We sat down to eat, and that’s when it started. Tom was annoyed that I had used the last of the blueberries, which seemed trivial but quickly escalated into a full-blown argument. By the time Tom left for work, we were both frustrated and distant.
Determined not to let the argument ruin my day, I called my best friend May and suggested we hit the pool. May agreed enthusiastically, and soon I found myself enjoying the sun and the water, trying to push the morning’s events out of my mind.
A middle-aged man with his girlfriend | Source: Midjourney
At the pool, we found a spot and ordered some pizza. We were chatting and laughing about old times when I saw Tom. He was lounging on a sunbed with a young blonde woman, their hands entwined. I felt a surge of anger and betrayal.
“May, look over there,” I said, my voice trembling. “Is that Tom with another woman?”
“Oh my God, Lisa. Is that…?” May’s voice trailed off.
“Yep. That’s Tom,” I said, my heart racing. “I need to do something.”
May tried to caution me, but I was already standing up, driven by a mix of rage and the desire for confrontation. As I approached them, a young, stocky guy about 22 years old intervened. He grabbed Tom by the collar and pinned him to the sunbed. The blonde woman jumped back in shock.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” the guy yelled.
Tom looked terrified. “I-I can explain!” he stammered.
“Explain what? That you’re messing around with my girlfriend?” the guy spat.
Tom’s fear was palpable. “Please, let’s not make a scene. I’ll pay you. How much do you want?” he pleaded.
The young man’s face shifted from anger to pity. “You think you can buy your way out of this?” He shoved Tom away. “You’re not worth it.”
Tom slumped back, looking pitiful. I stopped filming and walked over, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and sadness.
“Lisa, it’s not what it looks like,” Tom began, his voice shaking.
“Oh, really? So you weren’t just cozying up with another woman?” I snapped, holding up my phone. “I’ve got it all on video.”
Tom’s face fell as he realized the gravity of the situation. “Lisa, please. Let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. We’re done. I’m divorcing you,” I said firmly. The drive home was silent, with Tom glancing at me anxiously but me refusing to acknowledge him. The weight of the betrayal and public humiliation felt surreal.
Back at home, Tom pleaded with me, his eyes red and desperate. “Lisa, I’m sorry. I promise it will never happen again.”
I crossed my arms, resolute. “I don’t care. You betrayed me. You’ve destroyed any trust we had.”
Tom’s desperation quickly turned to anger. “Really? This is all your fault!” he shouted. “You became so serious and distant. You pushed me to this!”
I was incredulous. “You’re blaming me for your infidelity? Unbelievable.”
“Yes! You’re not the same person I married. You drove me away!” Tom’s accusations were a final straw. I pulled out my phone, opened the video, and sent it to his boss. “Let’s see how your boss feels about his daughter being in this video,” I said, hitting send.
Tom’s eyes widened in horror. “Lisa, no! You can’t do that!”
The fallout was swift. Tom was fired by the next day. His boss was furious about the scandal involving his daughter. Tom came home defeated, and despite his pleas, I was resolute. I filed for divorce, eager to move on and rebuild my life. For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of liberation and hope.