What? Weve been married ten years! What lover? Ive got enough of you!
Victoria could do nothing but feel the sting of suspicion crawling under her skin. She sensed, as if through her very pores, that Ian was hiding something. The uncertainty gnawed at her until one day she finally gathered the courage to confront him outright.
She asked, Is it true or not? and he simply shrugged:
What? Weve been married ten years! What lover? Ive got enough of you!
It sounded as if Ian were speaking honestly, from the heart. She didnt notice any flaw in his smile, his words, or his eyes, yet something still refused to settle.
Victoria wasnt the sort to leave things to fate, so she resolved to get to the bottom of ithow, though? After scouring the internet for tips, she decided the first step was to check his phone. Apart from a handful of empty chats with a couple of old schoolmates, there was nothing alarming. Just idle gossip, she thought. After all, Ian had never set a password on his phone. He claimed there was nothing to hideno secret messages, no clandestine appslike an angel in a human shell.
Sometimes Victoria wondered if she was just imagining things, but whenever Ian lingered late at work she felt a sour knot in her stomach.
Her best friend, Sarah, was always quick to say:
Its just your imagination! Ian loves you and would never look elsewhere! Your suspicions are ruining everything!
Victoria, however, wouldnt listen. Her gut whispered otherwise, and the idea of sharing Ian with another woman was utterly unacceptable.
One afternoon she boldly turned up at his office to see whether he was working or chasing anyone. The moment Ian saw her, his face flushed with embarrassment. Youve embarrassed me in front of the staff, he muttered, apologising profusely. He eventually forgave himself, and the incident passed.
On the surface, their life seemed pictureperfect: a cosy terraced house, two children growing up, a routine of work and school. Yet Victoria found herself constantly seeking a fifthwheel adventure.
As the saying goes, He who seeks will eventually find. Unfortunately, she hadnt found anything yet.
Like many women in their thirties, Victoria worried about being left alone with two kids. She appeared calm to the outside world, but beneath the surface a storm raged. Ian showed no outward signsno new cologne, no wardrobe change, no strange habitsyet she still felt something was off.
If it hadnt been for a chance stumble, Victoria might never have uncovered the truth. Was it a fabricated nightmare or a real betrayal? Stay tuned.
When their younger son started Year 1 at primary school, Victoria decided to learn to drive. She enrolled in a local driving school, attending evening lessons after work. After three months she passed the test and earned her licence.
Ian was so proud that he bought her a tiny, sensible little hatchbackperfect for her petite frame and easy to park. He never admitted it, but the car was really a peace offering so she wouldnt keep pestering him for a spin. Youre not ready for a big car yet, hed say, you need experience first.
One Saturday morning Victoria woke earlier than usual, determined to treat the family to a hearty eggandeggplant pie with chickenher favourite. She started preparing, only to realise shed run out of flour.
Outside, the British winter was in full force: frosty winds and a blanket of snow. Shed learned to drive in the winter, so she decided to pop to the shop. She slid into Ians car, turned the key, andnothing. The engine refused to start. She trudged back home, careful not to wake the children.
Walking in the cold seemed dreadful, so she thought, Why not take a quick spin in Ians car without asking? A couple of kilometres around the block would be harmless; Ian would never notice.
She grabbed the keys, got the engine warming up, and, while it idled, reached into the glovebox for a tissue. Her hand brushed something and a phone clattered onto the floor.
She picked it up. It wasnt Ians familiar handset. Shed never seen this sleek smartphone before. Bad thoughts flashed through her mindhad Ian secretly acquired a new phone? Curiosity won, and she pressed the power button.
The first thing that popped up was a message from a certain Olivia:
My love, Im missing you terribly! Come to me soon! Im waiting for you!
Victorias eyes widened. There was no password, so she started scrolling through the conversation. The thread was absurdly long, as if it spanned a lifetime.
It turned out Ian worked until five p.m. most days and didnt get home until seven. Victoria had never bothered to check his exact schedule. Apparently, almost every evening he drove straight to Olivias flat for about an hour before heading back, writing her sweet messages that he never shared with his own wife.
A photo attached showed a middleaged woman, clearly around forty, and Victoria wondered why he was meeting her at all.
Her blood boiled. Just as she was about to step out of the car and head home, she spotted Ian emerging from the blocks entrance.
Shed left a note on the kitchen table saying shed gone to the shop. He must have decided to use the moment to send Olivia another message.
Victoria remembered Ian often returned to the car in the eveningsforgot his wallet, just a quick errand, hed sayso she hadnt suspected anything.
Ian saw his wife behind the wheel and pulled up beside her.
Who gave you permission? Thats not how we agreed!
Victorias fury spiked. She slammed the car into reverse, floored the accelerator, and the vehicle screeched into the garden fence. The crash gave her a brief, perverse sense of relief.
She climbed out, staring at Ians bewildered face, and shouted:
Go back to yours! Ill see how you manage without a house or a car! Get out before my eyes see you!
To seal her point, she tossed his keys into a massive pile of rubbish and marched back inside.
The boys, still halfasleep, were confused by the commotion. Minutes later Ian tried to get back in, but Victoria had slammed the front door shut.
Go back to yours! Forget this road! she bellowed, echoing through the hallway.
Defeated, Ian slipped into his old slippers, a housecoat, and a coat, and trudged off to Olivias flat. He imagined a cosy night, but Olivias front door opened to reveal a stern voice.
Darling, are you coming soon? Ive been waiting for you!
It turned out Olivia only saw Ian on weekdays; weekends she never met him. Turns out she too had two other admirerswho said weekend anyway?
She gave Ian a guilty look and slammed the door.
Dejected, Ian shuffled to his mothers house two streets away. His mother, Margaret, recognised the whole scene instantly when he arrived. She gave him tea, a warm meal, and a sympathetic ear, then said:
Dont worry, love. Who could have guessed your Victoria would turn out like this? Therell be brighter days aheadyou’re only thirtyfive! Youll find love again, Im sure of it.
So Ian stayed with his mother, resolved to rebuild his life. He even felt a pang of relief at being freeuntil Victoria filed for alimony. Only then did he realise starting over wasnt going to be a walk in the park. At least his mother hadnt abandoned him, which was something.
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