‘Since you like to talk about my cleaning skills, I thought you could use this to clean up the mess you made of our marriage.’
A collective sigh rippled through the crowd.
The woman in red backed away from Brian, clearly feeling uncomfortable.
But I wasn’t done yet.
‘You know,’ I turned to the guests, ’Brian likes to play the devoted husband of the house. But as you can see, he’s much more interested in playing house with someone who will stroke his ego.’
‘Emily, please,’ Brian muttered in desperation. ‘Can we talk outside?’
‘Oh, now you want some privacy?’ I replied. ‘Where was that concern when you were mocking me behind my back?’
I turned to the crowd.
‘Enjoy the party. And remember, once a cheater, always a cheater.’
With those words, I threw the bucket at his feet and walked out, heels clicking on the marble floor.
When I reached the car, my phone rang again.
The same unknown number.
The message read:
‘You deserve to know the truth. I’m sorry for the way things turned out.’
My hands trembled as I dialled the number.
A woman answered.
‘Hello?’
‘Who are you?’ I asked.
‘My name is Valerie,’ she said after a pause. ‘I used to work with Brian.’
‘Why are you doing this?’
‘Because someone had to do it,’ she sighed. ‘I watched him lie and cheat for months. It made me disgusted. You didn’t deserve that.’
I swallowed hard.
‘I had a friend call you so you could hear for yourself. You needed to know.’
I closed my eyes for a second.
I didn’t feel angry. I felt gratitude.
The next morning, Brian found his bags waiting by the door.
When he tried to enter, the locks had already been changed.
I don’t know, nor do I care, where he spent the night.
The only message on his phone was from me:
‘Enjoy.’
And for the first time in years, I smiled.
Not for revenge.
But because I finally had my life back in my hands.