When you’re in love, you trust your partner completely. That’s how it’s supposed to be, right?
For three years, I believed in my husband, Liam. I never doubted him. He worked hard, and we had a good life. But on his birthday, everything changed. My faith in love, marriage, and even friendship shattered in an instant.
Liam’s birthday was coming up, and I wanted to make it special. I planned a little surprise—his favorite homemade dinner, a thoughtful gift, maybe a romantic night in. But two days before his birthday, he dropped unexpected news.
“I have to leave for a business trip,” he said while packing his suitcase. “It’s urgent. I can’t say no.”
I frowned. “On your birthday?”
“I know, Trina. I’m sorry,” he sighed. “But work is what keeps our lifestyle going. I’ll be back Sunday evening, and we can celebrate then.”
I forced a smile. “Fine. We can do that.”
That night, I watched him hop into a cab, slam the door shut, and wave goodbye.
The next morning, as I made myself some breakfast, my phone rang. It was my mother.
“Happy birthday to Liam!” she chirped. “What are you two doing today?”
“Nothing,” I said, sipping my coffee. “He’s away for work. We’ll celebrate next weekend.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” she said. “Well, why don’t you come shopping with me? I need a gift for Mimi’s baby shower.”
“Perfect,” I replied. “I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
We spent the day hopping from store to store, my mom determined to find the perfect, unconventional gift. “Mimi’s a free spirit,” she reminded me. “The baby will probably be wearing tie-dye onesies and listening to jazz before it can talk.”
We laughed, walked, and enjoyed our time together. But then, just as we were strolling past a restaurant, my mother gasped and grabbed my arm.
“Look,” she whispered, pointing at the window.
I turned my head—and felt my entire world crash down.
There, sitting in a cozy booth, was Liam. Not in another city. Not on a business trip. Right there, in our city, celebrating his birthday.
And across from him? My best friend, Mandy.
She was laughing, her hand brushing against his cheek. Then, she leaned in and kissed him.
My mother’s hand tightened around mine. “That is Liam, right?” she whispered. “And Mandy?”
I nodded, my heart hammering. “Yes.”
“Wasn’t he supposed to be out of town?” she asked, her voice sharp with anger.
“He was,” I murmured, barely able to breathe. “But I guess he wanted to spend his birthday with his mistress instead.”
My mother’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That snake. And your best friend did this to you?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I should go in and confront them, right?”
“No, darling,” she said, dragging me away. “That’s exactly what you won’t do. We’re going to play this smart.”
She snapped a few discreet photos of them and then led me into a café down the street.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” she said, stirring her tea. “You’re going to act completely normal. And then, we’ll give them a surprise of our own.”
The plan was brilliant, but it required patience. And I was ready to wait.
When Liam returned from his ‘business trip,’ I greeted him with a big smile.
“Welcome home, honey!”
I forced myself to be normal, to not let my anger show. The week passed, and I set the stage.
On Saturday, I invited Mandy and her husband, Steve, over for dinner.
“Did you really make all this by yourself?” Mandy asked as she helped me set the table.
“Yes, of course,” I said sweetly. “It’s a special night. I have an announcement.”
Liam looked at me, curious. “An announcement?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pregnancy test.
“I’m pregnant.”
Liam’s eyes widened, and he forced a smile. “Wow! That’s… great news!”
Mandy’s smile faltered, and she clapped her hands together. “Oh! Congrats!”
“And Mandy,” I added, “you’ll be the godmother, of course.”
Mandy’s face paled.
“But,” I continued, “that’s not the only surprise tonight.”
Liam frowned. “What could be bigger than a baby?”
I turned to Steve. “Well… Steve, I think you should know something.”
I took a deep breath and delivered the final blow.
“The baby is yours.”
The room fell into stunned silence. Steve choked on his drink. Mandy gasped. Liam turned red.
“What?” Steve coughed. “That’s not possible!”
“We’ve been seeing each other for over a year now,” I said, looking him straight in the eye. “It’s time to be honest. Just like Liam and Mandy should be.”
Liam shot out of his chair. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’re lying!”
Mandy bolted from the table, running to the bathroom in tears, Liam hot on her heels.
Steve stared at me, eyes wide with panic. “How could you say that?”
I smirked and pulled out my phone. “Because I knew you’d need proof.”
I tapped my screen, playing the footage from the hidden nanny cams my mother had given me.
Liam’s voice rang out from the speakers. “Trina is just being paranoid. She has no idea. And you look beautiful when you cry.”
Then, the unmistakable sound of kissing filled the room.
Steve’s face darkened as he listened to Mandy’s voice: “I can’t lose Steve. I only married him for money.”
Steve’s hands clenched into fists. “How long has this been going on?”
“Long enough,” I said. “And by the way, I’m not pregnant.”
Mandy and Liam shuffled back to the table, looking guilty.
“You’ve been cheating on me and using me for money?” Steve exploded. “Mandy, pack your bags. You’re out.”
“Finally,” Mandy spat. “We don’t have to hide anymore.”
“You’ll have nothing,” Steve said coldly. “Our prenup has a cheating clause. You’ll leave with the clothes on your back.”
Mandy gasped. “You can’t do that!”
“I can,” Steve said, sipping his drink.
I turned to Liam. “You should pack, too.”
“What about the baby?” he asked.
“There is no baby,” I said. “I just wanted to see if you’d actually be happy about it. You weren’t.”
Liam stormed out with Mandy, both realizing they had lost everything.
Luckily for me, my prenup was the same as Steve’s. Liam wouldn’t get a cent.
I was heartbroken, yes. But I felt justice.
For me. And for Steve.
And that was worth everything.
