He was right. Michael and Jessica were both at fault. They were married people who had entered into a relationship with someone else. Mr. Carter and I were the victims.
«Did you know?» he asked.
I nodded. «I saw them by chance a month ago. Together at a cafe. I tried to confirm it afterward, but couldn’t find any evidence.»
Mr. Carter nodded in understanding. «I was the same way. At first, I kept it all to myself. I was suspicious but couldn’t be sure, and I didn’t have proof to confront her. That’s why I hired a professional.»
Hiring an investigator must have been expensive, but for Mr. Carter, it was worth it. To know the truth and to take legal action.
«I’ll make copies of this evidence for you. You’ll need it,» he said.
I was grateful. He was a stranger, but he was helping me as someone in the same predicament. I needed this evidence. It was the irrefutable proof my attorney had talked about.
«I also have the original investigator’s report. It’s organized by date, with location and timestamps all recorded.»
He took out his phone and showed me the file. It was a log of their meetings, compiled in a spreadsheet. Over 30 meetings from October until now were listed meticulously. It was systematic, material that would surely be accepted in court.
«Have you consulted with an attorney?» he asked.
I nodded. «I went a month ago. He said I needed evidence.»
Mr. Carter gave a bitter smile. «That’s right. The law moves on evidence, not emotion. No matter how certain you are, it’s useless if you can’t prove it.»
We sat in silence for a moment, each of us mulling over our own pain. A bond of empathy formed between two people experiencing the same suffering.
«To be honest, I was furious at first. At your husband,» Mr. Carter said.
I understood. I had been angry at Jessica too. The woman who seduced my husband—that’s what I had thought.
«But then I realized, my wife was just as much to blame. She got involved with a married man. They’re both at fault.»
He was right. Michael was wrong. And Jessica was wrong. It wasn’t one person’s fault. It was a relationship they built together, and they had both betrayed their families.
«What are you planning to do?» Mr. Carter asked.
After a long pause, I answered. «I’m going to file for divorce. I’m certain now.»
Mr. Carter nodded. «Me too. I’ve already consulted with an attorney and am preparing for a lawsuit.»
We looked at each other. We were victims in the same situation. People who had been betrayed by their spouses and suffered alone. But now, we were not alone. Just knowing there was someone who understood my pain was a comfort.
«I’ll give you my number. If you need anything, contact me anytime.»
Mr. Carter took out another business card. It had his personal cell phone number on it. I gave him my number as well. We left the cafe. Mr. Carter drove away, and I stood there holding the envelope of evidence.
I now had proof. Clear, undeniable proof. On the way home, a wave of complex emotions washed over me: sadness, anger, betrayal, and strangely, a sense of relief. It was now certain. I no longer needed to doubt or search for evidence.
I arrived home. I sat on the living room sofa and looked through the photos again. Michael and Jessica smiling together, holding hands, kissing. It was all so vivid. I now knew who my husband had been with, for how long, and in what way.
I picked up my phone. I found attorney Robert Johnson’s business card. I was about to dial but stopped. Not yet. I needed a little more time to think. I had the evidence. But now I had to make the real choice.
I looked out the window. The sun was setting. It had been a long day. In the morning, I was alone. But by evening, I had an ally. A man named James Carter, who was in the same position. We were not alone anymore. We were people who had suffered the same pain and faced the same truth.
Three days had passed since I met James. I had gone over the photos and documents he gave me again and again. It hurt every time I looked at them, but it also brought clarity. I no longer had to live with suspicion. I had proof.
I picked up my phone to call my attorney, Robert Johnson, but just before I pressed the number, I stopped. Something didn’t feel right. I was confused about whether I should start the divorce proceedings immediately or wait a little longer.
Just then, my phone rang. It was James. He wanted to meet, saying he had something to discuss. His voice was serious. It sounded important. We agreed to meet at the same cafe.
James was already there when I arrived, sitting at the window table, sipping his coffee. He motioned for me to sit. As I sat down, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
«I have a proposal.»
His expression was grave. I wondered what it could be. James took something out of his bag. It was a black briefcase. He placed it on the table and clicked open the metal latches.
The case was filled with stacks of $100 bills. My breath caught in my throat, and my heart began to pound. The bundles of cash glittered under the fluorescent lights. I couldn’t understand what was happening.
«$100,000. Right now, don’t file for divorce,» James said.
I couldn’t believe my ears. He was offering me $100,000 and telling me not to get a divorce? It didn’t make any sense. Why would he pay for someone else’s divorce, and what were his intentions?
«What are you talking about?» I asked.
James began to explain calmly. «If you file for divorce now, you’ll be the only one who loses. Moving emotionally without evidence will only benefit the perpetrators.»
It sounded similar to what my attorney had said, but James’s words carried a more specific intent.
«Let me tell you my plan. I’m not going to file for divorce right away. I’m going to wait at least three more months.»
I was about to ask why, but he explained first. «I’m waiting for the most legally damaging moment. Let them get in deeper. Let them leave more evidence.»
It was a cold calculation. It wasn’t emotion. It was strategy. James didn’t want revenge; he wanted to respond in a legally flawless way.
«If we sue now, they’ll be startled for a moment, but they’ll soon come up with excuses. They’ll say it was a mistake, a temporary lapse in judgment. But if we give it time and accumulate more evidence, there will be no room for excuses.»
It was logical, it made sense, but there was still a part I didn’t understand.
«But why are you telling me not to get a divorce?»
James took a sip of his coffee and answered. «If you initiate divorce proceedings first, my plan will be ruined. Your husband will become cautious, and my wife will find out. Then they’ll destroy evidence and become more careful.»
I understood. If I moved first, Michael would get nervous, which would be communicated to Jessica, and they would both become guarded. It would interfere with James’s evidence gathering.
«We’re in the same boat, you and I have been wronged in the same way. So let’s end this properly, perfectly, legally.»
James’s gaze was sharp. This wasn’t a proposal; it was a request for collaboration. A call for the victims to join forces and respond effectively. I looked at the briefcase again. One hundred thousand dollars. It was a lot of money. But I felt a sense of resistance. This felt like a deal. It felt like he was buying my divorce with money.
«I’m not getting a divorce because I need money,» I said.
James nodded. «I know. But this is compensation. For the three months you’ll have to endure. I know that’s not an easy thing to do.»
He was right. Enduring for three more months would not be easy; it meant living in the same house with Michael, pretending not to know. It meant sleeping in the same bed with a liar every night.
«To be honest, it’s hard for me too. It’s painful to see my wife every day and pretend I don’t know, but I’m enduring it, to end this properly.»
Emotion crept into James’s voice. He was struggling too. We were suffering the same pain. And through it all, he was collecting evidence and making plans.
«A premature divorce can actually benefit the perpetrators. If you sue now, the assets will be split 50-50, and you won’t get much in alimony. But if we accumulate evidence of an undeniable breakdown of the marriage, things will be different.»
He explained the legal aspects. He had clearly consulted with an attorney. James was prepared. He was approaching this with reason, not emotion.
«We let them develop a deeper relationship. Let them go on a trip together, start living together, maybe even get pregnant. If that happens, there will be absolutely no room for excuses.»
A chill ran down my spine. It was calculating. But he wasn’t wrong. The more evidence there was, the clearer the relationship, the more advantageous it would be in a lawsuit. That’s what James was aiming for.
«The $100,000 is compensation for the time you have to endure, and it’s also a token of my gratitude for your cooperation in my plan.»
He pushed the briefcase towards me. The stacks of cash were packed tightly. It was real. James was serious. I hesitated. Should I accept? Was this the right thing to do?
But on second thought, James was right. If I divorced now, I was unprepared. I had some evidence, but I needed something more definitive.
«So, you’re saying if I move first, your plan will be ruined?»
James nodded. «That’s right. If your husband finds out, he’ll tell my wife, then they’ll either break up immediately or at least become more cautious. It will be harder to gather evidence.»
I understood. We were connected. Just as Michael and Jessica were a couple, James and I were in the same boat. One person’s action would affect the other.
«So what will you do after 3 months?» I asked.
James answered clearly. «We file lawsuits simultaneously. On the same day, at the same time, we both file for divorce and sue the other party for adultery. They won’t have time to react.»
It was strategic. He was like a soldier, a man who planned and prepared everything, a man who prioritized reason over emotion.
«I’ve already consulted with an attorney, and the preparations for the lawsuit are almost complete. You should also find an attorney and quietly prepare.»
He explained it step by step, as if he were outlining a business plan. But this wasn’t business; it was our lives. The end of our marriages.
I was conflicted. On one hand, I wanted to get a divorce immediately. I didn’t want to live with Michael for another moment. But on the other hand, James was right. A rash response could be disadvantageous.
«What if I refuse?»
James thought for a moment and answered honestly. «I can’t stop you. It’s your decision. But I would like to ask for a favor. At least give me time to prepare. Even just one month.»
He was desperate. James was just as tormented as I was. How much effort had he put into gathering evidence and making plans—all of that could be undone by my single choice. I made my decision.
I would accept. I would accept James’s proposal. Not for the money, but because I wanted to end this properly. I didn’t want to give Michael a chance to make excuses.
«All right. I’ll wait three months.»
A look of relief washed over James’s face. «Thank you. You won’t regret it.»
He pushed the briefcase all the way towards me. I took it. It was heavy. Not with the weight of money, but with the weight of my decision. Now I had to endure for three more months, acting like a normal wife next to Michael.
«One more thing. Please don’t let your husband suspect anything. You have to act as you normally do,» James urged.
I nodded. I knew. I had to act. I had to pretend to be an unsuspecting wife.
«I’ll do the same. In front of my wife, I’ll be the husband who knows nothing. I’ll make sure she never finds out.»
We looked at each other. It felt like we were accomplices. But we weren’t plotting something evil. We were preparing a just response, making the betrayers take responsibility.
«Let’s keep contact to a minimum. I’ll contact you discreetly only when necessary,» James said.
I understood. Frequent contact could arouse suspicion. Michael might see my phone, or Jessica might check James’s.
«I’ll let you know if I find out any important information.»
«You should also share anything you discover.»
It was James’s suggestion to share information. To keep each other informed about Michael’s movements, Jessica’s schedule, their meetings.