My sister kissed my husband in front of thirty people at her own anniversary party and called it a joke. kertati Her husband had a wrapped present in his hands and an envelope she had never opened.

They weren’t just cheating.

They were discussing us.

Our marriages.

Our families.

Our trust.

Like we were obstacles.

Like we were furniture that could be moved when convenient.

Then I found a message from almost nine years earlier.

Sasha:

I shouldn’t have kissed you.

Callan:

You shouldn’t have stopped.

Nine years.

Nine years of lies.

Christmases.

Birthdays.

Family dinners.

My children’s birthdays.

My wedding anniversary.

Every time I hugged my sister, I was hugging a woman who had been sleeping with my husband.

Then I found something from three months before the garden party.

Callan: When the time comes, we’ll tell them together.

Sasha: And Bryony?

Callan: She’ll eventually understand.

Eventually.

As though my entire marriage was something I would eventually get over.

I kept scrolling.

Then another message appeared.

Sasha:

What about the money?

I frowned.

Callan:

I’ll handle it.

Sasha:

And the house?

Callan:

She won’t fight me if I do it carefully.