She caught her husband with another woman on their fifth anniversary, packed her things and left the penthouse: but on an empty road an unfamiliar red car stopped next to her, and what happened next left the wife frozen in complete shock π€―π¨π³
For five years Lena had believed that she and Daniel had a strong marriage. They had survived moves, long business trips and months when they saw each other only on weekends. Daniel always said that they would manage if they held on to each other. So on their anniversary Lena decided to surprise him: she cooked dinner herself, bought his favorite wine and went to the penthouse while he was at work.
She imagined how he would smile when he saw the candles and the set table. But when she walked into the apartment, Lena heard voices from the living room. One belonged to Daniel, the other to an unfamiliar woman.
β We’ll be alone today, β the woman said.
β We’re completely alone, and we have plenty of time, β Daniel answered. β As usual, my little wife has plenty of her own things to do.
Lena froze at the door. The bag with dinner weighed down her hand, and the wine knocked quietly against the side of her purse. She took a step forward and saw Daniel kissing Sofia β a woman she had met several times at his work evenings.
He was the first to notice Lena and stepped back. Sofia looked away, but didn’t say a word.
β Lena, wait, β Daniel said. β It’s not what you think.
β Then explain what I’m supposed to think. You scoundrel! Do you even know what day it is today?
β Lena, I’m sorry. I didn’t want toβ¦ Please, forgive me.
Lena put the bag on the table. Something clinked dully inside.
β So you knew it would hurt me, and you decided to do it anyway.
β Things have been complicated between us for a long time. You knew that yourself, β Daniel said. β But right now we just need to talk calmly.
β You’ve already decided everything for us, β Lena said. β And now you want me to calmly listen to you?
She didn’t wait for his answer. Lena quickly packed her bag and left the penthouse. Daniel called her several times, but she didn’t answer. On the empty street her numb fingers gripped the handle of the bag, and in her head his excuses played over and over again.
Suddenly an unfamiliar red car stopped beside her. Lena stepped back toward the sidewalk. The door opened, and a person got out of the car. In the light of a street lamp she recognized his face β and froze in place.
β Youβ¦ β Lena breathed out.
The man looked at her bag, then at her. He said only a few words, and then did something that shocked Lena even more and changed everything. π³
Continue reading in the commentsβ¦ πππ
Lena couldn’t say his name right away. It was Mark β Daniel’s childhood friend. Almost two years earlier he had suddenly stopped communicating with him and disappeared from their lives without explaining why.
Mark carefully took the bag from Lena.
β I’ve been waiting for this day for two years. We need to talk, β he said.
β Why did you disappear? β Lena asked. β And how do you know what happened?
β I accidentally saw Daniel’s message to Sofia. He wrote that he had been seeing her for several months and that you suspected nothing. I demanded that he confess. He answered that it was none of my business. And when I realized that I had loved you for a long time myself, I decided to leave, so as not to betray my friend and not to interfere in your life.
Lena silently looked at him.
β I couldn’t forgive him for how he treated you, β Mark continued. β But I also didn’t want to come to you until you found out the truth yourself. Today I saw you come out with a suitcase, and I understood: I can’t wait any longer.
At that moment Daniel pulled up sharply to the curb. He jumped out of the car and, seeing Mark next to Lena, turned pale.
β Have you been following me? β he shouted.
β No. I just no longer intend to stay silent while you ruin her life, β Mark answered.
Lena raised her hand, stopping them.
β Enough of deciding for me. Daniel, it’s over between us. Mark, I’m grateful that you came, but I need time.
She took her bag and walked to Mark’s car herself. That night Lena didn’t choose a new husband. She chose herself β and for the first time in a long while she was the one deciding where to go.
