Emily suddenly realised shed forgotten her purse and had to dash back home, only to walk in on something she could never forgive her husband for.
“Are you sure you dont need anything?” Emily asked again, trying to be thoughtful. “Just go, Im fine!” James replied with a hint of irritation.
His tone stung, but she brushed it off. Lately, hed been snappier, but she hated making a fuss. Shed always been the patient typeher mum used to say, “Youll make a wonderful wife, so understanding.” And Emily took that to heart, swallowing her hurt and putting up with James moods.
That day, shed wanted to surprise himroast salmon with lemon and thyme, plus his favourite sticky toffee pudding from his mums recipe. Shed grabbed all the ingredients at Tesco, but at the till, she realisedno purse.
With a frustrated sigh, she pulled out her phone and rang James. No answer. She asked the cashier to hold her shopping and hurried home.
As she pushed the door open, a strange sound stopped her dead. James was on the phone, speaking in that smug tone she knew too well.
“Everythings sorted,” he was saying. “The house is in my name now. Just need to move the money.”
Emilys heart lurched. The house? The money? What was he planning?
“Theres always a risk,” he went on, “but what choice do I have? Emilys cluelessshe never questions anything.”
Each word felt like a slap. All those years of love, patience and this?
His voice softened. “And about your ideaafter this, we can finally go to Spain, just like you wanted. Pack that red dressyoull need it.”
Emily clenched her fists, fighting the urge to burst in. Instead, she stepped back, hiding in the hall.
When James passed by without noticing her, she slipped out and wandered to the park, numb. Who could she even tell? Her parents would be devastated. Finally, she called her best mate, Sophie.
“Emily, are you okay?” Sophie asked. “Not really,” Emily admitted, spilling everything.
Sophie insisted they meet. After their talk, Emily felt steadieruntil she checked their joint account on the bus. A huge chunk was gone.
“Right,” she muttered. “If thats how you want to play.”
At home, James scowled. “Whereve you been? Im starving!”
“Just popped round to Lucys,” Emily said calmly, unpacking groceries.
“Brilliant. Wifes off gallivanting while I starve,” he grumbled, turning back to the telly.
She cooked in silence, seething. But she needed to stay sharpshe had to know his plans.
The next day, she called in sick and combed through his things. His laptop held emails with a solicitordivorce papers, property splits. Hed been plotting this for months.
She snapped photos, then rang a lawyer Sophie recommended. By the time James left for work, shed gathered every document she needed.
A few days later, she slid a folder across the dinner table.
“Whats this?” James frowned.
“Our fresh start,” Emily said coldly. “Im filing for divorce.”
His face drained of colour. “Emily, wait”
“Save it. I heard you. Saw the emails. Thought youd swindle me, did you? Not happening.”
James spluttered, but she cut him off. “Were splitting everything fairlyno Spanish holiday for you and your little fling. Oh, and Ive got copies of everything.”
He turned nasty. “This is your fault! Youre so bloody dull!”
Emily glared. “Funny, I thought you were just a coward. Pack your bags and go.”
After a shouting match, he finally left. The court later ruled in her favour, though he dragged it out for months.
It took time, but Emily healed. Months later, at a friends birthday, she met someone newproof that even after heartbreak, life could surprise you. And this time, she wasnt settling for less.
