Stepping into the café during her lunch break, Emily spotted her husband with another woman and resolved to teach them both a lesson.
Emily exhaled deeply as she left the office building. It had been one of those daysdemanding bosses, endless emails, and now this. All she wanted was a quiet moment with a chicken Caesar salad and a cup of tea. The café was nearly empty when she walked in, but just as she headed for her usual spot, she froze. There was David, her husband, deep in conversation with a glamorous woman.
The stranger looked like shed stepped out of a glossy magazineblonde, impeccably dressed, diamonds glinting on her fingers. She was laughing at something David said, her hand brushing his. Emilys stomach twisted. So this was why hed been so distant lately? Her first instinct was to march over and make a scene, but she stopped herself. No, that would be too easy.
Instead, she chose a table in the corner, hidden but with a clear view. She ordered her salad and tea but barely touched them, her attention fixed on the pair. David leaned in, whispering something that made the woman giggle. Emilys grip tightened around her napkin. She pulled out her phone and dialled Davids number. His phone lit up on the table, but he silenced it without a glance.
Her jaw clenched. If he wouldnt answer, shed make him notice. Then she spotted a man walking pasttall, charming, with a roguish smile. Perfect. She waved him over.
“Excuse me,” she said, forcing a smile. “I have a rather odd favour to ask.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
She nodded toward David. “Thats my husband. And unless Im mistaken, hes cheating. Fancy helping me give him a taste of his own medicine?”
The man smirked. “Why not? Names James, by the way.”
Emily introduced herself, then leaned in as if sharing a secret. James played along flawlessly, laughing at the right moments, even covering her hand with his. She stole glances at Davidhis expression shifted from confusion to irritation. Good.
“Shall we walk past them?” James murmured.
Emily nodded, linking her arm with his. As they passed Davids table, she feigned surprise. “Oh! David, what a coincidence! Whos your friend?”
David stiffened. The blonde frowned. “A colleague,” he muttered.
“Really?” Emily tilted her head. “Funny, you never mentioned her before.”
The womans eyes narrowed. “Youre married?”
David scrambled for words, but the blonde stood abruptly and stormed out.
“Brilliant,” David snapped. “That was a crucial client! This was business, not some affair!”
Emily crossed her arms. “And James? Just a friend.”
“Youre seeing someone?” Davids voice cracked.
“If you can, why cant I?”
James cleared his throat. “Ill, uh, leave you to it.” He vanished before David could respond.
Back home, David waited on the sofa, his anger faded into exhaustion. “Emily,” he said quietly, “did you really?”
She sat beside him. “No. I made it up to hurt you, just like you hurt me.”
David ran a hand through his hair. “This whole thing was daft. I shouldve told you about the meeting. I swear, nothing happened.”
Emily studied his facethe regret was genuine. She sighed, leaning into him. “Promise me no more secrets.”
“I promise,” he murmured, kissing her forehead.
As he held her, the tension ebbed away. The lesson was clear: trust, once broken, takes more than grand gestures to mendbut honesty is always the first step.
