When Lexie discovers her husband and the neighbor’s daughter talking about their affair, she doesn’t cry or confront them directly. Instead, she begins to plot her next move.
With a clever invitation and an unexpected twist, Lexie turns the betrayal to her advantage and serves karma with a touch of irony. Revenge has never been so satisfying.
My husband Mark and I had been married for ten years.
Two kids, a mortgage, and what I thought was a stable life kept us together. Of course, Mark wasn’t much help around the house.
He didn’t cook, didn’t clean, and didn’t get involved in the endless chaos of raising the kids. It all fell on me.
Exhausting?
Yes, but I convinced myself everything was fine because: “We’re a team, Lexie.”
But apparently, Mark had decided to join another team.
It all started with a shopping bag.
I had just returned from a long, exhausting shopping trip.
My car was filled with heavy bags, and I was mentally preparing to carry them into the house alone.
Mark, as always, wouldn’t lift a finger.
Then I heard voices on the porch.
It was Mark talking to Emma, the 25-year-old daughter of our neighbor, who had recently returned to town.
Her parents had been so proud when she got an internship after studying interior design.
Now, there they were, sitting, laughing like old friends.
I was about to say “Hello,” but something stopped me.
I hid behind the car, in the shade of the bags, and listened.
“I can’t believe she still hasn’t figured it out,” Emma said with a crystal-clear laugh.
Mark chuckled in response.
“She’s so busy with the kids and the house, Em. Lexie doesn’t notice anything anymore.
And she’s getting gray. She just styles her hair differently to hide it.
Honestly, I don’t see her as a woman anymore. She’s got nothing on you, my princess.”
Emma laughed.
“Well, lucky for you I’m here now. You can see me whenever you want. And believe me, not a gray hair in sight.”
Then they kissed.
They kissed?
I squeezed one of the bags so hard that it nearly ripped.
My eyes filled with tears, and a wave of humiliation and rage swept over me.
They kept talking, flirting shamelessly, completely unaware of my presence.
But apart from a few tears, I didn’t really cry. I didn’t shout. I didn’t confront them.
Instead, I silently went into the house through the back door and started plotting.
The next morning, I woke up with a calmness that surprised me.
I made Mark’s breakfast: fluffy eggs and crispy bacon, just how he liked it.
I made his coffee with a hint of cinnamon. I kissed him goodbye and smiled as he went off to work.
As soon as he left, I went straight to Emma’s door and knocked.
Emma opened the door, visibly surprised.
“Oh! Hello, Mrs… uh, hello, Lexie,” she stammered with a smile that was too wide.
“Hello, Emma,” I said warmly. “I wanted to ask if you could stop by tomorrow night. I need your advice on something.”
She blinked, and her smile faltered.
“Advice? About what?”
“Well,” I hesitated, letting my voice sound unsure. “I’m thinking about redecorating the living room.
Your parents mentioned you studied interior design, and I thought you could help me choose colors or furniture.
It won’t take much time.”
For a moment, doubt crossed her face. Then she tilted her head and gave a sly smile.
“Oh, I’d love to help! What time?”
“I think 7 would be fine. Just in time for dinner!” I said with a sweet smile. “Thank you so much, Emma. You’re an angel.”
Emma arrived the next evening, dressed to impress. She greeted me with her usual cheer and confidence.
I welcomed her warmly and invited her in.
“Oh, before we see the living room,” I said casually, “I want to show you a few things.”
I guided her around the house, showing her key areas of household responsibilities.
“Here’s the dishwasher. You should load it every night because Mark, of course, doesn’t.
The kids’ clothes go here, but make sure to separate the loads because they’re sensitive to different detergents.”
Emma just stared at me.
“Oh, and here’s the extracurricular activities calendar.
You have to pick them up on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but Wednesdays are free for household chores.
I wrote down the plumber’s, electrician’s, and pediatrician’s numbers, just in case.”
Emma’s smile started to fade, and her face grew paler.
“And here,” I said, leading her to the kitchen where the aroma of roasted chicken filled the air, “is where you’ll prepare all the meals.
And let me tell you, besides breakfast, school and work lunches, there are snacks and desserts, and it’s quite a lot of work.
Mark likes his steak medium, by the way. The kids only eat it well done. The more cooked, the better.”
Emma stood there, wide-eyed.
“Don’t expect Mark to thank you. Manners aren’t exactly his strong suit.
And the kids are very picky. I’m sorry to say, but you’ll learn to deal with that.”
She looked at me with wide eyes.
“Uh, Lexie. I’m not sure… I don’t think… I didn’t offer my babysitting services.”
At that moment, Mark walked into the room. His face went pale when he saw us.
“Lex, what’s going on here?” he asked in a tense, slightly high voice.
“Oh,” I said cheerfully. “Maybe I should have clued you in. But I was just showing Emma how to handle the house.
Since you think I’ve been neglecting it, I thought it was time for me to prioritize myself.
And maybe it’s also time to find someone who treats me like a princess. Emma, from now on, you’ll handle all my tasks. Good luck!”
Before either of them could respond, someone knocked on the door.
I opened it, and there were Emma’s parents, the same couple who often helped take care of my kids when I needed it.
“Oh! It smells delicious! I told Annie you’d make your roast chicken, Lexie,” Emma’s father said happily.
“Thanks for coming, Anne and Howard. And thanks for raising such a helpful daughter,” I said.
“She and Mark got along so well, I thought it was time to integrate her into the family.”
“What?” Anne asked, frowning.
“I’m leaving, and Emma will take care of everything from now on. You can really be proud of your daughter.”
Emma’s mother seemed confused. Her father, on the other hand, looked angry.
“Emma,” her mother said. “Tell me this isn’t true. Tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
“It’s not what it looks like!” Emma stammered.
Mark, as always, trying to avoid blame.
“Lexie, this isn’t fair! Emma came to me! She seduced me!”
“Really?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“So you’re saying you have no responsibility in hiding with a 25-year-old girl while insulting your wife?”
Mark opened his mouth to respond, but Howard interrupted him.
“Mark, this is your fault. Emma, this is also your fault. We’re leaving. Now.”
Emma shot me a look full of hatred before running off. Her parents followed her, muttering thousands of apologies as they left.
Mark turned to me, desperation written all over his face.
“Lexie, please, darling,” he said. “Let’s talk. We’ve been together so long… at least you owe me a conversation.”
“Oh, darling,” I said. “We’ll talk, don’t worry. My lawyer will call you tomorrow.
But for now, I think you should pack your things and leave.”
“Where am I supposed to go?” he asked, lamenting. “My family lives in another state.”
“I don’t care, Mark,” I said as I took the chicken out of the oven. “Go to a motel. A friend. Join a circus.”
“But the kids? Where are the kids?”
“They’re with my sister. And they’ll stay there until you get your life in order.
You can tell them the truth after the lawyers settle things. I’m not going down without a fight, Mark.”
A week later, I heard through rumors that Emma had left Mark.
“It was fun while it lasted, but I’m not committed to being a mother. Not for him or his kids.”
Two weeks later, Mark came back.
“What do you want?” I asked, seeing the bouquet of flowers in his hands.
“I’ve been so miserable without you,” he said, almost pleading. “Please, let me come back. Please, Lexie. We can fix this. I miss the kids. I miss our family.”
“I don’t give a damn, Mark!” I exploded.
“I really don’t give a damn. So, if you have nothing productive to do here, leave.
The kids are at a playdate, and I won’t pick them up for a few hours.”
Then I closed the door, leaving him speechless.
Months have passed since then, and I’ve never been happier. I’ve rediscovered parts of myself I thought were lost.
I started taking salsa dancing, and with the dance came confidence, joy, and freedom in waves.
In the midst of the chaos, my kids and I found a new rhythm, one full of laughter and love.
And Mark? He’s still alone. And from what I’ve heard, Emma’s parents aren’t happy with her either.
But Anne bakes cookies and cakes and often sends them to us. And Howard comes to sweep the leaves in our garden.
Karma is a funny thing, isn’t it?