Isold my parents’ house and my car to finance my husband’s dream farm. I trusted him completely until a phone call on the way to the bank made me question who I was really building that life for.
I sat on the edge of our old bed early in the morning and watched Jake as he slept. He always slept so peacefully, as if he had no debts or bills. I gently touched his shoulder.
“Jake. Wake up. We agreed that I would take the money to the bank today.”
She rubbed her eyes sleepily. “Good morning, darling. You’re up early again, huh?”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Well, who else but me?”
I got up to make him coffee. That way he could sit in our kitchen and dream about his farm. Five minutes later, he was standing in the doorway. He took his cup and sat down across from me.
“Martha, you know I love you, right? You’re my rock. You’re all I have.”
I just smiled.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Tell me again. What will we do?”
Jake put the cup aside and stretched out his arms, as if he were already holding the entire farm in them.
“We’ll have our own land, fresh milk, no chemicals. People will come from all over the country. Our name on every jar. And that’s just the beginning.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“And the children? When will we finally be able to send Benny to a decent school?”
“Soon, darling, soon. Everything will be alright. You sold the lake house, that’s just the beginning.”
I nodded. That little house by the lake was my last memory of Mom and Dad. But if it helped my husband build his dream…
“But your money… that’s the final piece.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
I looked at the envelope on the shelf.
“I’ll deposit everything into your account today.”
“I adore you, you know that?” Jake leaned closer to me and brushed his fingers against my cheek. “No one has ever done as much for me as you have.”
“Because we’re family, Jake. You promised: the farm is our dream together.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
“Of course, darling.”
Jake kissed my forehead, so gently I almost believed him. “Nothing bad will happen. You’ve always been my lucky charm.”
And while he was whispering those sweet words, I was already getting everything ready to go to the bank.
I really wanted to help my husband become independent. But I didn’t know that just ten minutes after that conversation, a phone call would turn my whole life upside down.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
I stood at the bus stop and felt the cold seep through my coat. The walk to the bank would only take twenty minutes. I kept imagining handing the money to the teller, and then Jake hugging me.
But deep down I wondered…
Am I giving too much to this marriage?
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
My thoughts were racing so much that I barely heard the buzzing of my phone inside my bag. I took it out and looked at the screen.
ALEX.
I squinted. I didn’t remember any Alex among my acquaintances.
I pressed the green button.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Hello darling…”
The voice was a woman’s. Soft. Syrupy, like honey dripping from a spoon.
“You weren’t answering. Did she leave? I’m so tired of waiting. I’ve been waiting for you all night…”
I got such a tight lump in my throat that I could barely breathe.
I pressed END CALL without saying a word.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
What was that?
I looked at the phone. The same old crack in the corner, the worn casing…
The phone wasn’t mine!
“Damn…”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
I rummaged through my bag, turning it upside down. Of course. Jake and I had swapped phones that morning. I had HIS phone.
ALEX. His voice kept echoing in my ears.
“I’ve been waiting for you all night…”
I didn’t go to the bank. Instead, I went into the nearest coffee shop, ordered a cup, but didn’t take a single sip.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
The phone was on the table in front of me. I stared at the messages my husband hadn’t even bothered to hide.
“I’ll see you in thirty minutes.” / “I already miss you.”
Suddenly, I realized.
What if… what if I didn’t let him know I knew? What if I just observed him?
I had to go back for his phone. I could catch him.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
I hurried home, slipped inside quietly, and placed my phone on the kitchen table as if it had always been there. And sure enough, Jake was back. I watched him through the kitchen window. He winked at me.
“Hey! Have you seen my phone?”
“On the table. Right where you left it.”
“You are my lifeline.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Not today, Jake. Not anymore.
I saw him send a quick message and leave again. He didn’t even give me a goodbye kiss.
“I’ll be late! Meetings. Don’t wait up for me.”
Yes, of course. Meetings.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
I slipped away behind him. My heart was pounding under my jacket like a bird caught in my ribs. I got into the first taxi I saw (the kind you always see in movies).
We stopped in front of a small house with green shutters. I could hear her voice through an open window: bright, sweet, and clingy. I sat in the back seat, watching Jake put his arms around a pretty blonde woman.
“Okay, hubby. Let’s play your game together…”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
I wanted to see her eyes. So I waited until Jake left. Then I got out of the taxi and headed straight for that house with the green shutters.
Alex couldn’t have been more than thirty. Her blond hair fell to her shoulders, and an oversized sweater slipped off one side. She blinked, confused.
“Yes? Can I help you?”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
I took a deep breath, hurting my ribs.
“I think so. I’m Jake’s wife.”
For a second she stared. Her mouth was open, then she closed it again.
“His… wife?”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“That’s right. Martha. The woman who pays the bills. The one he’s building his dream farm with.”
He let out a half-laugh, half-snort, but there was nothing funny in his eyes. He opened the door wider.
“Come inside. We’re not doing this on the porch.”
I went in. I saw that his hands were trembling.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Why are you here? To call me a witch? To tell me to stay away?”
I almost burst out laughing. God, what a mess we’d let him make.
“Who are you to my husband? Why did you come here instead of going to the business meeting?”
Alex looked away, but lifted his chin.
“I’m the woman he’s going to marry. After he leaves you.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Marry you? Did he say that?”
“Yes. He said it’s impossible to live with you. Controlling. That you’d ruin him if he didn’t escape now. I’ll give him everything to help him…”
I blinked.
“Will you give him money?”
“Yes. He said he needed it for the lawyers. To pay the divorce settlement. And child support for your son.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
I stared at her, my hand gripping the strap of my bag.
“I sold my parents’ lake house so he could start a business. This morning I was going to the bank to give him every last penny I had.”
Didn’t you do it?
“No, Alex. But I was about to. Until I grabbed your phone by mistake. I heard your sweet little voice.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
He stared at me as if he were looking at his own cracked face in a dirty mirror.
“I sold my shares in my father’s company for him. He said we would find a new place together, far away from here. He swore he was done with you.”
“So why did he hide you? Why did he lie to me, telling me that all of this was for us?”
Alex looked up, his mascara smudged at the corners of his mouth. He shook his head slowly.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
“I thought he was intelligent. I thought he loved me.”
“He loves himself. And his bank account. Just like mine.”
Alex sank into the edge of the sofa.
“So what do we do now?”
“If we let him think he still has both of us, he’ll fall right into his own trap.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Alex wiped his cheek with the back of his hand.
“And then?”
“Then we will recover what is ours.”
Finally, she smiled.
“Tell me everything.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
I told Jake that I had transferred all the money directly to his account, and I smiled like the trusting wife he always counted on.
“It will take effect in three days.”
Alex did his part too. He told my husband he would have the rest of the money ready, just as he wanted. They arranged their little date at the restaurant.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
We had already agreed: I would be there too. Not far away. Hidden in plain sight.
I arrived early, before them, and sat down right behind a table.
I was wearing an old coat I’d borrowed from Alex’s closet and a cheap blonde wig I’d bought that afternoon. It scratched my scalp under the scarf. But I didn’t care. From then on, all I had to do was listen.
Three days, Jake. Did you really think you could get both of us to pay you before you disappeared?
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Ten minutes later, the game started.
“Hey, beautiful,” Jake said, leaning across the table to kiss Alex’s cheek. “Sorry I’m late. You look… amazing.”
“Of course,” I thought. “She’s the ultimate investor in your fantasy.”
Alex didn’t return her smile as he usually did.
“I wanted to talk about money again.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Jake frowned. “Again? Alex, we’ve already talked about this.”
“Yes, but I want to be sure. Why do you need so much, Jake? Where is this going to lead?”
I could hear the forced patience in her voice.
“She’s everything to us, darling. You know that. I have to get rid of Martha. Lawyers cost a fortune. She wants to bleed me dry in the divorce. She’s lost her mind.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
I stifled a laugh.
Lose your mind? You have no idea how calm I am, Jake. Calm enough to burn you to a crisp.
Alex hit the glass with his fingernails.
“So you’re really going to leave her?”
Jake let out an annoyed sigh. “Of course I am. Do you think I’d be doing all this if I wasn’t serious? I need you to trust me, Alex. I’m doing this for us.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Alex dropped the napkin on the floor. OUR SIGNAL.
I got up slowly and stood behind Jake. He didn’t see me until I was right there.
“Hello, darling,” I said sweetly, pulling the wig off my head and letting it fall onto the table. “Looks like your big deal is almost closed, huh?”
Jake’s face went colorless.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
“Martha? What the hell…”
Alex smiled contentedly. “Surprise, Jake. Looks like your wife and your girlfriend finally agree on something.”
Jake tried to laugh, but it didn’t go well.
“They’re both idiots. They were both willing to give me their money. Who’s the fool here?”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “Oh, now you’re not getting a single penny from me. Not after this.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Midjourney
Jake snorted. “Fine. Don’t give it to me. But Martha’s already transferred everything to me anyway. You should learn from her. Loyal to the end.”
I leaned toward my husband. “No, Jake. I didn’t send you a single damn penny. A call from Alex saved me. Remember when you left your phone at home? Next time, be more careful when you’re playing with two women at once.”
Jake’s mouth opened, then closed. I stepped back, took a dollar out of my purse, and threw it on the table.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Enjoy your dinner, darling. I’ll pay you what you deserve.”
Alex grabbed his coat. “Let’s get pizza. Real, cheap, honest food. Have fun explaining that to your next ‘investor’.”
I saw Jake babbling behind us as we walked away, both of us laughing. Outside, Alex nudged me with her shoulder.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Did you ever think we’d end up here?”
I smiled. “Not once. But I’ll tell you one thing: if you ever need a partner in crime again, call me.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Deal. But first, extra cheese?”
“More cheese. And maybe extra wine.”
We walked away together down the street: two women who had given too much and, at last, had received something in return.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
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