He ran his hands through his hair, messing up his perfect gel job. “That’s not what I meant.”
“You lied, Bryan.
And worse, you enjoyed how it felt.”
He opened his mouth to deny it, then closed it. We both knew it was true.
Here’s where the story gets really good.
That Friday, Victoria came back. She dropped by unannounced to deliver some documents Bryan had forgotten at the office.
And this time, I was ready for her.
My stage was set.
When the doorbell rang, I opened it wearing a soft silk blouse, perfectly fitted dark jeans, and my hair styled in loose waves. I’d done my makeup carefully to look very professional and confident.
Victoria blinked in surprise. “Oh!
I thought you were—”
“Bryan’s wife,” I said brightly, extending my hand. “We met earlier this week. I’m Anna.
I was playing along last time because I didn’t want to embarrass my husband, but I figured I should clear that up.”
Her face went from confusion to horrified realization to bright red embarrassment in about three seconds flat. It was better than any revenge I could have scripted.
Behind me, Bryan appeared in the doorway like a deer caught in headlights. He stood there in complete silence, probably praying the ground would swallow him whole.
Victoria stammered something about a misunderstanding, shoved the papers at Bryan, and practically sprinted back to her pink Mercedes.
The best part?
I could see her on her phone before she even backed out of our driveway. I didn’t need to hear the conversation to know Bryan’s reputation was already unraveling.
A week later, Bryan came home with an armful of apology flowers and a gift card for a full spa day. He’d even arranged for his mother to babysit Emma.
“I booked you that massage place you like,” he said quietly.
“The whole package. Facial, massage, the works.”
I accepted his apology, but I also made something crystal clear. I told him this was a line he had crossed.
A boundary he had shattered. And while I was willing to work on forgiving him, I would never forget it.
I might be a stay-at-home mom who spends her days in yoga pants and messy buns, dealing with grocery runs and juice box disasters. But I’m also a woman who deserves respect from the man who promised to love and honor me.
That truth is carved into me now.
Let’s just say Bryan’s on very thin ice these days, and he knows it.
Now every time Victoria’s name comes up at his office, he turns red and changes the subject. And me? I’m still deciding if I’m proud of what I did.
But I’m definitely not sorry.
Not even a little.
Because every time I look in the mirror now, I don’t just see Bryan’s wife or Emma’s mom. I see a woman who stood up for herself when it mattered. I see someone who refused to shrink just because it was convenient for a man’s ego.
The truth is, I don’t even know how long my marriage will survive now.
Maybe a few months. Maybe a few years. But what I do know is that Bryan finally understands that love without respect is worthless.
And he’ll think twice before ever trying to erase me again.
