Emily is taken aback when her husband reacts hysterically to a harmless text about fixing a decorative bathtub panel. What might he be keeping hidden in there? All Emily needs to do is find out.
Ever heard the stories about people discovering strange objects in their homes? I recently experienced something similar, and what I learned there permanently altered my course in life.
One of the ornate wooden panels on our bathtub fell off a few weeks ago. Not that big of a deal? I took a picture and emailed it to my husband, David, who was away on a business trip.
“Hey babe, can I fix this?” I sent the picture in a text.
I was hoping for a standard answer along the lines of, “Okay, go ahead,” or perhaps some thorough directions on what to do. But what I received back almost made me put down my phone.
“NOOOO! You dare not open it or take a peek inside. NEVER.”
I was shocked when I gazed at his letter. I know no guy as laid back as David. In our 10 years of marriage, he has never responded to anything with such intensity.
it piqued my interest even more. What could possibly be threatening to a guy who was mending a panel when there was none to speak of?
I knelt down next to the tub and gazed into the shadowy area concealed by the remaining panels. the’s when I discovered something tucked behind the envelope.
I reached inside, took out the letter, and opened it with trembling fingers. Inside, I discovered an ultrasound picture of a small baby—just a tiny bean encircled by darkness. The words, ‘Daddy, I’m coming soon,’ were inked over the top.
My view was clouded by tears. sterile. I had been plagued by that term for years. I believed David and I had reconciled with it.
How could he subject me to this?
I was a mess for days on end. I ate and slept very little. I couldn’t stop wondering who David had gotten pregnant for. How much time had this been ongoing? Was it a person I knew?
Even though it was making me insane, I wasn’t ready to approach David about it. I required clarification. Genuine responses, not any fabrication he might concoct to hide his tracks. I thus engaged a private investigator.
On our first meeting, I told Sam, “I need to know who she is.” “Can you help me?”
Sam took notes while nodding. “You’ll have the truth soon enough.”
Days stretched into a week, and every hour that went by made me feel more anxious. At last, I got a call from Sam.
“Emily, we should speak. I possess some knowledge.
We gathered at a little, unremarkable coffeehouse. Sam looked serious as he slid into the booth across from me.
He said, “It’s his colleague, Lisa,” without introducing herself. “They have been in a relationship for more than a year. She is due in six months.”
The words felt like a kick to the stomach.
Lisa. Knowing that it was someone he saw every day and who had visited our house for supper made the betrayal even more painful!
As I walked out of the cafe, I started to plot my retaliation. I needed closure, and confronting David now would not provide it. I wanted to watch his ideal world fall apart and feel the weight of his treachery.
Over the next few days, I painstakingly gathered proof and organized a lavish celebration. David’s birthday was approaching, and I had a rather big surprise in store for him!
On the night of the celebration, David was really happy. He laughed a lot, chatted with the guests, and occasionally came over to put an arm around me.
“Emma, you’ve surpassed yourself,” he exclaimed, grinning. “This is incredible.”
With a knot in my stomach, I forced a grin. “Wait until you see the cake, darling.”
After giving me a cheek kiss, he went to talk to one of his sisters. I shifted my focus to Lisa. I had spent much of the evening observing her and David, and there was absolutely no indication that they were having an extramarital affair.
At last, the cake was ready. The phrases ‘Daddy, I’m coming soon’ and the ultrasound image had been flawlessly replicated by the baker.
All of them gasped, supposing it to be an unexpected pregnancy news. David looked at Lisa and his eyes grew wide with amazement, and for a split second, I saw utter dread in his eyes.
“Sorry to disappoint you all, but I’m not pregnant,” I said. “I discovered this ultrasonography concealed in our restroom. Although Lisa, his mistress, is the mother, David will soon become a father.”
The joyous mood subsided as the room became quiet. Lisa had the appearance of wanting to vanish, and David’s face had lost all color.
David began, frightened, “Emily, please, let me explain.” I silenced him by raising a hand.
David, there’s nothing to say. Now everyone is aware. The harm has been done.”
Our loved ones watched in shock as they tried to comprehend the betrayal. While some people turned away in discomfort, others gave David a disgusted look or gave me a sympathetic gesture.
Jessica, my closest friend, walked up and gave me a bear embrace.
“I’m really sorry, Em,” she said. “You deserve so much better.”
Mark, one of David’s coworkers, stood close by with a number of other acquaintances and business associates, their mouths open.
“Dude, what the heck?” When Mark did say it, it was finally. “You’ve really messed up.”
“You can say that again,” a harsh-voiced person behind Mark stated.
Mark moved back to expose Mr. Flanagan, David’s supervisor, standing directly behind him.
“David, I hired you because I believed you were a man of principles, someone with integrity,” remarked Mr. Flanagan. “Now, I’m not so sure.”
Mr. Flanagan gave Lisa a quick glance before giving David a fierce look. “I want to see you both in my office on Monday to discuss your future with the company.”
I saw David’s embarrassment and shame flood over him. His eyes were beseeching me, but I was at a loss for words of consolation.
“I believe it would be best if everyone left right away,” I stated in an unexpectedly composed tone. “The party’s over.”
Taking the cue, the guests began gathering their belongings. As they walked away, some gave me encouraging words, while others simply shot David a chilly, dejected glance. With a pallid face, Lisa discreetly slid out.
David attempted to nudge me away, but Jessica stuck behind to assist me in cleaning up.
“Emily, I—”
David, please don’t. Just don’t. Even to my own ears, my voice sounded chilly. “There’s nothing you can say to fix this.”
“But it’s over between me and Lisa,” he replied. “For several months now. We made the decision—”
“I don’t want to hear it!” I shouted. “You betrayed me, and what you’ve broken can’t be fixed.”
I prepared my bags for the following morning. I was not going to stay to hear any more justifications or fabrications. Jessica had offered me a place to stay, so I gave her a call.
“Are you sure about this, Em?” she questioned, her voice tinged with worry.
I answered, “I’ve never been more certain of anything.” “I can’t stay here.”
Red in the eyes, David observed me. “Please, Emily, let’s figure this out. Stay put.
I closed the last suitcase and gave him a direct look. David, it’s too late. I’ve already spoken with an attorney. The divorce paperwork are being prepared, and our accounts have been frozen. This marks the conclusion.”
Deflated, he collapsed upon the bed. I had a brief moment of sadness, but it was eclipsed by the hurt and betrayal.
Jessica’s move in was a blessing. She supported me the entire time. David kept trying to reach me via phone and text, but I didn’t answer any of his messages. I required time to recover and rediscover who I was following the detour.
Family and friends came together to support me. They gave me confidence boosts and made me realize that this was only a difficult chapter in my narrative rather than the conclusion. When I needed it, Jessica was always there to provide consoling words or a glass of wine.
One night, she said to Emily, “You’re stronger than you think.” “You’ll get through this, and you’ll come out the other side even stronger.”
While it wasn’t simple, rebuilding my life was essential. I immersed myself in my work, my interests, and long-forgotten passions. I began attending therapy, which was really beneficial.
I even traveled to the mountains by myself, something I had always wanted to do but lacked the bravery to accomplish. I felt a sense of calm that I hadn’t experienced in months as I stood on the summit and gazed out over the enormous horizon.
To everyone else experiencing betrayal, keep your strength up. You are worthy of better. It’s odd how things work out in life—sometimes the greatest new beginnings come from the worst situations.
As part of my healing process, I’m sharing my story here in the hopes that it can comfort those in need.