaction threw him.

Well then, pack your things. I wont get in your way. Just leave your key under the doormat before you go tomorrow, Emma said with an odd little smile, then gave him a look that made him feel weird. Tom brushed it off, already picturing his new, carefree lifeno kids, no boring wife.

The next day, he showed up with his new girlfriend. Looked under the doormatno key. That annoyed him a bit.

No matter, Ill change the locks. Easy, he thought and tried to put his key in the door. No luck. He rang the bell. A bloke built like a rugby player came to the door in slippers and a dressing gown.

Can I help you, mate? the stranger asked.

This is my flat, Tom said, less confidently than hed meant to.

I dont think so. Got any paperwork to prove it? If you do, lets see it.

Of course, Tom didnt have any documents on him. And the bloke wasnt letting him in. Suddenly, he rememberedhe should have his address on his passport. He scrambled around for it, finally finding it.

Look, heres my passportsee, Im registered here!

The man took a glance, turned his mouth up in the barest smirk, and handed it back.

Whens the last time you actually looked at this, mate?

Toms heart sank as he turned to the page. There were two stamps: one showing when he moved in, another, dated two years ago, showing hed moved out.

How the hell did that happen? He didnt argue with the man and backed out of the building. He called Emma, but she was unavailable.

He tried waiting for her outside her work, but that was a dead endEmma had left the toy factory a year ago. Emily had gone abroad to study, but Sam ought to be at school, right? No luck there eitherapparently, Sam had transferred last year and the school couldnt give out further details if his own father didnt know where he was.

Totally floored, Tom slumped onto a bench and put his head in his hands. How had all this happened? Emma, so quiet and reserved, pulling off something like this? How had she even sold the flat? Oh well, hed sort it out in courtdivorce was next week.

He headed to the divorce hearing fired up and determined to expose her. Hed get everything back. Turns out, though, it was all completely above board. Hed totally forgotten that, two years ago, hed signed over power of attorney to Emma. Back then, he was head over heels for Lisaa stunning woman hed met at a party. He was so besotted, he flitted through life on cloud nine.

Emma had needed his signature for a load of forms for Emily to study abroad. She pestered him about it, and at a mates advice, he signed power of attorney to her so she could sort everything out. So, hed basically handed her everything on a silver platter, and now hed lost the lot. Worse still, when Lisa found out he no longer had a flat, she disappeared faster than the English summer.

Still, he thought, at least shell come for child maintenance. Ill fight her there, teach her a lesson. But no. Instead of a summons for child support, he got a notice disputing his paternity. Turned out both kids were fathered by someone else.

Emma had seen him cheating with the waitress on their wedding day. Something just snapped in her. She didnt quite know how or why, but she decided to get her own backin quite the unconventional way. Her first act of revenge was to cheat on him as he had on her. Then she saved every penny Tom gave for the house, quietly hiding it away while the kids got fed and dressed at her mums house. Emmas mother did all she could to talk her out of it, shaking her head.

Revenge will eat you up and ruin the kids, her mum warned.

But Emma was determined. And she saw it through to the end. She had DNA tests donenot that she needed confirmation.

That hit Tom harder than losing the flat. The news that his wife had both children by another man was the real knockout.

You know, you really shouldnt mess with a woman whos been wrongedwhen they get angry, you just have no idea what theyre capable of.