My ex-husband was ready to move on, but there was something about his commitment that didn’t sit right with me. A casual conversation at work turned into a revelation I couldn’t ignore. He refused to believe me, so I had to show him the truth, no matter how much it hurt.
I was sitting at work, although working as a restaurant manager didn’t leave much time to sit.
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It was one of those rare moments when the dining room was quiet: no customers ordering specials, no complaints from the kitchen, no waiters running around with last-minute problems.
I took a deep breath, savoring that fleeting peace, knowing it wouldn’t last.
My phone buzzed on the counter. I looked at the screen: Aaron. My ex-husband. Curious, I picked it up and tapped the message.
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A photo appeared. It was David, our son, grinning from ear to ear, holding a giant stuffed animal. Behind him, the lights of an amusement park shone.
A warm feeling came over me. I was glad Aaron and David were having fun.
Nearby, two waitresses were chatting, their voices light and excited. Lindsey held out her hand, her fingers spread to reveal a huge diamond ring.
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Claire took Lindsey’s hand, her eyes wide. “That rock is huge. Probably visible from space.”
Lindsey laughed, tilting her hand to catch the light. “I know, right? Lucky me.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. “Is he rich or something?”
Lindsey smiled with satisfaction. “He’s not a millionaire, but he has money. Enough to buy this, at least.”
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I frowned. Lindsey had been dating Leo, one of our kitchen assistants, for over a year. “Aren’t you with Leo?” I asked.
“Yes,” Lindsey said, still admiring the ring.
I stared at her. “Since when is Leo rich?”
Lindsey finally looked at me. “Leo isn’t. But my fiancé is. In fact, it was Leo’s idea.”
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I blinked. “What?”
“The plan was simple,” Lindsey said. “Find a rich guy, marry him, get divorced within a few months, and keep the money. Then Leo and I would live it up.” She twisted the ring on her finger. “We’re halfway there.”
My stomach twisted. “Don’t you think that’s… cruel?”
Lindsey shrugged. “I don’t love my fiancé, so no.”
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“But maybe he loves you,” I said. “He proposed to you, didn’t he?”
Lindsey waved her hand at me. “That’s her problem. She fell in love with me because I’m too young.”
I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing.
I had married young and for love. Back then, Aaron and I believed that love was enough.
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But as the years went by, we realized we were too different. We wanted different things, approached problems in opposite ways, and saw the world through different lenses.
Parting ways had been painful, but we knew it was the right decision. Even now, I didn’t regret it at all.
Aaron remained a good friend and, more importantly, a wonderful father to David.
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That afternoon, when I got home, Aaron was already at the door with David. My son bounced in, his face beaming with excitement.
“Mom, we went on the biggest roller coaster! I wasn’t even scared,” she said, barely breathing.
I smiled and ruffled his hair. “It looks amazing.”
Aaron, however, stood stiffly behind him. His expression was tense.
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“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“We need to talk,” he said. “In private.”
I nodded and led him into the kitchen.
We sat down at the table. Aaron ran a hand through his hair, his fingers tapping lightly against the table.
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Something didn’t fit. His shoulders were tense and his gaze shifted, as if he didn’t know where to start.
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?”
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Aaron hesitated. Then, in a rush, he said, “I’m getting married again.”
I blinked. “What? That’s great!” I smiled, trying to reassure him. “I don’t understand why you’re so worried.”
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought you’d be mad.”
“Get mad? Aaron, I’m so happy for you. You deserve to be happy.”
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Relief softened her face. She nodded. “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?”
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Aaron laughed. “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 lurched. I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“That’s Lindsey,” I said, my voice level. “One of my waitresses.”
Aaron shifted uncomfortably. “Yes. That’s why I was worried about your reaction.”
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I looked at the photo again, my mind racing. “How did it happen?”
Aaron scratched the back of his neck. “I met her when I picked up David from the restaurant. Then I saw her on a dating app. We started talking… and here we are.”
I swallowed hard. My hands clenched under the table. I couldn’t keep this to myself.
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“Aaron, I have to tell you something,” I said carefully. “And it’s not good.”
Aaron’s face tightened. “If it’s about the age difference, I 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 was referring to you.”
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Aaron frowned. “What are you saying?”
“She said she’s marrying you just to get a divorce and keep your money.”
Silence fell. 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?”
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He clenched his jaw. “Because you’re jealous!”
“Jealousy? I’m trying to protect you,” I exclaimed.
“Of course. You can’t stand that I found someone younger who actually loves me,” Aaron snapped.
“She has a boyfriend! He works in our kitchen!” I yelled.
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“You’re lying!” Her face was red with anger. “I can’t believe you’d stoop so low.”
“It’s the truth!”.
“This conversation is over.” He left, slamming the door.
I couldn’t let it go. I wouldn’t let Lindsey scam Aaron. He didn’t deserve that. As angry as he was with me, I had to make him see the truth.
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I thought about it all night. Aaron wouldn’t just believe words: he needed proof. Clear, undeniable proof.
The next day, I looked for Leo. He was working in the kitchen, concentrating on chopping vegetables. I took a deep breath and approached.
“Hi, Leo,” I said, walking over. “You and Lindsey make a great couple. I was thinking, why don’t you surprise her with a romantic dinner here after closing time? She’d love it.”
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Leo’s face lit up. “Do you really think so?”
“Of course,” I said. “He even mentioned recently that he wanted something that special.”
He wiped his hands on his apron, looking excited. “Wow, I had no idea. Sounds perfect.”
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I nodded. “You could set a nice table, maybe bring some flowers. She’d love the effort.”
Leo smiled. “That’s a great idea, Melanie. Thanks for suggesting it. Can I do it tonight?”
I smiled. “Of course.”
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Then I sent a text to Aaron. My hands hovered over the keyboard for a moment before typing.
I knew he wouldn’t reply. He was too angry. But I didn’t have to reply, I just had to read it.
@I
I know you think I’m lying, but if you want to know the truth, come to the restaurant after ten at night.
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I hit send and exhaled. I felt a tightness in my chest. Would he come? Would he ignore me? I had no way of knowing. All I could do was wait.
That night, after putting David to bed, I opened my laptop. My fingers trembled slightly as I logged into the restaurant’s security system.
The cameras flickered. I found the right angle, one that showed the table Leo had set.
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The candles flickered in the dim light. In the center was a small vase of flowers. It looked romantic. Too romantic.
I watched as Leo and Lindsey sat together. They ate, talked, and laughed. Leo’s eyes shone with love.
He was completely devoted to her. Lindsey smiled, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
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She leaned toward him, brushing her hand against his arm. Finally, she kissed him.
I grimaced and quickly switched cameras. I couldn’t see this. My stomach was in knots.
In the outer chamber, a movement caught my eye. My breath caught in my throat. Aaron was there. He had come. He pushed open the restaurant door and entered.
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Heart pounding, I switched back to Lindsey and Leo. Just in time.
Aaron appeared, his face contorted with rage. Lindsey and Leo broke apart, their expressions changing from shock to panic.
Leo opened his mouth, but said nothing. Lindsey looked around, searching for an exit.
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Aaron’s voice boomed. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but his anger was evident. He pointed at Lindsey and then at Leo.
Lindsey crossed her arms, flipping her hair over her shoulder, but Leo looked terrified.
Then, suddenly, Lindsey took off her engagement ring and threw it to Aaron.
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It hit the table. Aaron picked it up, his face pale. Without another word, he turned around and walked off in a huff.
I switched cameras again. Outside, Aaron stood motionless, his shoulders shaking.
Her head sank into her hand. Even from behind the screen, I could tell she was crying.
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I swallowed. I’d done the right thing. I needed to see the truth. But somehow, I still felt guilty.
After a while, the doorbell rang. I hesitated before opening it. Aaron was standing there, his face red from crying and his eyes filled with regret.
“You were right,” he said, his voice hoarse.
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“This doesn’t satisfy me, just so you know,” I said. “I didn’t want to be right about this.”
Aaron nodded, his shoulders heavy. “I’m sorry I doubted you.” He took a shaky breath. “I should have trusted you.”
He stepped forward and hugged me. “Thank you.”
I hugged him back, feeling his pain.
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