Hearing Footsteps, Olivia Quickly Deleted the Message Saying How Much the Caller Missed Her and Couldn’t Wait to Meet Again, Then Placed the Phone on the Nightstand Where It Stayed

Hearing footsteps, Olivia swiftly deleted the messageone that confessed how desperately the sender missed her and longed to meet againbefore placing the phone back on the nightstand where it belonged.

She kept rereading the text on her husbands phone, unable to believe it wasnt a dream but cold, hard truth. Her husband, her rock, her beloved Paulwas cheating again.

And not with some young, glamorous model, as before. This time, his lover was a woman fifteen years his senior.

Footsteps approached. Olivia deleted the message in a flash and set the phone down just as Paul strolled in, whistling. Today, the company had handed out hefty bonusesenough to buy his wife an anniversary gift *and* whisk Natalie away to the seaside.

The thought of Natalie made him smile wistfully. Hed had his share of affairsfresh-faced girls, divorcees, even married womenbut none like Natalie. She was a colleague, plump but poised, elegant in company, and utterly irresistible in private. Pity about her age, but while she still had her charms, hed drain every last drop.

Noticing Olivias pinched expression, Paul snapped back to reality.

*”Something wrong? You look off.”*

*”No, just thinking about the anniversary. Could you give me some money to organise the party?”*

*”Of course, love.”*

Olivia didnt understand herself. Before, shed have eruptedscreaming about divorcebut tonight, she acted as if nothing had happened, as if shed never seen that damning text.

Paul picked up his phone, made a show of calling a colleague, then slipped onto the balcony to send Natalie a string of heated messages. Olivia feigned calm. She knew tears and tantrums changed nothing.

This wasnt his first betrayal. Hed once blamed her post-pregnancy weight, her faded beautybut now? She was flawless: toned, glowing, her long hair cascading over a chic house dress that made her look straight out of a glossy magazine.

Her friends couldnt fathom her patience. Well-off, educated, with three children she could easily support aloneyet she endured Pauls infidelities. Sometimes, exhausted by the lies, shed threaten divorce, only for his parents to swoop in.

*”Look at our neighbour, Grace! Widowed, working two jobs, sewing at night. And Veraher husband drinks, she wears rags, so do the kids!”*

*”But”*

*”No buts! Youre living like a queenhome, money, designer clothes. So what if he strays? Men are like catsthey crave warmth. If Id nagged your father, hed have left me with four children. Now? A model family. So stop whining and make sure Paul doesnt wander!”*

Olivia smirked. Shed *seen* her father-in-law leaving Graces house. Some model husband.

*”Polinas right. If hes looking elsewhere, youre lacking something. My wife ever spoke to me like that, Id put her in her place! Dont like it? She can pack her bags!”*

Her mother-in-laws saccharine smile made Olivias skin crawl. Her own parents had loved faithfully, raised their children to do the sameno lies, no double lives.

No one deserved deception. So why was *his* cheating excused? Why was *she* to blame?

How many tears had she shed? How much money wasted on fortune-tellers promising to fix him?

Friends urged her to runbut where? To her parents cramped flat? A rented place? She hadnt worked in years, and raising three children alone? Impossible. And despite everything, she loved him. Theyd been together since primary school, sweethearts by Year Six.

Maybe her in-laws were right. Maybe hed tire of it. Maybe *she* had failed himbecause before, hed never strayed.

But then she remembered that text, and fury coiled in her gut. Before, hed said shed let herself go. Now? What was her flaw? What did this older, garish-haired woman have that she didnt?

And their anniversary*ten years*loomed. Yet here he was, back to his old tricks.

Olivia grabbed her phone, curled into an armchair, and scoured event planners sites. One call later, shed booked a consultation.

The next day, the agencys co-owner, Leonard, arrived, apologising for his absent colleague.

*”We have gift catalogues, themed partiesor suggest something unique. What does your husband enjoy? Fishing? Cars? Sports?”*

*”Women. And cheating.”*

*”Ipardon?”*

*”My husband adores women. He cant go a day without betraying me.”*

The dam broke. Olivia sobbed so violently café patrons stared.

*”Why do you tolerate it? Youre enabling him. If you dont respect yourself, why should he?”*

*”You dont understand”*

*”I do. My younger sister *was*. Her husband cheated. She stayed silentthen did the unthinkable. Now Im raising her children. Do you have kids?”*

*”Yes.”*

*”Live for them. A home, a jobtheyll come. You only get one life.”*

*”Youre right.”*

Dabbing her eyes, Olivia managed a shaky smile.

*”Thank you. I know exactly what gift to give my husband.”*

The next week, Olivia oversaw preparations at a picturesque countryside villa. Invitations flew to friends, family, even Pauls colleagues*especially* Natalie.

The party promised grandeur. Menu, décor, giftsall ready. Leonards quiet support steadied her. Hed shown her not all men were the sameand given her the strength even her parents hadnt.

Now, in a black lace dress, stiletto heels, hair and makeup immaculate, Olivia admired her reflection. Leonard squeezed her shoulder.

*”Time. Still sure?”*

*”No going back.”*

*”Good. Ill call the moverstheyll shift your things while the party distracts everyone.”*

*”Perfect. My cues coming.”*

The celebration was in full swing. Pauls parents held court, oblivious to Olivias absence. Paul, basking in praise, kept stealing into the guest bathroom with Natalieuntil Olivia reappeared.

*”Gift time! Darling, these ten years taught me one thing: never argue with a man like you. Accept him as he is. And Im so *grateful* you showed me ideal family life.”*

A towering cake was wheeled inout sprang three women: blonde, 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.

*”Guess Gregor never outgrew his flings. Still visits neighbour Grace, doesnt he?”*

Before the spluttering reply, Olivia faced Paul.

*”Like my gift? Youve always loved womenhow many? Three? Five? Ten? Blondes, brunettes, redheads now Natalie. Your parents were rightI wont scold you again. Enjoy this lifejust without me. Happy anniversary!”*

Her final words rang out. The room froze. But Olivia was already striding out, children in tow, to where Leonard waited.

The divorce was tedious. Paul blamed *her*, refused to signbut time forced it through.

Friends marvelledhow had meek Olivia pulled this off? Simple. Paul had funded her card weekly, then gave her a lump sum for the party.

Years later, shed never regret leaving. Now married to Leonardwho adored her and her childrenshe was finally happy.

Betrayal is comparison. A search for better. Why cling to a bond where one thrives, and the other bleeds?

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