Cheating Wife Tried To Cover Her Affair With Open Marriage. Brutal Revenge

Cheating Wife Tried To Cover Her Affair With Open Marriage. Brutal Revenge

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
I'm telling you, Louise. My best friend Janet said, he's
a typical man. He'll hear your proposal and think about
what he's going to get. I don't like the idea
of him being with others, I replied Janet. I didn't
say he would sleep with anyone. Louise, he's forty and
past his prime. Do you really think he'll be entertaining

(00:27):
twenty year olds every weekend. He'll stay home with the
kids and you can live your best life. Do you
think that won't backfire? I asked, looking at my friends
and co workers. Louise, James is desperate to get you
into bed. Annie replied, by asking for it. You'll just
have fun with him without feeling guilty. Marie added, your

(00:49):
husband will be busy with working kids. Just keep him
entertained occasionally, and he won't suspect a thing. The more
we talked, the better it sounded. I'd been happily married
to Mark for eighteen years, with two kids, a house,
and annual vacations. We worked hard and were generally happy,
but as I approached forty, I felt something was missing.

(01:11):
I wanted a thrill. My husband still loved me and
was a romantic, but I felt bored. That's when Janet
suggested new possibilities. My friends at work also talked about
modern relationships. I wasn't sure if my husband would agree,
but my friends kept convincing me. That night, I decided
to talk to him. I'll talk to him tomorrow night.

(01:31):
After dinner, I told them it'll be fine. Janet assured
me he'll be grateful, and if you need help, one
of us can keep him entertained. I didn't like the
idea of my friends with my husband, but if it
meant I could have my own lovers, i'd accept it.
The idea of boyfriend sounded appealing. I'd only had three
boyfriends before Mark, and none lasted long. I never had

(01:53):
a one night stand, but young men at work reminded
me I was still desirable. This boosted my confidence. Coming home,
my husband suspected nothing. When he hugged me. He had
no idea what was coming. I worried about the outcome
and shed a few nervous tears. The next day was Sunday,
and we always did something fun as a family. However,

(02:14):
our teenagers preferred their friend's company. Dinner was disappointing, as
the kids were on their phones. Don't worry, honey, the
only thing distracting me is you, my husband said. I
felt guilty, knowing what I was going to ask him
later dinner, when as usual, Mark enforced a no phones rule,
which the kids eventually appreciated. After dinner, I told the kids,

(02:36):
I need to talk to your father. It's not for
little ears. Are you having another child? Our daughter asked excitedly. No,
nothing like that, I said, seeing curiosity on my husband's face,
it's important. He didn't know what to expect, but poured
us both a glass of wine and sat across from me,
silent but attentive. Though usually an extrovert, he could be

(02:58):
quiet and thoughtful, living by the motto be silent and
be thought a fool, Speak and remove all doubt. I
gathered my thoughts. Are you happy? I asked? With what
he replied? With everything? Our life? I have a loving wife,
two great kids, a nice home. We live comfortably and

(03:18):
have good careers and friends. We're doing well. I'm glad
you think so, but I'm bored. Mark was silent for
a minute, then said you're bored. Yes, I love you,
but I need more excitement. Am I not enough? It's
not about you, Mark, It's about my needs. I tensed,

(03:39):
sipping my wine. I've been talking to friends and researching
traditional relationships are evolving. Don't give me that new fangled nonsense.
Mark said, just tell me what you want. I want
an open marriage, Mark, I want us to date other people.
His face changed, anger flashing in his eyes. He gripped

(03:59):
his wineglass lightly. Can you repeat that? I want an
open marriage so we can date other people. Think about it.
You could be with younger women. He was silent, clearly upset.
No way, he growled. We made vows to renounce all others.
I take that seriously, have you, Mark? I still take
our vows seriously. But things can change. We can still

(04:21):
love and honor each other. But I need this. Those
words hurt him. His jaw clenched. Rage in his eyes,
but he held back. He stood up and walked to
the back door. Where are you going, I asked to think,
He replied, my wife just told me she wants to
be with other people. I don't want to be around
her right now. His voice broke as he left, calling

(04:44):
me a strumpet. I didn't see him for the rest
of the night. The next morning, his side of the
bed was untouched. I showered and went to work, finding
our kids at breakfast, but no sign of Mark. Where's
your dad, I asked, He left early for work. Our
daughter replied, said he might be back late. Our son added,

(05:04):
for the first time in our marriage, he left without
kissing me goodbye. It felt unpleasant. At work, I texted
him that I loved him, avoiding mentioning last night's discussion.
I tried calling him at lunch, but it went to voicemail,
so I left a sweet message about loving him and
growing old together. That evening, his car wasn't home when

(05:25):
I arrived. I feared he might be at a bar
drowning his sorrows, but he came home a bit later,
no kiss, just a brief greeting before disappearing outside. Our
kids didn't seem to notice. At dinner, he chatted with
them as usual, but barely spoke to me. After dinner,
he asked the kids to go to their rooms, saying
he needed to talk to me. This time. There was

(05:47):
no wine. He sat across from me, clearly upset. I
know you won't let this go, Louise. He said, your
friends are filling your head with nonsense. I researched open
relationships today. I know if I say no, you'll end
up cheating on me. Either way, I'll lose. He raised
his hands in surrender. Okay, you win, but we need rules.

(06:08):
No men in our house. I wouldn't do that, I
assured him. Our bed stays sacred. Lovers should use protection
until tested for STDs. I don't want to date or
see your lovers. If you've been with someone, we'll have
less fun together from now on. I'm not responsible for
your romantic, emotional or physical needs. Do you understand distracted

(06:28):
by thoughts of potential lovers. I didn't fully grasp what
he meant. I figured i'd date for a year or two,
then return to our normal life. He stood up, his
anger gone but replaced with contempt. I saw pain in
his eyes, and I knew it was my fault. But
I remembered my friend's advice to be selfish for once.
He would eventually get over it. He didn't come to

(06:48):
bed that night alone. I downloaded dating apps, created a profile,
and waited for messages. Then I called Janet. So how
did it go? She asked EXX. He agreed, but he's
not happy. His ego is wounded, but he'll deal with it.
Young men today are great, or maybe I'm just lucky.

(07:09):
I know James at work is eager to be with me.
For the rest of the week, things were cold at home.
The kids likely noticed my husband barely speaking to me,
but they didn't mention it. He returned to our bed
but showed no affection, only saying good night without hugging
or kissing me. Friday morning, I told him I was
going out with the girls that night. He hummed faintly,

(07:32):
gave me a look I was starting to recognize, then
picked up his bag and left without another word. I
had packed a bag in case of a major fight.
I kissed the kids goodbye and told them I might
be home late. At work, my coworkers were thrilled about
my plans. I showed them my change of clothes, and
the excitement increased. I sent a picture to Janet, who

(07:53):
assured me something would happen that night. I spent the
afternoon telling three young men that I now had permission
to play away from home. Are you serious, James asked,
when I invited him for drinks. Did your husband agree?
Don't mention him, Just know that I'll be at the
nearest bar with my girlfriends. If you show up, you
might need to keep me company. What bar, he asked confidently.

(08:18):
I told him, and he smiled, saying he would meet
me there after lunch. A coworker whispered, are you really
going to entertain James so soon? Why not? My husband agreed,
So I'm not wasting time. You're on tinder, I laughed,
I've had so much interest in a day. Young men
love older women. My husband can't compete with that. And

(08:40):
how does he deal with it? We don't talk about it.
He stays home with the kids. Does that seem fair?
She smiled? Who says it's fair? They agreed to it.
If they can't find other women, that's their problem. I
wasn't sure my husband would even look for another woman.
He was monogamous, so his agreement was odd. I tried

(09:01):
to focus on work, but kept texting Janet. At five
p m. I changed, applied more make up, and met
Janet and the girls. We were soon surrounded by young men,
and James appeared excited to see me. We found a
booth and talked. When I suggested we go to my
book hotel room, he practically dragged me out to cheers
for my friends. We pounced on each other in the

(09:22):
hotel room. Later, I showered, dressed, and checked out, ignoring
the receptionist's judgmental look. At home, I found the bedroom
empty and Mark in the study. Shaking him gently. He
woke and met my gaze with cold and motionless eyes.
Go back to sleep, Louise, he said, rolling over and
ignoring me. Are you coming to bed? I'm in bed.

(09:45):
I told you the rules, Louise. You think I'm going
to share a bed with you after tonight? Fine? Then
he scoffed back in the bedroom. I changed and got
into bed, missing his presence beside me. If he wanted
to sulk and sleep alone, that was his problem. If
this continued, I wouldn't come home. For the first couple

(10:05):
of months, I limited my date nights to Fridays and Saturdays,
trying to maintain our relationship, but he rarely shared a
bed with me now and the kids were noticing. When
I asked Mark about it, he gave me a scathing
look and offered to explain to them what I had
asked him to do. You agreed to it, I objected,
Under duress. He growled, you were going to have fun

(10:28):
either way. But I wasn't giving you a divorce. You
weren't taking the kids away. I would never have taken them, Louise,
your behavior is injuring them. They know what's happening. I
wouldn't touch you now. I don't know what STDs you're carrying.
His words took my breath away. I knew he was upset,
but his anger and hatred were intense. I considered slapping him,

(10:52):
but knew he'd punch back harder. Things grew colder between us.
We were a marriage and name only. We hadn't had
love making since I asked for an open marriage. Did
I miss him? Yes? I missed being in love with
my husband and the way he held me. But I
wasn't ready to give up my new lifestyle. Almost every
weekend I had a new date from Tinder. Janet and

(11:15):
the girls suggested meeting regularly after work, so my outings
increased to weeknights and weekends. Sometimes I didn't make it home,
staying at Janet's or a friend's house when too drunk
to return safely. I started storing clothes at work or
Janets to save time. After six months, there were weeks
I barely went home. I was living my best life,

(11:36):
but didn't realize the damage I was doing to my
marriage and family.

Speaker 2 (11:40):
I'll be honest from the start. The night my wife
asked for an open marriage, my love for her died.
Some may wonder how I could fall out of love
after twenty years, but betrayal and disrespect can do that.
With a few words. She trampled our vows. It felt
like an excuse to cheat, guilt free. As I cooled
off outside, I knew I had to hat handle this calmly.

(12:01):
It was clear her friends had coached her. I needed
to talk to someone. I called Emily. Hi, Mark, Hi, Emily, Okay,
what's wrong. We've been friends for thirty five years. You
can't fool me. Everything came out all anger and hatred.
I hated my wife because she ripped my heart out.
I don't remember my exact words, but it wasn't pleasant.

(12:21):
Are you sitting down, Mark, No, sit down. I'll tell
you what to do. This won't be like my situation
with Adam. You have to play it differently. Rely on me.
What should I do? Part of me wants to walk away,
but I can't leave the kids and custody battles rarely
favor men. I'm not going to be a part time dad.
Stay married out of convenience. Turn off your emotions. Don't

(12:42):
be her shoulder to cry on. The thought of making
love to her after she's been with someone else is sickening. Exactly,
cut yourself off from her emotionally, but keep the house
and kids. Focus on yourself and them. Go to the gym,
find hobbies, reconnect with friends. Most importantly, be there for
the kids. Understand what's happening. She'll focus on her own

(13:02):
needs and may eventually leave. What if she falls in
love with someone else, then she'll have to choose stay
with the family in name only or leave. Part of
me wants to leave now, but I want to stay
with the kids. Use the gray Rock method. Show complete
disinterest in her, make interactions with you unrewarding, Hide your emotions,

(13:22):
and keep conversations short and direct. Will it work? Probably?
Her request shows disinterest in you and the family. Focus
on the kids. If you divorce, wait until the youngest
is eighteen, live as neighbors if necessary. Thanks Emily, always
here for you, Mark, Focus on your kids and yourself.
Will you forgive her? No, We'll divorce eventually for now

(13:45):
we'll just be roommates. That's a good mindset. Don't do
anything stupid. I won't. I'll protect myself. Where will you
sleep tonight? Not in the marital bed. I'll visit you soon.
You'll need friends for what's ahead. Thanks Emily. One more thing, Mark.
I know it's tough, but you need to take advantage
of this. Women will love you. You're successful, trim and handsome.

(14:10):
You're a great father. Go on dates. I'm not sure,
just think about it. You deserve happiness too. Going Gray
Rock was hard, and I'd snapped at Louise more than once.
Each time I berated myself, but she got what she wanted,
so what did she care? The first night she stayed
over with someone else nearly liquidated me. She even had
the nerve to ask me to join her in bed.

(14:31):
I barely restrained myself from spewing my thoughts. Any residual
love for her died that night. I'll always care for
her as the mother of our children, but the passion
was gone. I hardened my heart, preparing for the inevitable.
Following Emily's advice, I focused on myself and the kids.
I resumed going to the gym, hired a personal trainer
and took up cooking for the kids, bonding with my daughter.

(14:54):
When Louise started disappearing on weekends, I sought help from
my younger sister. She ragged on me for putting up
with it, but understood when I explained it was for
the kids. You should just leave with Emily, she said
she's the one you should have married. I muttered, best
not to know. When she asked about Louise's whereabouts, When
was the last time you did this? She asked, I'm

(15:15):
not in the mood to talk about it. Emily suggested
finding a pretty girl for one night. My sister laughed.
At least three of my friends still hold a candle
for you. The gym sessions are paying off right. I
feel more fit than I have in a while. When
I work the bag, I imagine her or her boyfriends, as
long as you don't slap her. When was the last
time you two talked? Last week? At dinner, we only

(15:37):
discussed the kids. She spends all her time on her phone.
I saw three dating apps with dozens of messages. I
don't care anymore. She's my wife in name only, an
absolute strumpet. My sister muttered. I agreed, but didn't say
it out loud. Emily was the one person I relied
on most. The kids adored Aunt Emily as their mother
faded from their lives. They appreciated Emily's presence, especially my daughter.

(16:01):
Emily and I spent many evenings together, sometimes cuddling, but
not more. Daddy, why do you put up with this?
My daughter asked one night at dinner. Louise still came
home occasionally for dinner, but didn't notice I'd moved most
of my stuff out of the marital bed.

Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (16:17):
Kids at school teased us, but we went along with
what they called mom. My son added, We're not the
only kids with divorced or weirdly married parents. I sighed,
glancing at Emily, who gave me a reproachful look. Did
your mom ever explain what's going on? I asked, Not really.

Speaker 3 (16:35):
She just said things might change in the future.

Speaker 2 (16:37):
My daughter replied, Dad, we're not little kids. We know
everything from the internet. Just tell us, My son said,
we won't judge you. At least you're here. I can't
remember the last time mom said three words to me.
My daughter wiped her cheeks and Emily hugged her immediately.
I won't go into details. Kids, your mom changed our relationship,
and I agreed because otherwise we would have lost the house.

(17:00):
And you do you still love her? My daughter asked, no,
I answered bluntly. My love for her died when she
made the request, and completely when she came home late
after her first date. Does she even love us any more?
My daughter asked, holding back tears. Emily hugged her tighter
and looked at me. Of course she loves you, I replied,
but I felt like I was lying. Funny way to

(17:22):
show it. Dad, my son remarked, I realize it's partly
my fault. Look, kids, all I can do is continue
to be the father I've always been. I'll always be
there for you. You can count on me.

Speaker 3 (17:33):
My sister is helping too.

Speaker 2 (17:34):
Emily added, I'm here for you as well. My daughter
hugged her tightly. Emily's eyes sparkled. She had wanted children
but never had any. We like you, Emily, my son said,
with a smirk. You make dad happy. He's smiling again.
My son made me blush. Emily smiled at me a
knowing smile. A few months passed quickly, and our lives

(17:55):
changed I built an addition to the house as my
private space, a bedroom, office, and living area. The kids
loved it and we could all play together. When I
worked from home, they kept me company. When Emily visited,
we had our own space. I avoided my wife when
she was home, and we only communicated through texts. I
didn't care what she did for a living. Her paycheck

(18:15):
still went into a joint account, so bills were covered.
I slowly removed her from my life, including as a
beneficiary on life insurance. This was for my children's benefit.
Emily stayed over often, but we weren't carnal. We slept
in the same bed, but she understood I wasn't ready.
I still wore my ring, feeling like I was still
a husband. Emily didn't pressure me. She just held me

(18:36):
and whispered that she loved me and would wait as
long as I needed. She's a fool, Emily whispered one night.
She has no idea what she's thrown away, and you
still have to go on dates. I'm a patient woman, Mark,
she added, smiling.

Speaker 1 (18:50):
I confess, once given the freedom, I went a little wild.
I had always been a faithful wife and mother, dedicating
nearly twenty years to my family. It was time to
live a bit for myself. Yes, my husband did the same,
and he could take advantage of our open relationship too.
He agreed to it. He could have said no, and
while we might have argued, I would have understood. Deep down,

(19:14):
I know I would never have cheated on him. But
I did go a little crazy with tender dates. Not
all were successful, but many young men were eager to
take me to a hotel. Time flew as I lived
life to the fullest while still keeping up with bills
and staying in touch with the kids. My husband avoided
me at home and we barely spoke. Realizing how much

(19:34):
I missed out on my family hit me when I
tried to spend a weekend at home. Conversations with my
husband were like talking to a brick wall, only discussing
the kids. I missed him and the kids, but was
also having too much fun to stop. Hi, I exclaimed
as I walked through the front door, I'm home. The
lights were on, but no one responded. In the kitchen,

(19:58):
my husband and two kids were having dinner with Emily
there too. I knew she had been friends with my
husband since childhood. Approaching them. I stopped meeting my husband's gaze,
realizing he still looked at me with disdain. What are
you doing here? Our daughter asked, her tone harsh. I'm
here to spend time with my family. She scoffed, meeting

(20:20):
my eyes and smirking. Our son grinned and turned to Emily.
Is there room for me? I asked my husband, No,
he replied emotionless. I noticed changes in the house. The
living room looked like a museum, The kitchen was painted,
and photos of us were missing. In the bedroom, it

(20:40):
was clear my husband hadn't used it in a while.
Opening double doors, I saw a large living space with
a sleeping area and entertainment center. What is this, I asked?
My part of the house? Mark replied flatly, and why
did you build it? Why didn't you tell me? He
remained silent, but his eyes said it all. My kids

(21:02):
smirked and Emily held his hand under the table. Why
are you here, mom, our daughter asked, aren't you supposed
to be on a date with one of your boyfriends.
I turned to my husband. Do they know? Did you
tell the kids about our arrangement? They've been asking where
you've been. I told them I won't lie to our

(21:22):
kids for you. It was your decision. You've hardly been
home for months. Our son added, I'm surprised you're even here.
Why are you here? Our daughter repeated. We were having
a nice dinner until you made it awkward. I looked
at my husband. Are you going to fix our kid's attitudes?

Speaker 3 (21:42):
Mark?

Speaker 1 (21:43):
No, he said, not looking at me, but at Emily.
Our kids are teenagers and entitled to their opinions. Do
you even know how old they are? You missed my birthday,
our daughter declared, and you missed my team winning the
Grand Final? Unadded. They finished eating and Emily, without a word,
motioned for them to go to the other room so

(22:05):
I could talk to my husband. I'm pretty sure. I
stood there, opening and closing my mouth as Mark got up,
pulled a beer from the fridge and leaned against the counter,
sipping for a minute or two before asking, why are
you here, Louise? I wanted to spend time with my
family this weekend. He looked away, then nodded, good luck

(22:27):
with that. I'm busy tonight and this weekend. As for
the kids, you can always ask them. He turned to
face me. Remember the agreements, Louise, I don't care what
you're doing now, but you can try to talk to
the kids if you want, just don't hold your breath.
After five minutes of talking to them, I realized neither

(22:47):
wanted anything to do with me. Sighing, I went back
to the bedroom, feeling alone in my own house. Okay,
I muttered, If that's the way it is, I'll just
leave see you later. Probably not, our daughter replied sarcastically.
I grabbed my bag, hurried out, and slammed the car door,

(23:07):
hitting the steering wheel in frustration. Tears flowed as I
blamed everything on my husband until I remembered his look
when I first made the request, and the night I
came back from my first date. That look of indifference
chilled me. I wondered if I had ruined everything that mattered.
Had he been right, Had my friends led me astray,

(23:29):
Maybe their husbands would have tolerated it, but Mark was
always proud. Realizing the truth of our agreement, I cried harder.
He had completely disconnected from me. We were married only
out of convenience, and I doubted we'd ever go back
to the way things were. I couldn't turn to my friends,
they'd be to blame for my marriage's collapse. Driving aimlessly,

(23:50):
I eventually parked at a bar. Inside I ordered a drink,
which soon became two and three. Is this seat taken?
A kind voice asked. A man looked at me. No,
it's not taken. I replied, sniffling. But I'm not sure
i'd be good company. Maybe you need some company. It's
not nice to see a woman sitting alone, looking lonely

(24:11):
and frustrated. He sat down, bought himself a drink and
offered to buy me one. Need someone to talk to.
I'm not sure you'd want to hear my story? Is
it that bad? The more I think about it, the
more I wonder if I've ruined everything. He held out
his hand. I'm Tom, and you are I took his hand.

(24:31):
I'm Louise. Now we're no longer strangers. Someone or something
has broken your heart. Are you sure you want to
hear about this? I'm in no hurry. I told him
the general story, and he listened, nodding and understanding. When
I finished, he ordered another drink for us. Do you
want to maintain your relationship, Louise? Honestly, I don't know

(24:53):
if my husband will ever get our relationship back on track.
He's just angry with me. How can you fix anything
if you won't talk to you. I just want my
husband to love me again, I whispered. These other men
don't love me, It's just a distraction. After more drinks,
I couldn't drive. Tom suggested I get a hotel or
I could go home with him. I live alone and

(25:15):
have spare bedrooms, he said, I don't expect anything, Louise,
I agreed. Tom called a cab and I grabbed my
overnight bag from the car. He lived on the other
side of town. Once inside, he showed me the house,
including the bedroom I would use. We had a nightcap
on the couch, sitting next to each other. You're a

(25:36):
beautiful woman, Louise, he said, softly, putting his hand on
my thigh. Ever, think about finding one or two lovers
who make you feel special. I don't want to fall
in love with someone else, I replied. You can love
more than one person, he said, I smiled, finding him
very handsome and different from my husband. I'm not here

(25:59):
to tell you how to live your life, Louise. You
know almost nothing about me. The next morning, I put
on spare clothes and met him in the kitchen after
greeting me with a kiss on the cheek. We ate
breakfast and got to know each other. Surprisingly, he was
in an open relationship too. I'm always honest with any

(26:19):
woman I meet. I don't wear my wedding ring when
my wife isn't around because it's annoying. But I always
tell the truth before we sleep together. My wife and
I only see each other once a month. Do you
have children? They're grown and live with my wife most
of the time. Do you have many mistresses? In the
early days, I slept with any woman interested. Now I

(26:42):
prefer real relationships. Sipping his coffee, he asked, what are
your plans for the weekend, Louise, I don't have any
Would you like to spend it with me? He took
my hand. I saw a beautiful upset woman last night
and wanted to comfort her. He also hoped she'd take
an interest in me. I smiled, I'd love to spend

(27:05):
the weekend with you, Tom. Tom was well off. His
house was luxurious, his car something my husband and I
could never afford. After a day together, he took me
to a top restaurant. We danced until late, and I
kissed him first, making him smile in the back of
the cab, I snuggled against him. At home after midnight,

(27:27):
we sipped drinks and talked quietly before ending up in
his bedroom. Sunday, at breakfast, Tom gave me advice. He
explained that his open marriage worked because he and his
wife lived apart and agreed on it. I had surprised
my husband and forced him to agree. Tom insisted I
repair my relationship with my children. He advised me to

(27:47):
figure out how to make it work. He also suggested
mending things with Mark, who seemed like a good man.
He's a wonderful man, almost as wonderful as your wife.
I love my wife and planned to return with her
soon when I'm home. This all ends. What does she think?
She misses me but has two lovers when I'm away.

(28:08):
When I'm home, all her attention is on me. Things
seem to be working out for you two, not without problems,
but we avoid jealousy and resentment. After spending the afternoon together,
he drove me back to the bar where my car
was parked, with his arm around me. I realized I
might have been approaching things wrong. One night stands were fun,

(28:28):
but left an emotional void. Tom, a decent man, gave
me solid advice on how to make things work in
my own marriage. Keep in touch with your husband. The
most important thing is your children. Rebuild that relationship. I'll
do my best. When can we see each other again
as soon as you want. I'm not seeing anyone else,

(28:49):
but promise you won't be jealous. If I meet someone else.
I might get another semi permanent boyfriend. He laughed, and
I realized how much I liked the sound. Now you're
thinking right now, Louise, You've had your fun and that's fine,
but now you realize you need something more serious and lasting,
maybe lovers who truly care about you. I hugged him tightly.

(29:12):
I'll call you soon, I said, I'm looking forward to it, Louise.
I watched him drive away, then got into my car,
taking a deep breath. I drove home, thinking about what
to say to my family. I stopped by my friend's
place to pick up my things. Janet seemed ready to argue,
but I told her I was done with meaningless fun

(29:32):
and needed a real relationship. She wished me luck as
I left. When I got home, it was late, I
gathered my clothes and headed to the kitchen. I heard
noise from my husband's room. I had to hold back sobs,
realizing he had separated our lives without finalizing the divorce.
Our son, Matthew was playing a video game on a
new TV and our daughter Zara was studying nearby. Outside,

(29:57):
I saw my husband on the new terrace hugging a
woman who wasn't Emily. Matthew noticed me and gestured to Zara,
who pulled out her headphones. I knelt between them, taking
their hands, and tears rolled down my cheeks. Please don't
doubt that I love you, I said, I'm sorry. I
miss things. I promise to be better. Matthew's lip quivered

(30:20):
and I hugged him tightly. Why are you gone all
the time? Mom, he asked, breaking my heart. I'm sorry, baby,
I miss you. I'll try to be better. Are you
really with other men? Let's not talk about that, Matthew.
That's for your father and me to deal with. I
kissed his cheeks and ruffled his hair. I'll try to

(30:41):
attend all your games next season. Turning to Zara, I
saw she was unconvinced. You broke daddy's heart. Mom, She declared,
what a wife you're too young to understand. I'm not
too young, she shouted. I'm sixteen, almost seventeen. I know
what's going on. What weapons in my marriage stays between
your father and me, but your behavior affects us. She

(31:05):
burst into tears and ran away. I didn't hear Mark
until I felt his presence. Are you staying for dinner, Louise,
he asked coldly. I'll try to be here more often. Mark.
Is this your wife? A young woman asked, She was
stunning and no older than twenty five. I'm Cindy. What
about no visitors, Mark, I asked, She's here to keep

(31:28):
me company, not that you have the right to tell
me what to do. We have a free relationship. Remember,
I'm just exercising my rights. I felt annoyed and jealous.
Watching Mark and Zara prepare dinner, Cindy sipped wine, smiling
at Mark. My daughter had always been close to her father,
but they seemed even closer now. Mark graciously seated me

(31:50):
at the table, but I was ignored. He continued his
conversation with Cindy and Zara. After dinner, Mark walked Cindy
to her car. He waved as she drove away, and
then walked back into the house, Mark, I said quietly.
He stopped and looked at me without anger or coldness.
He wasn't smiling, but he seemed happy. Can we talk, Mark,

(32:14):
he sighed, looking tired about what Louise about us. I'm
still your wife, you're still my husband. I still love you.
I never wanted this to happen. I thought he might
explode with rage, but he clenched his fists and sat down.
You wanted an open relationship, Louise, I accepted. When was

(32:35):
the last time we slept in the same bed. I
won't share a bed with my wife after she's dated
other men. Remember what I said, no emotional support, no
physical support. If you want love and affection, find some
one else. This is what you wanted. I was happily married.
Now I'm married in name only. Who is she? I asked?

(32:57):
You brought another woman into our home. We never did
anything here, he said bluntly. And who she is is
none of your business. I don't care who you're with,
and who I'm with is none of your business. He
stood and looked at me with pity. Everything that happened
is a consequence of your decisions, Louise, I warned, you
be careful what you wish for. You got what you wanted,

(33:20):
but didn't care about the impact on our family. Later,
I was watching TV in the living room when my
son appeared. I patted the seat next to me and
he sat down. Do you miss your mom? I asked, yeah,
he said, Knowing I wouldn't sleep with my husband that night,
I turned off the lights and went to Mark's part

(33:41):
of the house. One door was closed, the other ajar.
He was on the couch with our daughter, who was
trembling and crying. I knew I was the cause. If
I walked in, things would get ugly. Sighing, I quietly
closed the door and headed to my bedroom. It was
no longer our bedroom, and I wasn't sure my husband
would ever return to it.

Speaker 2 (34:02):
I took Emily's advice and decided if my wife could
have fun, so could I. I quickly found many young
women interested in a successful forty year old man. Friends
and co workers set me up with women they knew.
I didn't want to date anyone too young, but Cindy
twenty five was too cute to resist. Charlotte twenty eight
was a career woman seeking love on her own terms. Melissa,

(34:23):
in her early thirties, was a lawyer and an amazing lover.
And then there was Jessica twenty one, the daughter of
a co worker, who was very honest about her interest
in me. I'm partial to handsome older men, she said
on our first date, Mark, can I be honest? Sure
your wife is an idiot. The only surprise is that
this arrangement works. I'm jealous sometimes, but I knew it

(34:45):
wasn't forever. I wanted someone to make me feel special,
and we all know about Emily. I heard she extended
her deadline. Yes, I now have a year to have fun.
Do you think she's afraid to commit to you. Maybe
we've always been in love, but it's been platonic. Then
you need to show her how you feel. How can
you be so young and wise? All your girl friends

(35:06):
think it's a good idea. We all love Emily and
agree you two are perfect for each other. Jessica clung
to me. Don't feel guilty. Sometimes a woman needs to
show she wants you. The next morning, we had breakfast together.
Then I drove her home. After a long kiss. She
went inside with a dreamy smile. I knew i'd hear
about it at work. Back home, Matthew was yelling into

(35:27):
his gaming head set. Zara was at the table, busy
with her own things. I kissed her head and cheek.
Have you two been okay the last two nights? I'm sixteen, Daddy.
I can take care of myself and your brother. He
hasn't been too intrusive. Any sign of your mother? Not
since Wednesday? Fair enough? What do you want for dinner?

(35:48):
We had dinner together. Matthew ate quickly and returned to
his game. Zara grinned at me. As we cleaned up,
I grabbed a beer and went to the deck. Zara
joined me, settling on my lap. Daddy, Are you happy? Hmm? Depends.
Am I happy with you?

Speaker 3 (36:03):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (36:03):
I love my children. Am I happy with my current situation? No?
Am I happy with my personal life besides your mother? Yes?
Quite content. I think mom has a boyfriend now, good
for her. You really don't care, do you? No, honey?
We live separate lives. The only things we share are
you two, some finances, this house, and a piece of paper.

(36:26):
You two were never meant to be involved. I assumed
your mom's disappearances would be noticed, but I wouldn't lie
for her. I tried not to do the same, but
she flaunted it, almost like I couldn't do the same.
You've met some beautiful women, Dad, Yes, I have four
beautiful women who know I'm married. They know it's not forever.
They know I'm not leaving my marriage because of Emily. Daddy,

(36:46):
Are you in love with her? Zara whispered. She rarely
called me daddy, now only when she wanted to say
something important. I pulled her closer, pondering her question. Emily
is my best friend, Zara. She's been by my side
longer than anyone. I've helped her through breakups and even
fought guys who mistreated her. Sounds like love, Daddy. Your

(37:06):
mother took my love for granted. Emily never did that.
We've never been in a relationship, but I can rely
on her more than anyone. Your mother knew that. Emily
warned her that if she broke my heart, she might
end up wanting to be with me. But are you
having fun in the meantime? Emily knows everything I do
and even encourages me. That's what friends are for, Dad.

(37:29):
But I'll be thrilled when you marry her. Wait, what
did she say something? No?

Speaker 3 (37:34):
But you deserve to be happy, and mom hasn't made
you happy since.

Speaker 2 (37:38):
She made that request. Are you going to divorce her soon? No?

Speaker 1 (37:42):
She lives her life and I live mine.

Speaker 3 (37:44):
When you and your brother.

Speaker 2 (37:45):
Leave home, will divorce. Emily arrived Tuesday night, and my
daughter seemed to play matchmaker the whole time. My son
was oblivious, but I cast reproachful glances at my daughter.
After they went to bed, Emily snuggled up to me,
wrapping her arm around my waist. She started giggling. Your
daughter wasn't subtle today, Mark, She whispered. No, she's been

(38:07):
talking about us getting married. Emily pressed closer, and what
do you think of that idea? We need to get
a divorce first. Do you love me? Mark? The only
people I love more are my children and Louise. I
don't love her anymore, Emily, so apart from your children,
you love me the most. Yes, I love Louise more.
Once we dated, married, had kids and built a life together.

(38:29):
But now I think about you a lot. I'm grateful
to Louise for giving me two wonderful children. That night,
Emily stayed with me. Nothing physical happened. We weren't ready.
My daughter was thrilled to have Emily with us at breakfast.
My son wasn't bothered and told me about his mother's
apology and promised to be more present. She had been
showing up more often. He also mentioned his mother's standing

(38:51):
dinner invitation, which his sister never accepted. Walking Emily to
her car, she said, I'd like to stay the night again.
It's fine because we don't have I have love making.
That's one of the rules, right, yes, and I'm sticking
to it too. Louise came home on Wednesday hoping for
a family dinner, but I had a date with Cindy.
She begged me to stay. As I walked to the door,

(39:12):
I gave her a neutral look. Please stay Mark. It's
not my fault, Louise, but we can. I have plans.
Our children knew I wouldn't be here tonight. I'll see
them tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (39:23):
Can't you stay please for me?

Speaker 2 (39:25):
I glared at her, then walked out the door. Cindy
was waiting for me at the pub. Louise didn't need
to know about it. It was none of her business.

Speaker 1 (39:33):
He hates me, I muttered, snuggling up to Tom. I
slept at home alone, but enjoyed these moments with Tom,
usually three times a week. I hadn't found a second
steady lover yet and wasn't sleeping around as much. I
think it's over, Tom, Do you know what he's doing?
I chuckled. My daughter loves telling me about all the
women he dates. She hopes he divorces me and marries Emily,

(39:56):
his best friend, and these other women they visit the house.
Mark cooks for them. He used to cook for me
and your daughter. She's not happy with you. She takes
pleasure in our marriage collapsing. She blames me for everything.
Daddy's little girl. I took a moment to control my emotions.
I broke his heart. Tom. He shut me out, but

(40:19):
our daughter knows what he's thinking. What are you going
to do? I think my daughter is right. I don't
know how to save our marriage because Mark won't talk
to me. We only discuss the kids or finances. I
text him about how much I miss him, but he
never responds. I don't call because I know he won't answer.
Tom made me feel better by making love to me.

(40:41):
If I couldn't get my husband back, Tom was someone
I enjoyed spending time with another man. Daniel was interested
but unsure about dating a married woman. Despite my assurances
that my marriage was failing, I loved spending time with Tom.
He took me on dates, We spent weekends together and
had deep conversations. We tried not to talk about our

(41:02):
other partners, but sometimes they came up. A few months later,
we were lying in bed. I have a question, Tom
said anything, Tom, how would you feel about going on
trips with me? I travel a lot for business in
the States in Europe. I won't be so lonely with
a beautiful woman by my side. What about your wife?

(41:24):
She's too busy to join me. I want you to come, Louise, really,
I love spending time with you and want you to
keep me company while I'm gone. How long would I
be gone? A couple of weeks to a month, depending
on my deals. I'll need to tell the kids, of course.
I know your daughter is seventeen and your son is fifteen.

(41:45):
How was her birthday? Awkward? Both families are aware of
the situation. I thought she didn't want me there, but
I think Mark insisted on my presence. Maybe there's still
some love left. He knows my relationship with ourd is broken.
But our son still loves me. I hear from him
almost every day and try to call him every night.

(42:07):
When do you need to know as soon as possible,
I'm leaving for the States on Thursday. On Monday, I
came home to no guests. Mark was preparing dinner with Zara,
and they both looked at me. When I entered, Are
you here for dinner? Mark asked, yes, Do you mind?
It's still your house, Louise. I almost cried. It was

(42:30):
the nicest thing he'd said since I made the request.
Matthew noticed me, came over and hugged me. He was
still growing taller and would soon be as tall as
his father. For the first time in months, the four
of us sat down to dinner. We didn't talk much,
but I couldn't stop smiling at my husband. I still
hope to save our marriage. After dinner, Mark served dessert

(42:52):
ice cream with chocolate sauce. Everyone relaxed, but I knew
my words would ruin the mood. Mark. I know you
don't want to hear about my business, but Tom asked
me to go on a business trip. I won't be
around for a couple of weeks to a month If
it affects our children. I'll listen, Louise. Tom wants me
to accompany him on trips. His wife doesn't want to go,

(43:13):
so he asked me. It means I won't be here
as often. It's okay, mom. Matthew said, where will you
go to the United States and Europe? Zara said nothing,
her expression impassive. I looked at Mark, who was looking
at me with an unreadable expression, until he asked a
question I wasn't expecting. Do you love him? I love you, Mark,

(43:37):
I answered quietly. I'm still your wife, and you're still
my husband. I didn't ask that. Louise, I asked, do
you love him? I I don't know. I enjoy his company.
I looked away, then back at him, and do you
love everyone you're with? He smirked and started clearing the table.
Zara got up to help him, and I knew the

(43:58):
conversation was over. I retired to the living room, feeling
somewhat relieved when Matthew joined me later that evening, I
was already in bed when the door opened. A warm
body hugged me. It took a few seconds to realize
it was my son. I'm sorry, mom, he whispered, turning away,

(44:19):
I hugged him tightly and burst into tears. He stroked
my back and whispered that he loved me, which made
me feel better. Thank you, baby, I whispered. I spent
the next two nights at home before heading out with
Tom on our first trip together. Mark and Zara were
polite but mostly ignored me. Matthew was affectionate, sensing my loneliness,

(44:42):
I tried to explain things to him. Dad always said
we should keep in touch with you, he told me,
making me smile. I arranged to work remotely while away,
so Thursday morning, I packed for Tom to pick me up.
When I got downstairs, Mark had left for work. The
kids were having breakfast. Zara barely s had two words
to me, which I expected. As she was leaving, I

(45:03):
asked if I could hug her. She softened a bit
and hugged me briefly. I really love you, Zara, I whispered,
You're my first born. She murmured that she hoped I
had a good time and left. Matthew hugged me and
asked me to take pictures if I was sightseeing. Tom
picked me up a few minutes later. Over the next
few months, I traveled a lot with Tom to North

(45:25):
and South America, Asia and Europe. He paid for everything,
and I was introduced as his partner. I developed a
crush on him. He was romantic and generous. One day,
I was checking social media and saw what I had
been missing. Mark didn't block me and used it to
update family and friends. Seeing pictures of him and the
kids in New Zealand, I felt hurt. Neither Mark nor

(45:47):
the kids had mentioned it. Seeing Emily in many pictures
stung the most. After lunch, Tom found me crying. He
hugged me and checked my phone. I feel partly to blame.
He said, you're spending a lot of time with me.
Maybe you want to stop traveling for a while and
reconnect with the kids. Are you sure about that, Louise?

(46:09):
He smiled at me. I love you, Louise. That made
me smile. We had expressed our love on our first trip,
but I couldn't imagine leaving my wife. Introducing your children
to me would be I'm not sure. After returning home,
I tried to spend more time at home and with Tom.
It was hard to corner Mark, but one evening I did.

(46:30):
You took the kids to New Zealand. I asked why
I wanted to give them a vacation, they hadn't had
one in years. Why exclude me because you were with
your boyfriend at the time, he replied, I would have canceled.
He turned to look at me. I'm not going to
pretend to be a happy family to fulfill your needs. Louise,

(46:52):
I wanted to take our children on vacation. You're too
busy jetting around the world with your boyfriend. Emily came
with us for company while the kids had fun. Emily
is my best friend and has been my support since
this arrangement began. I invited her over for company. What
about Christmas? What about it? Are you planning anything? Am

(47:12):
I involved? That's up to you, Louise, Mark, if you
just talk to me, his eyes turned cold. We have
nothing to talk about. Since the night you made your request,
You've made your thoughts on our marriage clear. Mark. I
miss you. I want my husband back. I can't remember

(47:33):
the last time we shared a bed, and it's your fault, Louise.
I refuse to be carnal with a wife who wants
other men, but you agreed to it, He chuckled, shaking
his head. You still don't get it. I never wanted this.
I wanted my wife to stay faithful. You pushed for
an open marriage, so I had to agree or lose you.

(47:53):
Either way, I lost. I would never cheat on you, Mark,
you were so eager to be with other men. Don't
take me for a fool, Louise. You're with other women too, Mark,
don't make this all about me. He stepped closer, his
anger melting away. Your friend Janet put this nonsense in
your head. Do you know her husband finally kicked her out.

(48:15):
She parted and brought men home while he took care
of the kids. I was shocked. I hadn't spoken to
Janet in months and never expected her to be so
disrespectful to her husband. I realized Mark had probably figured
everything out from the start. I don't know what they'd say, Louise,
he said, emotionless. You took advice from people who destroyed

(48:36):
our marriage. There's no going back. He stepped forward again.
Why did you do it, Louise? Was I a bad
husband or lover? Did I make you unhappy? I was bored,
not good enough. Boredom isn't a reason to tell your
husband you want other men. I met his gaze, my
eyes filling with tears. I couldn't explain without further destroying

(48:59):
our man marriage. I'd realized I'd made a selfish request,
forced him into something he hated, and listened to bad advice.
My friends made datings seem exciting, and I found that attractive.
They filled my head with stories of advantages and opportunities
in an open marriage. And what did they say about
the husband who had to deal with that? I lowered

(49:19):
my head. Janet said it was never fair. I never
wanted anyone else, Louise, he said, sadly, until that night,
I was a happily married man. Your request showed complete
disrespect for me and our marriage. I sighed. We hadn't
spoken like this since the night he agreed to the arrangement.

(49:41):
I knew this was the end of our marriage. His
love for me had faded, at least as far as
being my husband. What do we do? Mark? Keep this
arrangement until the kids are eighteen, then we'll decide. I
burst into tears, and to my surprise, he put his
arms around me, breaking me completely collapsed against him, clinging tightly.

(50:02):
I knew he didn't love me, but he probably still
didn't want to see me cry. The love was gone,
but so was the hate. We'll spend Christmas together, Louise,
he said, But I'm living my own life now. Our
marriage is practically over. You should realize that by now
you're trying to hold onto something that has withered and died.
Even if I stop everything, you're different now, and so

(50:25):
am I. I don't want to lose you. Mark. You're
my husband and I still love you. He sighed, but
didn't let go, Gently caressing my back, he remained silent,
knowing the truth already, I knew what he was thinking
and what he would eventually do. I couldn't hate him
for that. Finally he let go, giving me a chance

(50:48):
to wipe my eyes. I met his gaze. There was
no warmth, but he understood my emotions. Do you want
some dinner, he asked. I almost cried again. It had
been too long since we had dinner together. We cooked
something simple and filling. The conversation was awkward and some
topics were off limits, but after a couple of beers,

(51:10):
we started reminiscing. Where are the kids? I finally asked,
Zara is out with friends, Matthew is at asleep over
I was just enjoying a night alone. It's okay, Louise.
I think we needed this conversation. Zara hates me? He
shook his head. No, she doesn't hate you. She's daddy's

(51:32):
little girl and doesn't like that her mom has a boyfriend.
What does she think about daddy having a girlfriend? He chuckled.
I think she's a little jealous. She's felt neglected. Do
you love Emily Mark? You know I love Emily. She's
been my best friend most of my life. Are you
with her now?

Speaker 2 (51:51):
No?

Speaker 1 (51:52):
She's been there for support. She won't be with me
until we're divorced. I couldn't hold back the tears. Are
you serious about this divorce? Are you happy in our marriage?
This is the longest conversation we've had in a year.
I wish things were like they were before, but you
can't turn back time. What's done is done. He invited

(52:15):
me to have a drink in his cabin. It was
decorated with love, warm and the kids loved spending time there.
We shared a bottle of wine, talking about the past.
The next morning I woke up in his arms. I
realized I'd had too much to drink. Disappointment set in
when I realized nothing had happened. Mark opened his eyes

(52:36):
and smiled. Apparently we had a bit to drink last night.
We're still dressed, so nothing happened. Mark snuggling closer. I asked,
would you be interested? When was the last time you
did it? Over a week ago? He raised his eyebrows.
I've never stopped finding you attractive, Louise. You're still a

(52:57):
beautiful woman. Do you mean that? Of course, I'm not
going to lie about that. Mark. I know you don't
particularly like me, but would you entertain your wife? We
haven't done anything in over a year. I miss being
with you. He sighed and pulled me tighter, whispering he
was sorry. I whispered back that he should never apologize.

(53:19):
He had closed off a part of himself from me,
and he couldn't give me that part any more. Thank
you for telling me I'm still beautiful, I whispered. He
disappeared to take a shower, then got dressed and had
a quick breakfast. As he was leaving, I asked for
a hug. He put his bag down and hugged me
tightly for the first time in a year. In a way,

(53:41):
it was a symbol of the end. One last hug
before he left, but I knew one day we would
hug for the last time before our marriage ended. I
love you, Mark, I whispered, I've never stopped loving you.
He didn't respond. I followed him to the driveway, watching
him get it into his suv. I couldn't resist waving,

(54:03):
and he honked before driving away.

Speaker 2 (54:05):
You're eighteen now, Zara, and Matthew is sixteen. I think
it's time. Are you finally going to divorce her? You
shouldn't be so excited, Zara. Dad. Your marriage has been
a sham for too long. You deserve to be happy
with someone who loves you. I'll let Matthew know, and
when your mom gets back, i'll give her the paperwork.
I'd prefer a joint application to make it faster. Your

(54:26):
mom knows I want a divorce, so this shouldn't be
a shock. Did you tell Emily. Yes, she wanted to
wait until we were divorced, but we've waited long enough.
I'll discuss living arrangements with your mom. Louise hadn't lied
to our son about Tom. She spent time with him
when he traveled, but was home when she wasn't away.
We spent Christmas together, almost like old times. My side

(54:49):
of the family was friendly and her side seems somewhat supportive.
Talking longer than we had in over a year helped
thaw our feelings. We became friends again, but the love
and closeness were gone. We could be around each other
and talk easily. I knew she still loved me, and
I hoped I might rediscover my love for her, but
my feelings weren't the same. I couldn't love her like

(55:11):
I used to. When she came home a few nights later,
I gave her a couple of days to settle in.
I wasn't going to be cruel and file for divorce immediately.
The hatred I felt in the first few months had
long gone. Finding my own girlfriends helped me understand her
up to a point. Emily helped me stay calm. One evening,

(55:32):
we had dinner as a family, and Zara was affectionate
with her mother. I felt it was because she knew
what was coming. Matthew always loved his mother. Though he
knew what was happening. He was upset, but understood it
was necessary. Alone with Louise, I asked her to wait
at the table while I got the papers and place
them in front of her. She immediately cried, realizing what

(55:53):
they were without looking.

Speaker 3 (55:55):
I can't apologize for this, Louise. The only thing that
could have been different was doing at twelve months later.
But I stayed to be near the kids after I
stopped hating you. I didn't mind sharing a house. We
never brought lovers here and never flaunted our relationships. I
took her hand, read the papers. If you agree, we
can file them as a joint application. Zara is eighteen now,

(56:16):
so she's not considered a child. Matthew is sixteen. I
think he should stay here until he's eighteen.

Speaker 2 (56:22):
What do you want to do. That's up to you, Louise.
I made sure she was looking into my eyes as
I added, I'm going to be with Emily after the divorce.
I'll propose to her and likely move in with her.
As for this house, you can buy me out or
we can sell it. Are you going to stay here?
I don't plan on leaving yet, Louise. Our children are
grown and it's time for us to move on. I

(56:44):
never wanted this mark, she whispered, wiping her cheeks. I know, Louise,
you wanted it to be short term, but it lasted.
I've told the other women I'm divorcing you and moving
on with Emily. My words hurt her, and she cried harder.
I continued to hold her hand. And if this was
a year ago, I would have said things that would
have broken your heart even more. I don't want to

(57:05):
do that now. I want to end our marriage on
good terms. Emily warned me about breaking your heart. She
always looked out for my best interests. Can we stay friends? Mark,
We're already friends, aren't we, she smiled. We've gotten closer
in the last few months than we had in the
twelve months after your request. But our relationship isn't what
it used to be. We have two children and that

(57:28):
will always bind us. When will you move out? I'll
coordinate with Emily if you want me to move out.
If you want me to stay, i'll stay. But you'll
have to accept Emily visiting and our relationship. I'm not
sure I can live with that, Louise whispered. Then I'll leave.
Emily is happy for me to be with her all
the time. She really loves you, doesn't she I had

(57:49):
no regrets until that night. Marrying you was the best
day of my life equal to the birth of our children.
I loved you with all my heart for so long.
Go through the papers and sign them. I'll talk to
Emily and arrange a moving date. She didn't cry much.
I hugged her and stroked her back. I knew I
had just broken her heart. She hoped we could save

(58:10):
our marriage, but she knew I had talked about divorce
more than once. In the evening, after moving to my
side of the house, I called Emily and told her
I had given the papers to Louise. Emily tried to
hide her excitement as she asked when I would move
in with her. I knew I would be moving out
since Emily owned her house and was looking forward to
me joining her. I wasn't bothered by leaving the house
to Louise, as I knew she would agree to sell

(58:31):
it once Matthew was old enough. The decision lifted a
weight off my shoulders and the tension eased. Louise was upset,
but kept her cool. Zara overheard Louise telling Tom she
needed some time and had informed him of the situation.
Louise disappeared the day I moved in, taking Matthew to
her parents. They knew about everything, including our divorce. She
signed the papers, and all that remained was the court's

(58:53):
final judgment. Emily came over while I was packing. I
greeted her with a kiss, and after loading my car
with boxes and suitcases, she took a few smaller boxes,
insisting that her house would be our home. Leaving the
house for the last time, I felt a heavy heart.
We had been married for over twenty years, and while
we didn't celebrate that anniversary, the house held many good memories.

(59:17):
Before leaving, I wrote Louise a short letter to make
her smile. I no longer felt hate or bitterness. It
was time for both of us to live our lives.
When we arrived at my new home, we dropped off
our things and placed most of my clothes in our bedroom.
I've had several tests, Mark, she whispered, I'm still capable
of having children. I smiled. We can definitely discuss it.

(59:41):
I love you, Mark. Over the past few months, I've
fallen in love with you. You've been my best friend
for most of my life. Believe me, I feel the
same way now. When was the last time you were
with someone? A couple of months ago, I got tested
after my last time with Cindy, I'm fine. When was
your last time? I was waiting for you to start

(01:00:02):
the divorce. I knew I couldn't wait until it was official.
She made dinner that night and we sat at a
candlelit table, sharing wine and easy conversation. After dinner, we
loaded the dishwasher and she led me to her bedroom.
Emily was different from Louise, shorter and slimmer. Two months later,
a month after our divorce was finalized, I proposed to

(01:00:22):
Emily after a lovely dinner at the Harbor. She rushed
to me when I put the ring on her finger.
At home, she thanked me for making her so happy.
I told the kids about the engagement. Zara was thrilled
as she adored Emily. Matthew was happy, but had hoped
his parents would reconcile. I didn't tell Louise. During the
divorce proceedings, we kept our distance, settling everything without seeing

(01:00:45):
each other. Emily didn't want a lavish wedding, just an
engagement ring, a white dress, and vows to make us
husband and wife. Our second wedding was small, with only
close family and friends. Both my children attended. Matthew was surprised,
but accepted the invitation, showing loyalty to his mother. I
didn't invite Louise, knowing it would hurt her. By then,
we were socializing again and she had visited my house

(01:01:07):
more than once. Emily didn't mind Louise, but she suggested
that my ex wife lived with many regrets. On our
wedding day, Emily was five months pregnant. She was radiant,
looking forward to becoming a mother, and I couldn't wait
to be a father again.

Speaker 1 (01:01:21):
Mark found his happiness the day he married Emily. I
wasn't invited and probably wouldn't have gone if I had been.
Despite everything, I was happy for them. Emily looked beautiful
in the pictures. I had hated her for a while
after Mark moved out, but those feelings faded after she
invited me over and we talked about everything. Marrying Mark

(01:01:44):
had been the best day of my life, matched only
by the birth of our children. I regret asking for
an open marriage and acting on it the next day.
That day, my husband stopped loving and trusting me, marking
the beginning of the end. My relationship with Tom's slowed
down after the divorce. I loved him, but he would
never leave his wife. We eventually ended things amicably, alone

(01:02:09):
in the big house with just my son, as Zara
had moved out for university. I felt the weight of
my decisions. Zara blamed me for everything, but still visited
on weekends. It would take time to fully mend our relationship.
Finding love again was hard. Men like Mark and Tom
were rare. With Mark, I ruined a beautiful marriage, and

(01:02:29):
Tom was a good hearted man who never wanted a
full commitment. I dated occasionally, but found most men insincere.
I was honest about my divorce, which led to harsh
judgments and names. Years later, I met John, who seemed
like a good match. We dated, and though he was
a decent lover, there were no sparks like with Mark
or Tom. I decided to settle for companionship over passion.

(01:02:53):
On Christmas Day, I went to John's apartment, finding it empty.
I discovered an address and drove there find out his
car and another unfamiliar one. At the house, a woman
answered the door. Hello, can I help you? I'm looking
for John and who are you? I'm his mistress. I'm sorry,
but I didn't know he was married. Her eyes darkened.

(01:03:17):
You didn't know he never wore a ring or mentioned you.
I was in an open marriage and never would have
gotten involved if I'd known. She sighed, thanking me as
John appeared. Oh crap, he whispered, You're an idiot, John,
I said, I never would have been involved if i'd
known you were married. Diane, his wife, apologized to me.

(01:03:40):
I'm sorry, Diana. I've been through this before and had
no idea. I looked at John again, You're such an idiot,
and by the way, it's over between us. I never
lied about my past or why I got divorced. I
know I screwed up, but you're just a cheating piece
of crap. Getting back in the car, refused to cry

(01:04:00):
over him. I felt sorry for Diana and hoped they
didn't have kids, or if they did, that they were
groans so the divorce wouldn't affect them. He'd probably claim
I was crazy or lying, but I knew carnal details
about him that only a wife would know. Driving aimlessly
around town, I didn't know where to go. The kids

(01:04:21):
were with Emily Mark and their families, and I didn't
want to intrude, even though I had a standing invitation.
I stopped at the house I'd kept after the divorce,
but couldn't bring myself to go inside and spend Christmas alone. Sighing,
I drove to my ex husband's home. Mark opened the door,
saw me and hugged me. As I cried, I keep

(01:04:41):
ruining everything. I sobbed into his chest. Unexpectedly, I felt
another person hug me. Stay with us. Emily said, you're
still family, Louise. Mark, you were always welcome to join us, Louise,
our children are here and you can spend time with
our daughter. I'll introduce you as a aunt, Louise. I

(01:05:01):
looked at Mark's face. He hadn't changed much since our
divorce and still looked as happy as he did in
the early years of our marriage. Are you sure you're okay?
Both of them held my hands. We're sure, Mark replied.
It's Christmas, a time for family, gratitude and forgiveness. I've

(01:05:22):
already forgiven you, Louise. It's time you forgive yourself. My
daughter smiled and hugged me as I held my grandson.
Mark's parents were friendly as always, and Emily's parents were
polite and welcoming. Matthew hugged me for what felt like hours.
Spending the day with such a loving family made me
smile again. Zara, her husband and child, left in the afternoon,

(01:05:44):
and Matthew left shortly after to see his girlfriend. Both
sets of parents left early, leaving me with Mark, Emily,
and their three year old daughter. I explained what had
happened while we sipped wine. They were sympathetic and understanding.
Mark even offered to confron aunt John, which made me smile.
I couldn't stay all night, but Emily suggested a place

(01:06:05):
for me to stay. I'm going to sell the house.
I told them it's too big for me. Now I'll
find an apartment or something. Please stay to night, Louise,
Mark added, we managed to live together for almost two
years when things were tough. Now, though we're friends, you
don't have to leave, are you sure? I noticed them
glance at each other and smile. Pack your things, Louise,

(01:06:28):
You'll always be welcome here, Emily replied. After a long shower,
I watched from the doorway as Mark read a story
to their daughter, holding back tears, remembering how he had
done the same for our daughter long ago. Heading to
the guest room that Emily had prepared, Mark gave me
a hug before Emily did the same. I hope we

(01:06:48):
can be good friends in the future, she said quietly.
It means I get to see him more often. Do
you still love him? I nodded, barely holding back tears.
I'm so sorry, Louise. I hope you understand. I'm sorry too.
I heard their bedroom door close and shut my own door,
lying in bed, I hated being alone, but it was

(01:07:11):
better than any other option. But being with Mark. I
pondered my life in future. Maybe I should focus on
my career and grandchildren and give up dating. There was
no jealousy in Emily. She had the man she wanted
and I wasn't a threat. Maybe I could just be
her friend. Tomorrow was another day. Eventually I would figure
it out.