When you’re in love, you trust the person you’re with. That’s how it’s supposed to work, right?
That’s how it was for me and Liam, my husband of three years. I never doubted him because there just didn’t seem to be a reason to. Until his birthday rolled around and shattered my faith in love, marriage, and friendship all at once.
I had been excited to plan something special for him—a romantic dinner, a surprise gift, something meaningful. But Liam dropped a bombshell.
“I have to go on a business trip that weekend,” he told me one evening, barely looking up from his suitcase as he packed. “It’s unavoidable. My boss is sending me out of town. I’ll be back Sunday evening.”
I tried to hide my disappointment. “Oh… well, I guess we can celebrate when you get back?”
“Of course,” he said with a forced smile. “We’ll go out to dinner or something.”
Something about the way he said it felt off. But I brushed it aside. After all, work was important.
The night before his birthday, he called a cab and left for the airport. “See you soon!” he said before slamming the door shut.
The next morning, as I was making coffee, my mom called. “Hi, darling! What are you and Liam doing for his birthday?” she asked excitedly.
I sighed, stirring my coffee. “Nothing, Mom. He’s away for work. We’ll celebrate next weekend.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” she said. “Let’s go shopping together today, then. I need to find a gift for Mimi’s baby shower.”
I agreed, hoping a day out with my mom would lift my mood.
We went from store to store, laughing and chatting. My mom was determined to find the perfect, most unconventional gift for Mimi. “We can’t just get her baby clothes! Mimi is eccentric, and you know it,” she insisted, making me chuckle.
After hours of shopping, we were starving. “Let’s get some food,” she said, leading me out of the mall and down the street.
We were in the middle of a conversation about my sister’s new tattoo when my mom suddenly yanked my arm, gasping. “Look,” she hissed, pointing toward a restaurant window.
I turned—and my world stopped.
There, sitting in a cozy booth, impossibly close to each other, were Liam and my best friend, Mandy.
Mandy ran her fingers along his cheek before leaning in to kiss him.
“What in the name of the Lord is going on?” my mom whispered, her eyes wide.
My throat went dry. “That’s Liam,” I said numbly. “And Mandy.”
“Wasn’t he supposed to be out of the state?” my mom asked, stating the obvious.
“He was.” My heart pounded. “But I guess he wanted to spend his birthday with his mistress.”
My mother’s face darkened. “Your best friend did this to you.”
I felt my fists clench. “I should go in there and—”
“No, darling,” my mother interrupted, her voice firm. “That’s exactly what you won’t do. But I have a plan.”
She discreetly took photos of Liam and Mandy, then pulled me away. “Let’s eat first. Then, I’ll tell you how this will go down.”
Her plan was brilliant, but it required patience.
When Liam returned from his so-called business trip, I greeted him with a smile. “Welcome home,” I said sweetly.
The week passed in a blur as I waited for the perfect moment.
On Friday, my mother came over, bringing a thin box with her—a pregnancy test. Earlier that week, she had asked her friend Mimi to use it so the result would be positive.
Then, she handed me two small white frames. “These are nanny cams. Connect them to your phone or computer.”
On Saturday, I invited Mandy and her husband, Steve, over for dinner. The trap was set.
As we set the table, Mandy eyed the food. “Did you cook all of this yourself?”
“Of course,” I said cheerfully. “Tonight is special. I have a big announcement.”
Liam, sitting at the table, perked up. “What is it?”
I pulled the pregnancy test from my pocket and held it up.
Liam’s eyes widened. He hesitated before forcing a smile. “Wow! That’s… amazing news!”
Mandy looked uneasy, but she forced a grin. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” I said smoothly. “And of course, Mandy, you’ll be the baby’s godmother.”
She shifted in her seat. Something was off.
“But there’s something else I need to share,” I continued, looking directly at Steve.
Liam frowned. “What could be more important than us having a baby?”
I took a deep breath and smiled. “The fact that the baby is Steve’s.”
The room went dead silent.
Steve choked on his food. “What?” he gasped. Mandy and Liam stared at me, stunned.
“This is nonsense,” Steve stammered. “That’s impossible.”
I turned to him, my expression serious. “We’ve been seeing each other for over a year now.”
Liam’s face turned red. “You’re lying!”
“Am I?” I tilted my head. “Just like you and Mandy?”
Mandy jumped from her chair. “Trina, what is wrong with you?”
I ignored her and pulled out my phone, opening the nanny cam app. The room filled with their voices from the hidden cameras.
“Does Trina know about us?” Mandy’s voice played. “I don’t want to lose Steve. I married him for money, and nothing will make me give that up.”
Steve paled.
Liam’s voice followed. “Sweetheart, Trina doesn’t know anything. And you look really pretty when you cry…” The sound of kissing echoed through the speakers.
Steve turned to Mandy, his face hard. “How long?” he asked, his voice shaking.
“I just found out myself,” I said. “Also, I’m not pregnant.”
Mandy and Liam sat down, defeated.
Steve pushed his chair back. “You used me for money?” he asked Mandy, his voice cold. “You need to pack your things and leave.”
Mandy sneered. “Finally, we don’t have to hide.”
Steve scoffed. “When we get divorced, you’ll get nothing. There’s a prenup clause for cheating. You’re finished.”
Mandy gasped. “You can’t do that!”
“Oh, but I can,” Steve said, sipping his drink.
I turned to Liam. “You can pack your things, too.”
Liam frowned. “What about the baby?”
“There is no baby,” I said flatly. “I wanted to see if you’d be genuinely happy. You weren’t.”
Liam stormed out after Mandy, his life crumbling around him.
Thankfully, my mother had reminded me that our prenup was just like Steve’s. Liam would leave with nothing but his job—definitely not enough to maintain the lifestyle he was used to.
And with Steve as my witness and all the nanny cam footage saved, I wasn’t worried about how my divorce would go.
I was heartbroken, yes. But as I watched Liam walk away, I felt something else, too.
Justice.
