Cleaning the bathroom on a dull Tuesday evening was typically uneventful, but it had to be done. As I scrubbed the toilet, I realized the water kept running after I flushed.
Curious and a bit annoyed, I opened the tank to take a look. Wrapped in a plastic bag was a cheap-looking burner phone. My heart pounded as I dried it off and switched it on.
“Password,” I muttered softly. Using our wedding date as a guess, I gained access.
Shaking, I flipped through the text messages. The sender: Lola. The screen was filled with explicit conversations between her and my husband, Matt.
I felt nauseous reading about their plans to meet at an upscale downtown restaurant on Friday night. I almost dropped the phone, but managed to catch it.
“Jenna, you can do this,” I whispered to myself, fighting to remain calm.
Gently, I wrapped the phone back up and returned it to the toilet tank, ensuring everything looked untouched before leaving the bathroom. Upon entering the kitchen, I saw Matt searching through the fridge.
“Hey, honey, what’s for dinner?” he asked, looking up briefly.
Putting on a brave face, I smiled. “Thinking of making pasta. How was work?”
“Busy,” he said, pecking my cheek. “Lots of meetings this week.”
“Friday too?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.
“Yeah, another late one,” he replied, avoiding eye contact. I nodded, pretending to buy his lie.
As soon as he left the room, I texted my best friends, Nicole and Tara, and my brother Lucas, who’s a lawyer. We convened that night at Nicole’s house.
Nicole poured us glasses of wine. “So, what’s the plan, Jenna?”
“Revenge,” I said, feeling anger bubble up. “But it needs to be clever.”
Tara shook her head, fuming on my behalf. “Men can be such pigs. We have to catch him in the act.”
Lucas, always composed, nodded. “You need to protect yourself too, Jenna. Know your rights. This could get messy.”
We spent hours plotting. By the end of the night, I had a solid plan. Lucas briefed me on what to say if things got legally complicated. I was thankful he had my back.
Friday arrived faster than I anticipated. Matt left, claiming he had another work meeting. “Good luck,” I said with a forced smile, feeling a knot in my stomach.
As soon as he was gone, I picked up my phone. Kelly, a friend who worked at the restaurant, had secured a table right next to Matt’s. She confirmed the reservation via text.
“Showtime,” I murmured, dressing up and heading out.
Adrenaline coursed through me as I arrived at the restaurant with Lucas, Nicole, and Tara. Each step felt like part of a countdown. We took our seats near the entrance—a prime spot to see Matt walk in. My hands gripped the table tightly as I tried to remain calm.
Lucas leaned in. “Are you sure about this?”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, it’s time.”
Minutes dragged by, then finally, Matt entered holding Lola’s hand. He froze, his face paling when our eyes met. Lola, oblivious, smiled politely at me. I returned it with a glare that could kill.
“Matt, darling,” I said, standing and raising my glass, “a toast to you.”
The restaurant fell silent, utensils pausing mid-air. Matt looked ready to flee. Lola’s smile faded, confusion setting in.
“To my wonderful husband,” I continued, voice steady, “who thought he could cheat without being caught.”
Gasps and whispers erupted around us. Lola turned beet red as the reality hit her. Matt tried to speak but words failed him.
“Jenna, I…”
“Save it,” I cut him off, stepping closer. “Lola, meet my husband.”
Lola’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Married,” I said, pointing to Matt. “To me.”
I walked over to their table, pulling the burner phone from my bag. Setting it in front of Matt, I smirked. “Next time, find a better hiding spot.”
Matt’s mouth opened and closed helplessly. Lucas stepped forward, his presence commanding. “Matt, just so you know, Jenna knows her legal rights.”
Matt glanced between Lucas and me, panic clear in his eyes. “Jenna, please, let’s discuss this.”
I shook my head. “We’re beyond talking, Matt.”
The satisfaction of seeing his discomfort was intense, but I wasn’t finished. Turning to Lola, I said, “I’m sorry you found out this way. But you deserve to know the truth.”
Lola looked like she might break into tears. Abruptly standing, she hissed at Matt, “I can’t believe you,” before storming out.
Empowerment surged through me as I returned to my table. “Let’s go,” I told my friends and Lucas. We walked out, leaving Matt to handle the fallout.
Outside, the cool night air felt refreshing. Nicole hugged me tightly. “You were incredible.”
Tara grinned, “That was epic, Jenna. I’m so proud of you.”
Lucas placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You did the right thing.”
We headed to a nearby bar to celebrate this small victory. It was just the beginning, but it felt like a significant step forward. My heart still ached, but it was a manageable pain now. I had reclaimed control over my life.
As we sat down, Nicole raised her glass. “To new beginnings.”
“To freedom,” Tara added.
“To strength,” Lucas chimed in.
I smiled, clinking my glass with theirs. “To the future.”
The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but I felt ready to face it. With my friends and family by my side, I could handle whatever came next. For now, I’d savor this moment of triumph. While Matt had broken my trust, he hadn’t broken me.
