You never think it will happen to you. I thought my husband and I had built a life that no one could touch. But then a beautiful young woman walked into my massage studio and started talking about her life. What she said left me speechless, but my response left her paralysed.
I never imagined that a routine appointment at my massage studio would unravel my entire marriage. The woman on my table that day had no idea who I was, and by the time she realized the truth, it was too late.
If you asked someone to describe me, I’m probably the typical working mom. My life pretty much revolves around my two sons, Ethan and Leo.
At 10 and 8 years old, they are at that stage where they want to be independent but still need their mom for everything. And honestly, I love being there for them. The morning rush to get them ready for school, the endless soccer practices and those quiet moments at bedtime when they tell me how their day went motivate me to keep going.
But my life is not just about my children.
Five years ago I opened my own massage studio, and it quickly became my second home. There is something incredibly satisfying about helping people relax.
It is my passion, and I have put my heart and soul into that place.
Then there is Henry, my husband of 12 years.
I met him when I was a young, vibrant woman, full of dreams and energy. Back then, I would dress up for him, putting on make-up and doing my hair to perfection. And he loved it.
We were inseparable. Henry always found a way to make me laugh and I still believed we would live happily ever after. But life doesn’t stay the same.
Over the years, I’ve become more practical.
I no longer spend hours doing my hair or putting on makeup. I wear comfortable clothes and I don’t spend money on luxury items because my priorities have changed and now I prefer to invest my time and money in my children.
Henry never complained about it, but sometimes I wondered if he realized.
It’s not that our marriage was bad. Henry continued to do his part. He was an involved father, always at the kids’ games and school events. He took care of things around the house and never missed a birthday or anniversary.
I thought we were solid.
But over the past year, something seemed… strange. Henry started working late more often. At first, I didn’t question it. He’s a lawyer, and I assumed he was working longer hours so we could have a comfortable life.
Even so, there were moments that gnawed at me.
He’d come home late and go straight to the shower without saying much of anything. Sometimes he’d sit down to eat dinner with us, but his mind seemed to be elsewhere.
I put it down to stress. After all, I was busy too. Running a business and raising children was not easy.
But deep down, part of me knew that something had changed. We were not the same couple as before.
I assumed it was part of being married for more than a decade. You know, life gets busy, romance takes a back seat and you fall into a routine.
What I didn’t know was that my husband’s routine included someone else.
It was just another Tuesday morning when Emily walked into my massage studio. She looked like the kind of woman who attracts attention without even trying.
Everything about her screamed luxury. The way her straight hair cascaded over her shoulders, the designer handbag she casually set on the chair and her expensive perfume that filled the room.
“Hi, I’m Emily. I have an appointment at ten in the morning,” she said with a friendly smile.
I smiled back, although there was something about her that struck me as strange. Maybe it was her self-confidence or the way she seemed so at ease, as if she owned the place.
I didn’t know what it was, so I ignored it.
“Welcome, Emily. Please make yourself comfortable,” I said, pointing to the massage room. ”You can hang your things there and lie down on the table. I’ll be with you in a moment.”
Once settled, I began my usual routine. The room was quiet and serene, with soft music in the background. As I massaged her back, she let out a deep sigh.
“At last,“ she said, her voice muffled by the headrest of the table. ‘I’m going to relax.”
I chuckled. ’Too much stress?”
“Too much,” she moaned. “I needed this.”
I kept my tone light and conversational. ‘Work stress?”
“Relationship stress,’ she corrected. ”My boyfriend is… complicated.”
I remained silent, letting her talk if she wanted to. Some clients like to open up during the sessions, and I have learned that listening can be as therapeutic as the massage itself.
Emily sighed again. “He’s going through a divorce, and it’s been a mess. I don’t know why he hasn’t finished it yet. His wife is a pain in the ass.”
I felt a pang of sympathy. Divorce is never easy, especially when children are involved. Even so, something about the way she said “heavy” didn’t sit right with me.
“I guess it’s always difficult,” I said carefully. ”Especially with children involved.”
“Oh, they’re not my problem,” she said dismissively.
My hands froze for a split second before I forced myself to continue. I was horrified. How could anyone be so heartless?
But I reminded myself not to judge. I didn’t know the whole story.
“I don’t know how his wife does it,” Emily continued. ”She just works, takes care of the kids, cooks, cleans… No wonder he leaves her. She’s boring. No makeup, no effort. Just a mother. And of course, he’ll keep the house. It’s his. The kids can stay with her. I don’t want to raise someone else’s brats.”
Her words stung me, although I didn’t know why. It was as if she were describing me. I shook the thought away.
Pure coincidence, I told myself.
Suddenly, Emily’s phone rang on the bedside table. I looked at it and my heart almost stopped.
The screen lit up with a photo of her and… Henry.
My husband. My Henry. Smiling with her. Embracing her.
My heart was beating faster as I processed what I was seeing. My mind raced, repeating everything Emily had just said.
“I’ll answer it later,“ Emily said indifferently, trying to silence the phone.
“No, sweetheart,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “Please answer it.”
She blinked, surprised by my tone. “What?”
I took a step back and folded my arms. ‘Whoever is calling you – your boyfriend who dreams of getting divorced – is my husband. Go ahead.”
For a moment there was silence. Then she shouted, ’What the hell have you done? I CAN’T MOVE.”
I saw how Emily struggled to lift her head, how her arms trembled as she tried to get up off the stretcher. But her body refused to cooperate.
For a moment, I felt panic. Had I really paralyzed her? But then I realized what had happened.
I must have pressed on a nerve in her neck. It was something I had seen before in my practice. Temporary paralysis, which usually disappeared in a few minutes.
Even so, I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.
“Don’t worry, darling,” I said, keeping my voice steady. ‘It will pass soon. In the meantime, let’s chat.”
She narrowed her eyes. ’You did it on purpose.”
I shrugged. ”Prove it.”
Emily tried to move her fingers, but they barely moved. She snorted in frustration and looked at me like a trapped animal.
“You’re crazy!“ she hissed.
“Maybe. Or maybe I’m just a woman tired of being lied to.” I pulled up a chair and sat down calmly. “Now, about that house… Do you think it’s Henry’s?”
Her lips tightened into a tense line.
“Well, it’s not,” I continued. ‘It’s in my name. And the children? They stay with me. And you know what? The courts tend to favor the spouse who isn’t being unfaithful.”
“You’re lying to me,’ she snapped. ‘Henry said…”
“Henry said a lot of things, didn’t he?’ I leaned forward. “Did he mention that I supported him through job changes, sleepless nights with our children and years of marriage? Or did he just paint me as a boring wife?”
Emily’s nostrils flared. “He loves me.”
“Loves you?” I laughed. “Or does he love the idea he has of you? The fun, carefree affair that doesn’t remind him of his responsibilities?”
Her phone rang again. This time I picked it up and held it out for her to see.
“Do you want me to answer it? Shall I say you’re… indisposed?”
Emily’s expression changed from anger to fear. “Don’t you dare.”
“Oh, yes, I dare.” I smiled with satisfaction. “But first, let me take a little souvenir.”
I opened her phone and found a string of messages between her and Henry.
Sweet nothings. Promises of a future together. And a few photos that made my stomach turn.
I took photos with my phone, making sure I had enough evidence to make my point. Then I locked the phone and put it back on the floor.
“Why are you doing this?“ she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Because you need to know what to expect.” I got up and leaned over her. “When you can move again, don’t hesitate to warn Henry that I’ll be calling my lawyer today.”
“You won’t win,” she muttered. “Henry won’t let you take everything.”
I raised an eyebrow. “He won’t have a choice. Now I have proof. And when the courts see what he’s been up to, he’ll be lucky to get away with it.”
Emily was finally able to lift her head. Her arms were still weak, but she was starting to regain movement.
“Don’t worry,” I said with a smile. “You’ll be fine in a few minutes. But your relationship with Henry? That’s over.”
She glared at me as she lifted her legs off the table, struggling to stand up.
“Do you think you’ve won?” she raised an eyebrow. ‘He’ll never leave me.”
“If you say so,’ I laughed.
She picked up her bag and stormed out. I took a deep breath, letting the tension leave my body.
But it wasn’t over yet.
That night I waited for Henry to come home. He walked through the door as if nothing had happened, kissed me on the cheek and sat down at the table.
“Henry,” I said, leaving the phone on the table between us. ”We need to talk.”
His gaze shifted to the phone and I saw the color drain from his face.
“I know everything,” I said softly. ‘The messages. The calls. Your little plan to divorce me.”
He opened his mouth, but I raised a hand to stop him.
“No excuses, Henry,’ I said. ”You want a divorce? You’ll get one. But you’ll leave with nothing. The house is mine. The children stay with me. And if you try to fight me, I have more than enough evidence to bury you in court.”
Her face paled and she slumped in her chair. “Sophia…”
I leaned towards her, my voice firm. ”You should have thought about this before you lied to me. And now? You’re alone.”
The next day, I filed for divorce.
Soon, Henry moved out, and Emily realized that she couldn’t give him the life he wanted.
To be honest, leaving my husband wasn’t easy. But after thinking about what he had been doing behind my back, I knew I had no choice.
I left Henry and promised not to look back. Not even on the days when I felt lonely.