I walked quietly into the kitchen and pulled out my phone.
Stephen was at his golf club as usual for Saturday mornings.
I sent him a message telling him to come home immediately because there was an emergency with the house.
He replied that he was in the middle of a game. I sent another message saying that the roof of his office had collapsed and that he needed to come home right away. He answered that he would be there in fifteen minutes.
I returned to the living room where Amber was checking her phone. “Stephen is on his way,” I said.
She smiled again and replied, “Perfect, I wanted to surprise him because we are going to Cabo next week, I booked a villa and everything.”
Cabo was beautiful and extremely expensive.
“Stephen pays of course,” she added proudly, “that is what real men do.”
“How long have you been together?” I asked.
“Six months,” she replied happily, “the best six months of my life because he buys me anything I want and takes me to the best restaurants.”
She leaned forward and added proudly, “Did you know he spent eight thousand dollars on a necklace for my birthday?”
I knew that because I had seen the charge on the credit card statement from our joint account.
“That is generous,” I said quietly.
“Yes he is generous with the right woman,” Amber said smugly, “his wife probably gets grocery store flowers and cheap dinners.”
Just then I heard Stephen’s car pulling into the driveway.
Amber jumped up excitedly and called out, “Stephen, surprise!”
Stephen walked through the door looking worried until he saw Amber standing in the living room.
His face turned pale.
Then he saw me.
He became even paler.
“Amber, what are you doing here?” he asked nervously.
“I came to visit you silly, your helper let me in,” she said cheerfully.
“Your helper?” he repeated while staring at me.
I simply smiled.
Amber looked confused while watching Stephen’s expression change again and again.
Stephen finally said quickly, “This is my administrator, she helps with finances and paperwork around the house.”
Amber relaxed slightly and her confident smile began to return.
I lifted my left hand and showed my wedding ring clearly before speaking calmly. “I am his wife, and I have been for twelve years.”
Amber’s face turned completely white.
She staggered backward and grabbed the doorframe for support while her designer handbag fell to the floor.
Stephen tried to say something but I raised my hand and said calmly, “Both of you sit down because we are going to have an adult conversation.”
They sat on opposite ends of the sofa while I remained standing.
I asked Amber to tell me everything about her relationship with Stephen.
She looked at him nervously but he stared at his hands.
Amber finally began speaking in a shaky voice. “We met six months ago during a hospital fundraiser where Stephen was networking for patient referrals.”
She explained that Stephen told her he was unhappily married to an older woman who did not appreciate him.
Stephen tried to interrupt but I stopped him immediately.
I asked Amber about the money and gifts Stephen had given her.
Her voice trembled as she described expensive restaurants, designer shopping trips, the eight thousand dollar necklace, luxury hotels, and the upcoming twelve thousand dollar villa in Cabo.
