Lexie had been married to Mark for ten years. A decade of love, kids, and a home they built together—or at least, that’s what she thought. Mark had never been the most helpful husband. He never cooked, cleaned, or handled the chaos of raising their two children. It was always Lexie doing everything, running the house like a well-oiled machine.
It was exhausting.
But she convinced herself, “We’re a team, Lexie. That’s what marriage is.”
Except, apparently, Mark had decided to join a different team.
It all started on an ordinary afternoon when Lexie came home from grocery shopping. She parked the car, already dreading hauling the heavy bags inside alone. As she stepped out, she heard voices coming from the front porch.
Mark’s voice.
And Emma’s.
Emma was their 25-year-old neighbor, the golden girl of the block. She had recently moved back home after finishing her degree in interior design. Her parents beamed with pride whenever they spoke about her.
Lexie was about to call out a greeting, but something made her stop. Hidden behind the car, she listened.
“I can’t believe she hasn’t figured it out yet,” Emma giggled.
Mark chuckled. “She’s always so busy with the kids and housework. She barely notices anything else. She’s even getting gray hair, but she just brushes it the other way to hide it. Honestly, she’s let herself go. She doesn’t even look like a woman to me anymore. She’s nothing compared to you, my princess.”
Emma giggled again, the sound sharp and cruel. “Lucky for you, I’m here now. You can show me off all you want. And trust me, no gray hair in sight.”
Then, they kissed.
Lexie’s heart clenched. Her hands tightened around a grocery bag, the plastic digging into her fingers. Tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t cry. She didn’t scream or storm up the porch demanding answers. No. She took a deep breath and carefully carried the groceries inside through the back door.
She had a better idea.
The next morning, Lexie woke up feeling strangely calm. She made Mark his favorite breakfast—fluffy eggs, crispy bacon, and coffee with a hint of cinnamon. She kissed him goodbye as if nothing had changed. He smiled, completely unaware of what was coming.
Once he was gone, she strolled over to Emma’s house and knocked on the door.
Emma answered, looking surprised. “Oh! Hi, Mrs.—um, hi, Lexie.”
Lexie smiled warmly. “Hi, Emma. I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
Emma blinked. “Help? With what?”
“I’ve been thinking of redecorating my living room. Your parents told me you studied interior design, and I could really use some advice. Would you be free tomorrow evening?”
For a moment, Emma hesitated, but then her lips curled into a sly smile. “Oh, I’d love to help! What time?”
Lexie’s smile never wavered. “Seven. Dinner time.”
Emma showed up the next evening, dressed to impress. Her confidence radiated as she stepped inside.
Lexie greeted her warmly. “Oh, before we get to the living room, let me show you a few things.”
She led Emma through the house, casually pointing things out. “Here’s the dishwasher. You’ll need to load it every night—Mark doesn’t bother, of course. The kids’ laundry goes here, and make sure to separate the loads.”
Emma’s smile wavered.
“Oh! And here’s the schedule for their after-school activities. You’ll have to pick them up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ve written down the numbers for the plumber, electrician, and pediatrician—just in case.”
Emma’s face paled. “Uh, Lexie, I don’t think—”
Lexie led her into the kitchen, where the smell of roast chicken filled the air. “And this is where you’ll prep all the meals. Mark likes his steak medium-rare. The kids prefer theirs completely cooked through. The deader, the better.”
Emma gasped.
“Mark won’t thank you, by the way,” Lexie continued cheerfully. “Manners aren’t really his thing. And the kids are picky eaters, but you’ll figure it out.”
“Lexie, I… I didn’t sign up to babysit!” Emma stammered, eyes wide.
Just then, the front door opened.
Mark walked in, freezing when he saw them. “Lexie, what’s going on?” His voice was tight with panic.
Lexie beamed. “Oh, I forgot to tell you—I’m leaving. Since you think I’ve let myself go, I figured I should prioritize myself. Emma’s going to take over everything I do.”
Mark’s face drained of color.
Before either of them could respond, a knock sounded at the door. Lexie opened it to reveal Emma’s parents.
“Oh, it smells delicious!” Emma’s father, Howard, said. “I told Anne you were making roast chicken.”
Lexie smiled. “Thanks for coming, Howard, Anne. And thank you for raising such a helpful daughter! She and Mark have gotten so close, I thought it was time to make her part of the family.”
Anne’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“I’m leaving,” Lexie said sweetly. “Emma will be taking over everything now.”
Anne’s eyes darted to her daughter. “Emma, tell me this isn’t true.”
“It’s not what it looks like!” Emma stammered.
Mark, desperate, threw her under the bus. “Lexie, this isn’t fair! Emma came onto me!”
Lexie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you’re saying you had no choice in sneaking around with a 25-year-old?”
Howard’s face darkened. “Mark, Emma—this is on both of you. We’re leaving. Now.”
Emma shot Lexie a venomous glare before storming out. Her parents muttered apologies as they followed.
Mark turned to Lexie, desperate. “Babe, please. Let’s talk. We’ve been together so long—you owe me that.”
Lexie took the chicken out of the oven. “Oh, we’ll talk. My lawyer will call you tomorrow. But for now, pack your bags.”
“Where am I supposed to go?” he whined.
“I don’t care,” Lexie said. “Go to a motel. Join the circus.”
“And the kids?”
“They’re with my sister. They’ll stay there until the lawyers figure things out.”
A week later, Lexie heard Emma had dumped Mark. “It was fun while it lasted,” she’d told a friend. “But I didn’t sign up to play mom.”
Two weeks later, Mark came back, holding flowers. “Lexie, I’ve been miserable without you. Please, let’s fix this.”
Lexie laughed. “I don’t care, Mark. Goodbye.”
She closed the door.
Months later, Lexie was thriving. She took up salsa dancing. She rediscovered herself. And her kids? Happier than ever.
As for Mark? Still single. Emma? Still in trouble with her parents. But Anne baked pies for Lexie, and Howard raked her leaves.
Karma had done its job well.
