The husband and his mistress were enjoying a carefree beach vacation while the wife was carrying heavy grocery bags home and watching the kids. However, the trip abruptly ended when he received a message on his phone that included pictures, and he froze in panic 
The spouse was idly gazing out to sea while lying on his side. The mistress was spread out next to him. She was wearing sunglasses, had sunscreen all over her skin, and had a subtle smile on her lips all the time—the smile of someone who always manages to get away with everything. Without taking off her spectacles, she turned to face him, balanced herself on one elbow, and inquired in a sarcastic tone:
“And your wife… that stupid woman had no suspicions at all?”
He shrugged and grinned as though it were a silly question.
“No. She is not concerned about it.
With a little inclination of her head, she asked, “How does it not concern her?” “You mean she’s at home? And you’re with me here. Did she truly feel nothing?
He spoke in a cool, almost languid voice, stretching as though the subject was boring him:
She is too busy for that. She never stops being occupied. Daycare, homework, cooking, and laundry are all planned. That’s what she believes life is all about. and that everything is good between us.
The mistress snorted quietly.
“Easy. Such a wife is an ideal. She bears the weight of everything while you unwind. But tell me,” she said, carefully removing her sunglasses and meeting his gaze. “When will you end up divorcing her?”
He seemed to have been ready for that question for a long time because he didn’t avert his gaze.
“Soon.” Very soon.
She chuckled, “How long have you been saying that?” “A year? Two? I can’t wait forever since I’m not twenty.
He answered forcefully, “I said soon.” “I have to do everything correctly. Without controversy.
The mistress squinted.
“Obviously. I take it that she continues to endure everything while remaining silent? She won’t go, you know that.
Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a second thought came to him. His wife truly carried everything by herself at home. She hauled bulky bags from the shop in the mornings, spent the day solving the kids’ problems nonstop, and then fell asleep in the evenings without even eating enough. And he had stopped noticing since he was so accustomed to it. He thought it was usual.
Stretching and adjusting a strand of hair, the mistress replied, almost softly but with a cold in her voice:
“All right. I will purchase some water. Don’t get bored; stay here.
She got up, grabbed her beach bag, and headed for the café. The spouse stayed beneath the palm tree. He glanced at his phone resting on the blanket beside him, then at the ocean.
And just then, a message came through. from his spouse.
He didn’t even tighten up at first. More issues, he thought, something concerning the children again. He was ready to sigh impatiently when he opened the conversation. However, there was just one picture.
He tapped it and was appalled by what he saw
It was a screenshot taken during a conversation. And he recognized its owner right away. It was a familiar number.
The mistress was talking. with a different man.
Immediately, his fingertips were frigid. After reading the first line, he was astounded.
“Avoid being connected. The money is the sole reason I’m with him.
He blinked. Read it once more. and began to scroll down.
“This bald guy believes that I adore him.” I don’t give a damn. The fact that he pays and drives me around is what matters most. Living with him is not something I intend to do.
He started breathing shallowly. His heart was thumping in his chest. He instinctively put his palm over his mouth, as though he was worried that a sound may leak out.
“There is another use for you. I enjoy myself with you, but he’s the one with the money. When I’m with him, don’t text me. And we only have covert meetings.
His eyes grew gloomy. As he sat there looking at the screen, it dawned on him that he had been nothing more than a wallet.
And that wasn’t even the worst part.
His wife knew everything, which was the worst.
Beneath the picture, he spotted the message. His wife sent him a brief note, free of panic, yelling, or lengthy justifications.
“Everything made sense to me. Furthermore, you are not hers. To her, you are just one of many. Now, make your own decision about where to reside.
