When Ethan claimed that family holidays were unaffordable, I believed him – until a $3,000 luxury spa bill showed up on our bill. Determined to get to the bottom of it, I followed the trail. What I discovered shattered my trust and changed everything.
I’ve always believed that trust is like a well-tended garden. You pour your love into it, pull the weeds and water it regularly to make it grow strong and lush. And for 12 years, I did that for my marriage to Ethan. I believed in him. I believed in us.
We had a good life, or so it seemed to me. Two kids, a house with a squeaky porch swing, and a weekly tradition of homemade pizza on Friday nights. Ethan was the kind of guy who deserved respect wherever he went. A hard worker and a devoted father.
And then there was Rachel, his so-called ‘work wife.’ We met many times and I liked her. She was friendly, funny and always spoke warmly of her husband. We weren’t friends, but I was glad Ethan had a co-worker like her.
I often joked about her at dinner, saying how nice it was to have someone to keep him sane during the late night shifts.
He would smile and wave me off, speaking vaguely about her love of spreadsheets.
Over the years, I’ve admired their partnership. She was the ‘yin’ to his professional ‘yang,’ so I convinced myself. But lately, cracks began to appear.
It wasn’t just the long hours or the constant texting. It was about the way he smiled at his phone-a smile I hadn’t seen on me in months. Something wasn’t adding up.
Then he told me we couldn’t afford the Christmas holidays I’d been looking forward to all year.
‘Are you sure?’ I asked as we loaded the dishwasher together. ‘I thought it was already decided.’
Ethan averted his gaze and shrugged. ‘It was…but we had some unforeseen expenses in October and November, and now we can’t afford to go on holiday after Christmas. I’m so sorry, darling.’
I sighed. ‘It’s okay…there’s always next year.’
I was disappointed, but I believed Ethan. We’d really been having a hard time financially over the past few months, and I had no reason to think he was lying to me.
Then I discovered a receipt that changed everything.
Last week, while sorting through receipts for budgeting, I noticed a bill for $3,000 for Tranquility Luxe Spa.
My first thought was that it must be a mistake. Some glitch on our credit card statement. But the date – this coming Saturday – gave me a chill. Something didn’t add up.
I stared at it, wondering why Ethan had paid so much for a spa day when we couldn’t afford a holiday. It couldn’t have been a surprise to me (in which case he could have just scheduled a holiday), so it had to be work related.
When I sat down next to Ethan that evening to ask him about it, a feeling of dread settled in my stomach. I watched him smile at his phone as if I didn’t exist and just knew.
‘So, what are your plans for Saturday?’ I asked, nudging him playfully.
‘Saturday? I actually have to work…there are some last minute details that need to be sorted out for that big project I told you about. Why?’
‘No reason,’ I said, keeping my voice calm. ‘I thought we could go to the park together with the kids.’
‘Maybe next weekend,’ he replied absent-mindedly, typing a message on his phone.
Horror turned to rage. My husband, the man who had once proposed to me by going on a scavenger hunt, had turned out to be a liar. And I was going to prove it.
Saturday morning, I waved goodbye to Ethan as if everything was fine. As soon as he was out of sight, I texted the babysitter to come over. I had already arranged for her to take the kids to the park.
I gave her the bag of snacks and games I had prepared for the kids. Then I set out to catch Ethan red-handed. My heart was racing as I pulled into the car park of the spa. I told myself I’d stop by, confirm my suspicions, and leave.
Inside, it smelled of eucalyptus and privilege. I walked slowly, looking around the lobby, and then I saw them.
Ethan and Rachel were lying next to each other in plush white dressing gowns, as if they were on their honeymoon. I didn’t understand… They’d always just been work buddies. I felt like I was missing something, but then she laughed at his words and leaned into me.
Ethan put his hand around her face and kissed her.
My legs felt like jelly. I clung to the door frame, trying desperately not to fall. A lump rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Not here. Not now. I’d confirmed my suspicions, and now…now I knew I couldn’t get out of there without doing something about it.
The spa receptionist, a bubbly blonde fresh out of college, smiled at me. ‘Can I help you?’
I smiled back, my lips trembling. ‘Yes, actually. I’m planning a surprise for one couple, Ethan and Rachel? Can I add a free massage to their order?’
‘Oh, how nice!’ – she purred, typing quickly. ‘We’ll let them know right away.’
‘No,’ I said, my voice firm. ‘I’d really like it to remain a surprise.’
‘One surprise is a massage!’ she said, winking at me.
If Ethan and Rachel wanted to play dirty, fine. I could play even dirtier.
I lingered in the lobby until I saw Ethan and Rachel being led away for their massages. I discreetly followed them and noted which room they entered.
Now it was time to put my plan into action.
I waited for them to delve deeper into the treatment before taking the next step. I grabbed a large bucket of ice water from the staff room and headed for the massage room.
As soon as the masseuse left the room, I walked in. They were lying face down on the heated tables, their blissful sighs filling the air. The sight of their serenity and serenity made my blood boil.
I quietly stepped inside, catching my breath. Then I splashed a bucket of ice water on them.
Rachel shrieked, rising abruptly to her feet and scattering the towels. Ethan jumped to his feet, his face pale with shock.
‘What the hell?’ – he whispered.
I put the bucket down and stood to my full height. ‘Surprised? Don’t be.’
‘What are you doing here?’ Ethan stuttered, his eyes darting between me and the soaked sheets.
I stepped closer, my voice turning icy. ‘Я? What are you doing here? Because as far as I know, we couldn’t afford a holiday with our kids. But apparently three grand for a spa day for your work wife isn’t a problem.’
Rachel wrapped herself in her dressing gown, her face flushed and blotchy. ‘It’s not what it looks like…’
‘Oh, shut up,’ I snapped, interrupting her. ‘Save your excuses for your husband. He’ll be getting a call from me soon.’
Ethan tried to speak, but I held up my hand. ‘Don’t. You lied to me, Ethan. You humiliated me. Worst of all, you chose this – her – over your family.’
I took a deep breath, my hands shaking.
‘You’re going to have to decide where to live because there’s no more room for you in our house. I hope you two enjoy it, whatever it is, because you just gave up everything for it.’
At that moment the staff came running into the room, no doubt alarmed by Rachel’s screams. I walked past them and left.
Back at home, I wasted no time. Ethan’s clothes went into rubbish bags.
The lawyer I’d been afraid to call was suddenly my best friend. And Rachel’s husband? Oh, he picked up the phone from the first ring.
The aftermath was spectacular. Ethan lost his family, and when word of it spread at work, their reputations took on a new hue. Rachel had asked to be transferred to another office, from what I’d heard.
Apparently even wives have a limit when the office whispers get wild.
The kids and I went on holiday after all. I booked us a whole week in a beach house where we collected shells and laughed until our sides ached. At night, as the waves beat against the shore, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Freedom.
Trust is like a garden, I realised. Sometimes you have to burn it down to grow something new. And for the first time in twelve years, I was ready to plant seeds for myself.
