My name is Anna, and I am 32 years old. For two years, I believed I had the perfect marriage. Derek and I met through mutual friends, and everything between us happened quickly. By the time we got married, I was convinced he was my soulmate. But lately, things felt different.
It started with small things: late nights at work, a faint trace of perfume on his clothes, and his phone, which was suddenly always in his hand. It would buzz constantly, and the moment I looked in his direction, he’d swipe the notifications away.
At first, I told myself I was overthinking. “He’s just busy,” I thought. “He loves me.” But the feeling wouldn’t go away. And when he started taking calls in another room, I knew something was wrong. I had to find out the truth.
One evening, after dinner, I gathered my courage and decided to confront him. My heart pounded, but I needed answers, no matter how painful they might be.
“Derek, can we talk?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He glanced up from his phone and smiled. “Of course, babe. What’s up?”
I took a deep breath. “You’ve been acting different lately. Always on your phone, coming home late. And I can smell perfume on you. Just tell me the truth.”
He blinked and then sighed. “Okay, fine. You’re right.”
A cold feeling spread through my chest. “Right about what?”
“There’s someone else,” he admitted, avoiding my eyes.
My breath caught. “Someone else?”
“Her name is Jessica,” he said quietly. “But it’s not what you think.”
Not what I think? I could barely comprehend what he was saying. “You’re cheating on me, Derek!”
“It’s complicated,” he said quickly. “I love you, Anna. You’re my best friend. But I… I love her too. In a different way.”
I clenched my fists under the table. “So, what are you saying? You want a divorce?”
“No!” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t want to lose you. I was thinking… maybe we could all live together.”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
“You have to understand,” he pleaded. “I love you as a person, but I love her as a woman. I don’t want to choose. Maybe we could all live together.”
My mind raced. Was he serious? But then, an idea formed.
“Alright,” I said, forcing a smile. “If this is going to work, I need to meet her.”
Derek looked surprised. “You do?”
“Yes. Why don’t you invite her over for dinner? Let’s see if this could work.”
Derek grinned, relieved. “Really? You’re amazing, Anna.”
I smiled back, but inside, I was seething.
“Just amazing,” I muttered, already planning my next move.
The next evening, I heard Derek’s car pull into the driveway. My stomach turned as I adjusted the table settings one last time. I had to play this carefully.
When the door opened, Derek walked in, smiling nervously, with Jessica right behind him.
“Anna, this is Jessica,” he said, stepping aside.
Jessica looked younger than I expected—mid-20s, maybe—with long blonde hair and a careful smile. She wore a fitted dress, clearly trying to impress but not seem too eager. Her eyes flicked over me, sizing me up.
“Hi, Anna,” she said, stepping forward to shake my hand. Her grip was soft and hesitant.
“Jessica,” I said warmly, giving her a practiced smile. “Welcome. Please, make yourself at home.”
As we sat down to eat, I kept my focus sharp. I smiled, passed the food, but I noticed every glance, every small movement.
Jessica’s laughter was high-pitched and sweet, almost forced. She leaned close to Derek when she spoke, lightly touching his arm. I saw Derek’s hand rest on hers briefly before he pulled away, glancing at me.
“So, Jessica,” I said, keeping my tone light. “What do you do for a living?”
“Oh, I work in marketing,” she replied, her voice faltering slightly. “It’s… um, fun. Challenging sometimes, but I like it.”
“Challenging?” I tilted my head. “How so?”
Jessica looked at Derek for help, but he was busy cutting his steak. “Oh, you know… deadlines and clients and all that,” she said quickly.
“I see,” I said with a small smile. “Well, I’m sure Derek appreciates your hard work.”
Jessica blinked, and Derek shifted uncomfortably. “Of course, I do,” he said, clearing his throat. “Jessica’s incredible at what she does.”
I sipped my wine and casually texted my father:
“Hi Dad, could you stop by my place? Derek’s out, and a neighbor called saying someone’s in the house. I’m nervous.”
Seconds later, his reply came: “Be there in 10.”
Perfect.
After dinner, I pushed back my chair. “Why don’t we all head upstairs? I’ll take a quick shower before bed.”
Jessica’s eyes widened. “Oh, um, are you sure? I mean—”
“It’s fine,” I said with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
Ten minutes later, I heard my dad’s voice booming from upstairs.
“Derek, mind telling me what the hell is going on here?”
I rushed to the hallway. My father, a former Navy officer, stood in the bedroom doorway, arms crossed. Jessica sat on the bed, looking confused and nervous.
Derek’s face drained of color. “Mr. Grant, I—I can explain!”
“Explain?” My dad’s voice was cold. “Explain why you’re in my daughter’s house with another woman?”
Derek stammered. “It’s not what it looks like!”
“Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like,” my dad growled, stepping forward.
Derek panicked, eyes darting to the window. “I, uh, I should go!”
“Not so fast,” my dad barked. “You don’t walk out of here after this. You crawl.”
Derek let out a yelp, scrambled onto the windowsill, and jumped. From my spot in the hallway, I stifled a laugh as he landed awkwardly on the lawn in nothing but his boxers.
Jessica sat frozen. “Look, Anna, I didn’t mean—”
I cut her off. “Save it. You made your choice. Now leave.”
Jessica looked like she wanted to argue, but my dad’s sharp glare shut her up. She grabbed her purse and scurried out.
The next morning, I packed Derek’s things and went to the courthouse.
Filing for divorce felt like shedding a heavy weight. I had been betrayed, but I refused to be broken. I had played my cards right, and I walked away with my dignity intact.
By the time I left the courthouse, I felt lighter. Freer.
I deserved better. And from now on, I would never settle for less.
