What Do You Mean? We’ve Been Married for Ten Years! What Mistress? You’re More Than Enough for Me!

Whats got into you? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!

Charlotte couldnt shake the gnawing feeling that her husband was cheating. She sensed it in her bones, the uncertainty eating at her. One evening, she finally mustered the courage to confront him outright.

Is it true or not? she demanded.

He laughed it off. Whats got into you? Weve been married ten years! What mistress? Youre more than enough for me!

James spoke so earnestly, so convincingly. His smile never faltered, his eyes betrayed nothingyet something still didnt sit right.

Charlotte wasnt one to leave things to fate. She was determined to uncover the truth, but how?

After scrolling through endless online advice, she decided to check his phone first. Nothing suspiciousjust idle chats with a couple of old schoolmates. Harmless.

James never even bothered with a passcode. Nothing to hide, hed always say. No secret messages, no deleted conversations. A saint in human form.

Sometimes, she wondered if she was imagining it all. But every time he came home late from work, that same unease crept back in.

Her best friend, Emily, brushed it off. Youre overthinking it! James adores youhed never stray. Youre only ruining things with these suspicions!

Charlotte didnt listen. Her gut told her otherwise, and the thought of sharing her husband with another woman was unthinkable.

One day, she even followed him to the office, just to see if he was really working or off with another woman. He lost his temper when he spotted her. Embarrassing me in front of my colleagues! She apologised for days before he forgave her.

By all appearances, life was perfect. A lovely home, two wonderful childrenwhat more could she want? But no, Charlotte had a knack for stirring up trouble where there was none.

As the saying goes, Seek and ye shall find. Only, she hadntyet.

At thirty, with two children, the fear of being left alone gnawed at her. Outwardly composed, inside she was a storm.

No lipstick on his collar, no unfamiliar perfume, no sudden changes in behaviouryet she *knew* something was off.

If not for sheer chance, she might never have discovered the truth. Real or imagined? Time would tell.

When their youngest started primary school, Charlotte decided to learn to drive. She took evening classes, passed her test in three months, and earned her licence.

James was so proud, he bought her a carsmall, but perfect for her petite frame. Easier to park, too.

Hed never admit it, but he bought it so she wouldnt ask to borrow his Audi. You need more experience first, hed say.

One weekend, she woke early, determined to surprise the family with their favourite chicken and aubergine pie. Butno flour.

The frost outside was biting, but shed grown confident driving in winter. A quick trip to the shop, then back before anyone noticed. Except her car wouldnt start.

The house was still quiet. She tiptoed back inside, not wanting to wake anyone.

Walking in the cold wasnt appealing, so she made a reckless decisiontake Jamess car without asking. Just a quick errandhed never know.

She grabbed his keys and headed out. While the engine warmed, she reached into the glovebox for a cloth to wipe the frost. Her fingers brushed somethinga phone clattered to the floor.

Not his. Shed recognise his phone anywhere. Whose was this?

Dread coiled in her stomach. Maybe hed picked it up by mistakebut curiosity won. She tapped the screen.

The first thing she saw was a message from *Sophie*.

*My love, I miss you so much! Come see me soonIm waiting!*

Her breath hitched. No passcode meant she scrolled further. Page after page of messages. A lifetimes worth of deceit.

James finished work at five but never came home before seven. Every day, an hour with his precious Sophie before slipping back as if nothing happened.

The photos showed a woman in her forties. What did he even see in her?

Rage burned through her. She was about to storm back inside when she spotted James stepping out of their building.

Shed left a note saying shed gone to the shop. He mustve seized the chance to message Sophie.

Now she rememberedhis nightly errands. Forgotten wallet, checking the car. Always so quick, shed never suspected.

He froze when he saw her in his Audi. Who said you could take it? We never agreed to this!

Her fury boiled over. She buckled up, reversed sharplyand with a screech, slammed into the fence behind her. The impact was oddly satisfying.

She stepped out, glaring at his stunned face. Go to her, then! Lets see how much she wants you with no house and no car!

With that, she hurled his keys into a snowdrift and marched inside.

The boys were awake, confused. Minutes later, James tried to followbut shed bolted the door.

Go to her! Dont you dare come back! she shouted.

Defeated, he trudged offslippers, dressing gown, and allto Sophies. Surely shed take him in, comfort him.

Wrong.

Sophie opened the doorand a mans voice called from inside. Darling, how much longer? Ive been waiting!

James only visited on weekdays. Weekends? Apparently, Sophie had *two* suitors. No reason to be lonely.

She gave him an apologetic look and shut the door in his face.

With nowhere else to go, he shuffled to his mothers house two streets over.

Margaret took one look at him and understood. She fed him, listened to his tale of the heartless wife whod thrown him out over nothing, and patted his shoulder.

Dont fret, love. Who knew Charlotte would turn out like this? Your luck will changeyoure only thirty-five! Youll find love again, mark my words.

So James stayed with his mother, ready to start anew. He even felt a flicker of relieffreedom at last.

Until the child support papers arrived. Then he realised fresh starts werent so simple.

At least his mother hadnt abandoned him. Without her, hed have been truly lost.