When Lexie discovered her husband and the neighbor’s daughter talking about their affair, she didn’t cry or confront them. Instead, she quietly started planning her next move.
With a clever invitation and an unexpected twist, Lexie turned the betrayal to her advantage, serving up karma with a dash of irony. Revenge had never been so sweet.
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, clean, or get involved in the endless chaos of raising kids. Everything fell on me.
Exhausting?
Yes, but I convinced myself that everything was fine because, after all: “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 day of shopping.
My car was loaded with heavy bags, and I was mentally preparing myself to carry them inside alone.
Mark, as always, wouldn’t lift a finger.
Then, I heard voices on the porch.
It was Mark talking with Emma, the 25-year-old daughter of our neighbors, who had recently returned to the city.
Her parents had been so proud when she landed an internship after studying interior design.
Now, there they were, sitting together, laughing like old friends.
I almost called out a greeting, but something stopped me.
I hid behind the car, blending into the shadows of the bags, and listened.
“I can’t believe she still hasn’t figured it out,” Emma’s voice rang out with a clear laugh.
Mark chuckled softly 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 no competition for you, my princess.”
Emma laughed.
“Well, lucky for you, I’m here now. You can see me whenever you want. And believe me, there’s not a gray hair in sight.”
Then, they kissed.
Did they just kiss?
I gripped one of the bags so tightly it almost ripped.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and a wave of humiliation and anger flooded over me.
They continued talking, flirting openly, completely unaware of my presence.
But instead of breaking down in tears, I didn’t shout. I didn’t confront them.
Instead, I quietly entered the house through the back door and began planning my next move.
The next morning, I woke up with an unexpected calm.
I made Mark his breakfast: fluffy eggs and crispy bacon, just how he liked them.
I brewed his coffee with a sprinkle of cinnamon. I kissed him goodbye and smiled as he left for work.
The moment he left, I went straight to Emma’s door and knocked.
She opened the door, clearly surprised.
“Oh! Hi, Mrs… uh, hi, Lexie,” she stammered, her smile a little 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, her smile faltering.
“Advice? About what?”
“Well,” I hesitated, letting my voice sound unsure. “I’m thinking of redecorating the living room.
Your parents mentioned you studied interior design, and I thought you could help me pick out some colors or furniture.
It won’t take long.”
For a moment, doubt flashed across her face. Then she tilted her head and formed a sly smile.
“Oh, I’d love to help! What time?”
“I think seven would be fine. Just in time for dinner!” I said with a sweet smile. “Thanks so much, Emma. You’re an angel.”
Emma showed up the next evening, dressed to impress. She greeted me with her usual cheer and confidence.
I welcomed her in and made her feel comfortable.
“Oh, before we check out the living room,” I casually said, “I want to show you a few things.”
I led her through the house, showing her key areas of the household duties.
“Here’s the dishwasher. You need to load it every night, since Mark, of course, never does.
The kids’ laundry goes here, but make sure you separate the loads because they’re sensitive to different detergents.”
Emma just stared at me.
“Oh, and here’s the extracurricular activity calendar.
You’ll need to pick them up on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but Wednesdays are free for house chores.
I’ve written down the plumber, electrician, and pediatrician’s numbers, just in case.”
Her smile began to fade, and her face grew increasingly pale.
“And here,” I continued, leading her into the kitchen, where the smell of roasted chicken filled the air, “is where you’ll prepare all the meals.
Let me tell you, in addition to breakfast, school lunches, and work lunches, there are snacks and desserts. It’s a lot of work.
Mark likes his steak medium-rare, by the way. The kids only eat it well-done. The more cooked, the better.”
Emma stood there, dumbfounded.
“Don’t expect Mark to thank you. Manners aren’t exactly his strong suit.
And the kids are very particular. I’m afraid you’ll learn to deal with that.”
She stared at me with wide eyes.
“Uh, Lexie, I’m not sure… I didn’t offer my services as a babysitter.”
At that moment, Mark entered the room. His face turned pale when he saw us.
“Lex, what’s going on here?” he asked, his voice tense and slightly high-pitched.
“Oh,” I said cheerfully. “Maybe I should’ve filled you in too. But I was just showing Emma how to manage the house.
Since you’ve made me feel like I’ve neglected myself, I thought it was time to prioritize myself.
And maybe it’s time to find someone who’ll treat me like a princess. Emma, you’re now in charge of all my duties. Good luck!”
Before either of them could respond, someone knocked on the door.
I opened it, and there stood Emma’s parents, the same couple who often helped watch my kids when I needed a hand.
“Oh! Smells delicious! I told Annie you’d be making your roasted chicken, Lexie,” Emma’s father said happily.
“Thank you for coming, Anne and Howard. And thank you for raising such a helpful daughter,” I said.
“She and Mark got along so well that I thought it was time to bring her into the family.”
“What?” Anne asked, frowning.
“I’m leaving, and Emma will be taking over everything from now on. You really should be proud of your daughter.”
Emma’s mother looked 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’s not what it looks like!” Emma stammered.
Mark, as always, trying to avoid responsibility.
“Lexie, this isn’t fair! Emma came to me! She seduced me!”
“Really?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“So you’re telling me you have no responsibility for hiding with a 25-year-old girl while insulting your wife?”
Mark opened his mouth to respond, but Howard interrupted.
“Mark, this is on you. Emma, this is on you too. We’re leaving. Now.”
Emma shot me a look of pure hatred before storming off. Her parents followed, murmuring 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 for so long… at least you owe me a conversation.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” 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 go.”
“Where should I go?” he asked, lamenting. “My family lives in another state.”
“I don’t care, Mark,” I said, pulling the chicken out of the oven. “Go to a motel. A friend’s place. 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 together.
You’ll be able to tell them the truth after the lawyers reach a settlement. I’m not giving up 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 returned.
“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 couldn’t care less, Mark!” I exploded.
“I really couldn’t care less. So, if you have nothing productive to do here, leave.
The kids are at a playdate, and I won’t be picking them up for hours.”
Then I shut the door, leaving him speechless.
It’s been months since then, and I’ve never been happier. I’ve rediscovered parts of myself I thought were lost.
I started dancing salsa, and with it came confidence, joy, and freedom in waves.
Amid the chaos, my kids and I found a new rhythm, one filled with 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 our way. And Howard comes by to sweep the leaves in our yard.
Karma is a funny thing, isn’t it?