My ex-husband was ready to start a new chapter, but something about his engagement didn’t sit right with me. A casual conversation at work led to a shocking revelation I couldn’t ignore. When he refused to believe me, I knew I had to show him the truth—no matter how much it would hurt.
I was at work, trying to catch a rare moment of peace. Being a restaurant administrator meant I was constantly on my feet, solving problems, handling complaints, and making sure everything ran smoothly. But for now, the dining area was quiet—no guests needing special requests, no kitchen emergencies, no servers rushing in a panic.
My phone buzzed on the counter, breaking the silence. I glanced at the screen—Aaron. My ex-husband. Curious, I picked it up and tapped on the message.
A photo loaded on my screen. It was David, our son, grinning widely, clutching a massive stuffed animal in his arms. The bright lights of an amusement park sparkled in the background.
A warmth spread through me. I was happy to see Aaron and David having fun together.
Nearby, two of my waitresses were chatting, their voices filled with excitement. Lindsey, a young and lively server, stretched out her hand, showing off a giant diamond ring.
Claire gasped, grabbing Lindsey’s hand. “That stone is huge! Probably visible from space!”
Lindsey laughed, tilting her hand to let the light dance off the diamond. “I know, right? I got so lucky.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. “Is he rich or something?”
Lindsey smirked. “He’s not a millionaire, but he has money. Enough to buy this, at least.”
I frowned. Lindsey had been dating Leo, one of our kitchen staff, for over a year. “Aren’t you with Leo?” I asked.
“I am,” Lindsey said, still admiring the ring.
I stared at her. “Since when was Leo rich?”
Lindsey finally looked at me and smirked. “Leo isn’t. But my fiancé is. That was Leo’s idea, actually.”
I blinked. “What?”
“The plan was simple,” Lindsey said. “Find a rich guy, marry him, divorce him in a few months, take the money. Then Leo and I live the good life.” She twirled the ring on her finger. “Halfway there.”
My stomach twisted. “Don’t you think that’s… cruel?”
Lindsey shrugged. “I don’t love my fiancé, so no.”
“But he might love you,” I said. “He proposed, didn’t he?”
Lindsey waved me off. “That’s his problem. He fell for the fact that I’m younger.”
I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing.
I had married young, for love. Aaron and I had once believed love was enough. But as time passed, we realized we were too different. We wanted different things, solved problems in opposite ways, and saw life from separate perspectives. Letting go had been painful, but necessary.
Despite everything, Aaron and I remained friends. Most importantly, he was an amazing father to David.
That evening, when I got home, Aaron was already at the door with David. My son bounced inside, his face glowing with excitement.
“Mom! We went on the biggest roller coaster! I wasn’t even scared!” he exclaimed, barely pausing for breath.
I smiled, ruffling his hair. “Sounds amazing.”
Aaron, however, stood stiffly behind him, his expression tense.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“We need to talk,” he said. “Privately.”
I nodded and led him to the kitchen.
We sat down at the table. Aaron ran a hand through his hair, his fingers drumming lightly against the wood.
Something was off.
I leaned forward. “Aaron, you’re scaring me. Did something happen?”
He exhaled sharply. “No, nothing bad. Actually… it’s serious. But in a good way.”
I frowned. “Serious in a good way? What do you mean?”
Aaron hesitated. Then, in one breath, he said, “I’m getting married again.”
I blinked. “What? That’s great!” I smiled, trying to reassure him. “I don’t see why you were so worried.”
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought you’d be upset.”
“Upset? Aaron, I’m really happy for you. You deserve to be happy.”
Relief softened his face. “Thanks. I’ll tell David later. I wanted you to know first.”
“Of course. I’m sure he’ll be happy for you too,” I said.
Aaron smiled, more relaxed now.
“So… who is she?” I asked. “Are you going to show me a picture? How did you two meet?”
Aaron chuckled. “I knew you’d ask.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “I came prepared.”
He turned the screen toward me. My stomach dropped. My voice came out flat. “That’s Lindsey. One of my waitresses.”
Aaron shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah. That’s why I was worried about your reaction.”
I looked back at the picture, my mind racing. “How did this even happen?”
Aaron scratched the back of his neck. “I met her when I picked up David from the restaurant. Later, I saw her on a dating app. We started talking… and here we are.”
My hands clenched under the table. I had to tell him.
“Aaron, I need to tell you something,” I said carefully. “And it’s not good.”
Aaron’s face tensed. “If this is about the age difference, I already know. Eleven years. It doesn’t bother us.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. Just today, Lindsey was talking about her fiancé. I didn’t realize she meant you.”
Aaron’s brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”
“She said she’s marrying you just to divorce you and take your money.”
Silence.
Then, suddenly, Aaron’s expression darkened. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you!” he shouted. “I can’t believe you’re making this up!”
“Aaron, it’s the truth!” I protested. “Why would I lie?”
His jaw clenched. “Because you’re jealous!”
I gasped. “Jealous? I’m trying to protect you!”
“You just can’t stand that I found someone younger who actually loves me,” Aaron snapped.
“She has a boyfriend! He works in our kitchen!”
“You’re lying!” His face was red with anger. “I can’t believe you’d sink this low.”
“This conversation is over.” He stormed out, slamming the front door behind him.
I couldn’t let it go. I had to show him the truth—no matter what it took.
(TO BE CONTINUED…)
