Well, in the end, nothing terrible happened! It’s just one of those things that happens to men – got carried away and couldn’t stop in time!

**Diary Entry 25th March**

Nina kept pleading with me. “Emily, honestly, nothing truly awful happened! Men slip up sometimesgot carried away, couldnt stop himself in time. Be the bigger person. Are you really going to hand your husband over to some girl? Shed think shes won! Fight for your family!”

On Saturday morning, I took Daniel to my parents. Wed agreed hed stay with them for a while. Back home, I dragged out cardboard boxes from the storage and started packing. First, his roomclothes, toys, books, sealing each box with tape and labelling them. Soon, only the furniture remained, things I wouldnt take.

Around noon, my phone rang. Mother-in-law again.

“Hello, Margaret.”

“Good afternoon, Emily. James told me everything. I know youre hurt, but must you rush? Cool off, think it over. Is destroying the family really the answer?”

“Im not the one destroying it. James did.”

“Im not excusing him! But could you forgive him, just this once?”

“Once? Your sons been seeing his colleague for six months, lying to me. And you say forgive? No.”

“Emily, please reconsider. Youre depriving Daniel of his father. James adores him!”

“Margaret, James can see Daniel whenever he likes. But I wont live with him anymore. Lets end thisIm busy packing.”

I finished the last two boxes and moved to our bedroom, stuffing suitcases with my clothes.

Margaret showed up an hour later, convinced shed change my mind.

“Emily, really, its not the end of the world! Men strayit happens. Be wiser. Would you really step aside for some girl? Shed think shes beaten you! Fight for your family!”

“Margaret, James isnt some trophy to fight over. Should I challenge this Jane to a duel? A boxing match? Why blame her? If it wasnt her, itd be someone else.”

She leaned in, lowering her voice. “Between us, Jamess father wasnt perfect in his youth either. But I was wiser. I kept our family intact. Thirty-five years together nowcoral anniversary soon.”

“And how, exactly, were you wiser?”

“I never scolded him. Instead, I was kindercooked his favourite meals, took interest in his work, improved myself. Changed my hair, lost weight, greeted him with a smile. Sometimes I *knew* hed just come from *her*, and all I wanted was to crack his skull with a frying pan. But I smiled. And kept him. Raised our son right. Now, our grandson has a grandfather.”

“Youre remarkable, Margaret. I couldnt do that. My sense of disgust is too strong. What youre suggesting is like eating from a bin.”

She stormed out without another word.

I kept packing. This wasnt overJames and Margaret would hassle me more. Thats why I hurried.

Next morning, my dad came. We loaded the boxes into a van and left. On the way, I asked him to stop at Margarets to return the flat keys.

Later, I told my friend Lucy, “She begged me for an hour to forgive Jamess little slip. The usual: Youre taking Daniels father away, All men cheat, Women must be wiser. Then shared how *she* won her husband back.”

“How?” Lucy asked.

“I wont repeat it. Just know its vile. Youd never do it.”

“Filed for divorce yet?”

“Last Friday.”

“Good. That Casanovas suffocating. Hard to watch that two-timing fool.”

“*Hard to watch*? You knew about Jane?”

“Not for certain. But I suspected.”

“Were supposed to be friends. Why didnt you say?”

“Wait! First, I had no proof. Remember the office party? Jane hanging off James? How she coincidentally switched assignments to travel with him? I suspected, but accusing wrongly wouldve ruined *us*. Remember Sarah Bell?”

“She told a friend shed seen her husband with another woman, even showed a photohim hugging her. Huge row, they reconciled, but Sarah got blamed for trying to break up a happy marriage out of jealousy. She quit. So dont be angry. If Id had proof, Id have told you.”

I sighed. “Fine. Anyway, the flats in Margarets name, so Daniel and I moved in with Mum and Dad. Well renovate Grans old place soontenants just left. Two bedrooms, but enough for us. Sorting nursery transfer toocurrent ones too far. Then divorce, child support. Done.”

“James agreed?”

“Says he doesnt want divorce, swears hes changed. I dont care. Once was enough. He begged me not to file for supportpromised hed pay voluntarily.”

“And?”

“No. I want it official. Then he threatened to take Daniel: My flats better, my salarys higher.”

“I didnt argue. Just counted his business trips last yeareight. Saved that for court. Asked him whod care for Daniel when hes away. With my job and flat, hes got no case.”

James did file for custody, claiming I couldnt provide for Daniel. Margaret accused me of hiding him: “They vanished after a week at her parents! Wheres my grandson? Some shady place?”

I had to explain: we live in *my* two-bed flat, Daniel attends the local nursery. Highlighted Jamess constant travel, unfit for parenting.

They lost.

I changed jobs to avoid James. Soon after, Lucy brought news: “Jane quit. Left town.”

“Why?”

“The office women made her life hell. Realised the game was up and fled to London. So your ex is alone now.”

“Doesnt bother me.”

And it didnt.

**Lesson:** Some wells are too poisoned to drink from. No matter how thirsty you are.