When Trina’s husband Liam’s birthday comes around, she gets excited to plan something for his special day. But he reveals that he’ll be away for work on her birthday. Later, the surprises continue when Trina discovers that her best friend is having an affair with her husband. Naturally, Trina plans a surprise in response.
When you’re in love, you trust the person you’re with. That’s how it’s supposed to work, right?
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
I mean, that’s how it was for me and Liam, my husband of three years. I never doubted him because there didn’t seem to be any reason to.
Until her birthday came around and shattered my faith in love, marriage and friendship.
Liam’s birthday came around and he told me he had an urgent business trip to another city. He assured me he couldn’t refuse and promised we would celebrate later.
Man telling his wife about his trip | Source: Pexels
“I’m sorry, Trina,” he said. “But you know how important work is and I can’t say no to something like that. Work is the only way we can afford our lifestyle.”
It bothered me that every time I needed to work, Liam would always bring up the subject of “affording our lifestyle.”
“So,” he continued, “when I get back, we can celebrate by going out to dinner or something.”
Close-up of a sad woman | Source: Midjourney
He took a suitcase out of the closet and began packing.
“I’ll be back on Sunday night,” he said.
Naturally, my heart skipped a beat, but what else could I do?
An open suitcase on the floor | Source: Pexels
“Okay,” I said. “We can do this.”
The night before his birthday, Liam called a taxi and headed to the airport.
“I’ll see you soon,” he said, closing the taxi door behind him.
A yellow taxi parked in front of a house | Source: Pexels
The next day, while I was making breakfast, my mother called me.
“Hey, sweetie,” she said excitedly. “What do you and Liam have planned for his birthday weekend?”
“Nothing, Mom,” I replied, taking a sip of my coffee. “Actually, Liam is away for the weekend. It’s for work, so I had no choice. We’re celebrating his birthday next weekend.”
A woman in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“Too bad,” my mother said. “But then, shall we do something together today? I also have to buy a gift for Mimi’s baby shower.”
“Perfect,” I replied. “I’ll take a shower and then I’ll come find you.”
My mom and I went to about eight different stores trying to find something for her friend’s daughter’s baby shower.
Baby clothes on hangers | Source: Midjourney
“Come on, Trina,” my mother said. “We can’t buy conventional gifts for Mimi! She’s eccentric and I’m sure that will rub off on the baby.”
“You’re not wrong,” I chuckled.
After a while, we were both hungry and needed to sit down and rest for a while.
A smiling mother-daughter duo | Source: Unsplash
“Let’s go get something to eat,” said my mother, who was already leaving the mall and heading across the street.
As we walked down the street, my mother saw something that was about to change my marriage.
“It’s too big and too colorful for me…” I said, talking about my sister’s new tattoo, when my mother pulled me by the arm, pointing in the direction of a restaurant window.
A woman with a tattoo holding a bottle | Source: Unsplash
“Mira”, siseó.
And there they were. My husband and my best friend. Sitting impossibly close to each other at a restaurant table.
Mandy ran her hand down my husband’s cheek before leaning in to kiss him.
A couple in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“What in the name of the Lord is going on?” my mother exclaimed, her eyes wide. “It’s Liam, right? And Mandy?”
I nodded.
“Yeah. That’s Liam,” I said.
“Wasn’t he supposed to be out of state?” she asked, stating the obvious lie my husband had told me.
A shocked elderly woman | Source: Pexels
“Yes, he was. But I guess he wanted to spend his birthday with his lover.”
“Your best friend did this to you,” my mother said, her tone flat.
“I should go in and confront them, shouldn’t I?” I shuffled.
Close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
“No, honey,” my mother said, starting to push me away. “That’s exactly what you won’t do. But I have a plan.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked, looking at the blissfully oblivious couple at the window.
“Trust your mother, Trina,” he said.
My mother discreetly took a few photos of Liam and Mandy and took me to a salad bar a few doors down.
A smiling older woman | Source: Unsplash
“Let’s eat and then I’ll tell you how this is going to end.”
We ordered our salads, my anxiety coming and going in waves.
My mother’s plan was brilliant, but it required patience on my part.
“Trust the process, Trina,” she told me. “It’s the only way everything will work out for everyone involved.”
A salad bar | Source: Unsplash
When Liam returned from his supposed business trip, I greeted him with a happy face.
“Welcome home,” I said, forcing a smile.
The week flew by as I waited to execute my mother’s plan.
“Hi, honey,” she said when I opened the door on Friday afternoon. “Is Liam still at work?”
A person opening an entrance door | Source: Pexels
“Yes, do you have everything I need?” I asked.
My mother gave me a pregnancy test that was packaged in a fancy box. Earlier that week, I had asked Mimi to use it so that the result would be positive.
Then he gave me the nanny cams, hidden in two small white frames.
A person holding a pregnancy test | Source: Pexels
“You’re supposed to plug it into your computer or phone and everything should be fine.”
On Saturday, Mandy and Steve came over for dinner, as I had invited them during the week.
And just like that, the stage was set.
“Did you really cook all this by yourself?” Mandy asked, helping me set the table.
A woman setting the table | Source: Pexels
“Yeah, sure,” I replied. “It’s an important evening. I have a big announcement to make.”
“Really?” my husband asked from his place at the table. “What is it about?”
I pulled the pregnancy test out of my pocket and waved it in the air.
Liam’s eyes widened and he pretended to be happy.
Close-up of a surprised man | Source: Midjourney
“Wow!” he said. “That’s a big surprise.”
Mandy looked at me uncertainly, a hesitant smile on her lips.
“Congratulations, guys!” he said.
“Thank you,” I replied. “Of course, you’ll be the baby’s godmother!”
Close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
Mandy looked nervous, but she picked up a piece of roasted carrot and popped it into her mouth.
“But there’s something else I have to share too,” I said.
“What could be more important than having a baby?” Liam asked.
“The fact that the baby is Steve’s,” I said nonchalantly.
The room fell silent as Steve choked on his food.
“What?” he exclaimed in unison with Mandy and Liam.
“This doesn’t make sense,” Steve said. “It’s not possible.”
Close-up of a shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“We’ve been dating for over a year,” I said, looking at Steve.
I almost laughed at my own lies.
“I think it’s time we came clean,” I continued. “Just like Liam and Mandy. You can come clean too.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Liam replied. “It seems like your hormones are getting to you and you’re out of it.”
Close-up of an angry man | Source: Midjourney
Mandy ran to the bathroom crying, with Liam hot on her heels.
As soon as they were gone, Steve turned to me, panic in his eyes.
“How could you lie?” he asked me.
I pulled out my phone and went into the app that allowed me to view the nanny cam recordings.
A woman with a phone in her hand | Source: Unsplash
“For this,” I said, moving closer to him.
“Does Trina know about us?” Mandy asked Liam, her voice echoing in the bathroom. “I don’t want to lose Steve. I married him for money, and nothing will make me give that up.”
Steve was speechless.
“Honey, Trina’s just being Trina. She doesn’t know anything. Plus, you look so cute when you cry…”
Their voices faded and the sound of kisses took over.
“How long?” Steve asked. “How long has this been going on?”
“I just found out,” I said. “I’m not pregnant either.”
Close-up of an expressionless woman | Source: Unsplash
Mandy and Liam walked back to the table and sat down, avoiding eye contact.
“So you’ve been cheating on me and taking my money?” Steve snapped. “You need to pack your stuff and get out.”
“Finally,” Mandy blurted out. “We don’t have to hide anymore.”
“You’ll have nothing when I’m done with you,” Steve said. “When we get divorced, you’ll have nothing to your name except the clothes you own. There’s a clause in our prenup about cheating. Mandy, you’re done. It’s time to get a job.”
Mandy let out a loud gasp.
A man writing on a piece of paper | Source: Unsplash
“You can’t leave me with nothing,” she whimpered.
“I can,” Steve said, picking up his brandy glass.
I turned to Liam, my voice firm.
“You can pack your things too,” I said.
“And the baby?” she asked, her eyebrows almost touching as she frowned.
“There is no baby,” I replied. “I just wanted to see if you were really excited about the idea of a baby. But you’re not.”
A glass of alcohol | Source: Unsplash
Furious, my husband followed Mandy out the door. Luckily for me, my mother remembered that when Liam and I got married, our prenuptial agreement was similar to Mandy and Steve’s. Liam would only be left with his job.
That wouldn’t be enough to maintain the lifestyle we were used to because as important as Liam thought his job was, mine was just as vital.
With Steve as a witness and the nanny cam recording everything, I wasn’t worried about how my divorce would play out. I had plenty of evidence for the court if Liam decided to challenge anything.
The prenuptial agreement being signed | Source: Pexels
Even though I’m devastated, I feel a sense of justice for myself and Steve.
What would you have done?
If you liked this story, here’s another one for you.
Man finds out about his girlfriend’s betrayal – He goes to the altar with a remote control in his hands
A couple kneeling before a priest | Source: Unsplash
Daphne is in the middle of her brother’s wedding. As a bridesmaid, she has an obligation to Denise. But when Liam shocks everyone with a video revealing Denise’s latest secrets, Daphne has no choice but to choose her brother, even if what he’s done is humiliating to Denise.
Read the full story here .
This work is inspired by real people and events, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not guarantee the accuracy of events or the depiction of characters, and are not responsible for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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