I was exhausted and happy as a mother. I welcomed our son Leo six months ago, and life has been a diaper tornado. Motherhood was both joyful and exhausting. Since giving birth to Leo six months ago, life has been a blur of diapers, restless nights, and overwhelming love. Brandon, my husband, understood how exhausted I was and started walking Leo every night to give me a break.
Small, sweet gestures like this made marriage worthwhile. I trusted him until the night he misplaced his phone and everything came apart.
After work, Brandon arrived home with sleeves pulled up and tie unfastened.
“You look wrecked, Elle,” he remarked gently, caressing my forehead as I bounced a fussing Leo.
“That obvious?”
He suggested, “Let me take him.” “Why don’t I walk him every night? That gives you peace.”
You’d do that? Feeling touched, I asked.
His grin was pleasant. You deserve it. Also, I miss him during the day.”
I took my first bath in months that night. The peace was luxurious. Brandon seemed happy than I had seen him in weeks when he returned with Leo snoozing in his stroller.
“How was your walk?”
“Perfect. I suggest making this our new routine.”
It began. Brandon took Leo out at 6:30 every night while I rested at home. I thought we had equilibrium for a while.
But then I saw something weird.
He always looked refreshed after these walks. Charged almost too much. Suspicious happiness. I attempted to ignore paranoia because I wanted to trust in my spouse as a caring father.
Up till night.
His phone buzzed on the kitchen counter after he left with Leo. His supervisor called. I planned to capture him and give it to him.
After getting my coat, I went outside and spotted him halfway down the block. Was ready to shout but paused. A gut feeling stopped me.
I followed remotely.
To my astonishment, Brandon didn’t go to the park. Instead, he navigated downtown’s packed sidewalks with the stroller like a pro.
He stopped at a chic café I’d never seen him mention.
Then she arrived.
Tall, classy, confident. A shiny dark-haired woman with a street-lighting smile that targeted my spouse. She bent to coo at Leo and effortlessly kissed Brandon’s face.
I froze. My ears roared with my heartbeat.
She nonchalantly held the stroller handle alongside him as they entered the café. Standing on the pavement, I said, “No…” with a broken heart
Not confronting him that night. I went home, put his phone away, and pretended to snooze when he came back.
“How was your walk?” Groggy, I asked.
He grinned. Same as always. Park was lovely.”
Smooth, effortless lie.
I lay awake looking at the ceiling as he slept near me. Who was this man? Unsure of what else I missed.
Next evening, I told Brandon I wanted a nap. After he departed, I followed him prepared. They reunited again outside, and I observed from afar. She stroked Leo’s small fingers, smiled at Brandon’s jokes, and leaned forward.
I wanted evidence. I needed honesty.
The next morning, I bought a lifelike Leo-sized baby doll at a toy store. After hiding a baby monitor under the pram cover, I kept Leo secure in our bedroom.
I gave Brandon the stroller when he got home that night. He didn’t look inside.
“Have a good walk,” I said.
“We always do,” he said.
He departed, so I turned on the monitor and followed surreptitiously.
Yes, they met again at the café. Sitting across from her, Brandon appeared calm, like this was his life.
Across the monitor, her voice cracked. You sure this is okay? Feel bad.”
Brandon answered, “It’s fine,” drinking his drink. “Elle’s too tired to notice. She trusts me completely.”
Tightened my receiver grip.
“I just don’t want to hurt her,” she added.
Hurt her? Brandon chuckled. “Please. Just for Leo, I married her. Once she gets her grandmother’s bequest, I’m set. I am a loving parent, ideal spouse, and nightly stroller walker. My performance is perfect.”
World blurred. I stood up, pulse pumping, enraged. I moved without thinking.
“Oh, don’t stop on my account,” I said, approaching them.
Brandon spun, nearly choking on coffee. A lady gasped.
“Elle?!”
I pulled aside the blanket to see the doll.
What’s this? Brandon questioned, terrified.
“I was going to ask you the same.”
Flustered, she stood. “You said she knew…”
Knew what? I snapped. “You’re in his little scam? Trying to get inherited money while claiming to be good?
Brandon was reaching for me. Elle, let’s discuss.”
“No, Brandon. You spoke. Every syllable was heard. Had to marry me? ‘She won’t notice’? You detest me.”
I removed my wedding ring and placed it on the table quietly, sharply.
“I hope she’s worth it,” I muttered, staring the other lady in the eyes. “You threw away a family for a lie.”
They were stunned when I turned and left.
I was called by Brandon. Not looking back.
Divorce was swift. Brandon didn’t dispute custody or the house. Maybe he knew I caught him well. Maybe he didn’t care.
After a few months, my best friend Sabrina phoned.
“You’ll never guess what I just saw,” she remarked. “Brandon. Screaming at her outside the café. She’s engaged—to another! Apparently, Brandon was her sidekick. He urged her to explain, but she appeared bored.”
A chuckle. Out of release, not delight.
I asked, “Send me the video,” even though I didn’t need it.
Watching it afterward brought surprising calm.
“Your dad thought he was clever,” I told Leo, who played blissfully on the living room floor. “But karma? Not missed.”
Years passed. Leo grew. I rebuilt my life—better career, friends, and perhaps love.
Only in the grocery store did I see Brandon again. Looked smaller. Diminished.
“Elle,” he whispered. “He’s grown.”
I responded, “Kids grow,” hoisting Leo into the trolley.
I’ve been thinking—
I stopped him, “Don’t.” “Don’t say anything.”
“I made a mistake,” he remarked.
“I know.” I advanced the cart. „You lost everything for it.”
“Can I see him?”
“Pay child support first. On time.”
Leo waved happily as we passed him. “Bye-bye!”
He had no idea who it was. Not telling him.
Not all tales require retelling.
What about that inheritance? I trust it for Leo. Love should be earned, not exploited.
The best revenge? Not destruction.
It’s calm.
