I stared at my phone, disbelief washing over me as Lisa, the woman dating my soon-to-be ex-husband, Michael, spoke in a panicked voice.
“Hello? Is this Emily?” she asked, trembling.
“Yes, this is Emily,” I replied, my heart racing. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Michael,” she blurted. “He’s been lying to me. He’s not who I thought he was.”
Confused but oddly satisfied, I asked, “What do you mean?”
“He told me he was divorced and ready to start a family,” Lisa explained, her voice shaking. “But I just found out he’s still married to you… and I’m pregnant.”
My breath caught. Pregnant? Michael was going to be a father again, but not with me. Despite the pain, I felt a strange sense of vindication. After all his lies, karma had finally caught up to him.
“I’m so sorry, Emily,” Lisa continued, her voice breaking. “I didn’t know he was still married. I don’t know what to do.”
Sympathy washed over me. No one deserved to suffer because of Michael’s deceit. “Lisa,” I said reassuringly, “you don’t deserve this. I’ll help you figure it out.”
As we talked, I felt a sense of déjà vu. I had been in her shoes, blindsided by Michael’s betrayal. But now, offering her support, I realized how far I’d come. Though I was the one cheated on, Michael had lost everything—his marriage, his credibility, and now, another woman’s trust.
Hanging up, I felt closure. My plan had worked. It was time to move on and leave Michael behind for good.
