«Hey, listen to this…
*Olivia, sorry, I’ve got to go.*
*Wife called? Fine, go then. I’m used to it.*
Every time Ethan left to go back to his wife, it stung. Olivia wished he’d stay—just once. They could’ve gone to a cosy pub, then curled up under a blanket watching telly. She’d make him a proper cuppa, maybe even some biscuits…
But that was just a dream. Ethan never hid the fact he was married—had a son, too. Said he didn’t love his wife, only stayed for the boy’s sake. Once the lad finished school, *then* he’d leave. Then he’d be hers.
Olivia couldn’t care less about his wife. Why should she worry about some other woman’s happiness? If a marriage was broken, if a man had checked out—well, that wasn’t her problem. Ethan was just being a decent dad, didn’t want to wreck his son’s life.
Fine. Her time would come. Two more years, and the boy would be off to uni. *Then* there’d be blankets and telly and… maybe even a family of their own. Olivia dreamed of a little girl—just like her.
Those two years flew by. But every time she expected Ethan to finally leave, there was always an excuse.
*Listen, Lucy’s mum’s proper poorly. She’s moved in with us. I can’t just walk out now, you get that, yeah?*
Olivia sighed and nodded. How much longer? Till she was drawing her pension?
Then—late. A test. Two lines. Maybe… maybe it was for the best. She booked a doctor’s appointment, just to be sure.
Sitting in the clinic, waiting her turn, the door opened. A heavily pregnant woman walked out, arm in arm with a man. Her stomach dropped. *Ethan.* What the—?
They left without seeing her. Olivia went in, numb.
*You alright, love? You’ve gone awfully pale.*
*Yeah, just… need a check-up.*
The doctor confirmed it—congratulated her.
*Bit later than most, first baby at 35, but it’s fine. Had a woman in earlier, 40, her son’s off to uni, and her and her husband decided on one more. Lovely family, really solid—why not, eh?*
Olivia forced a smile. Her head spun. All those years of lies. *Wait for me,* he’d said, while knocking up his *unloved* wife. How long had he planned to string her along? What now?
*Little Fox, can’t make it tonight, sorry.*
*Sure. I’m busy too.*
*Doing what?*
*Clubbing with Gemma. Sick of sitting around.*
*Clubbing? You’re how old? I don’t like this, Little Fox—*
*I’ve got no family, have I? I’ll do what I want. You’re someone else’s husband—no right to tell me anything.*
She hung up. Oh, *now* he cared where she went. Expected her to sit like some loyal pup, waiting for scraps of his time. While he played happy families, raised kids, and swung by hers for a bit of fun. Till *he* got bored.
Only now did she see it—the pathetic role she’d played. His wife got the life, the love, the kids. Olivia? Just a backup plan. And he didn’t care that her clock was ticking, that *she* wanted a family. Well, fine. Now she’d have her own child.
Ethan showed up unannounced. Drunk, weeping. Said his wife had lost the baby—a girl. Everything had seemed fine, then… gone. His wife wasn’t coping, her mind shattered by grief. He didn’t know what to do.
*What do you mean? You be there for her, Ethan. It’s *your* grief too. Why’d you even come to me if things were so good with her? Why lie?*
*God’s punishing me. Took my daughter because of you—*
*Don’t be daft. This is *your* mess. You lied to her, to me, to yourself. Be a man for once—go home.*
*I love you both. In different ways. I can’t choose—*
*Done, Ethan. Go. And don’t come back.*
She shut the door and sobbed. Pity for herself, for his wife—that poor woman, burying a child. Olivia would be a mum soon, and the thought of that loss twisted her gut.
He called, showed up drunk a few more times. She turned him away. He never knew she had a son—*his* son. She gave the boy her name, left the father blank on the birth certificate. Little Mark looked just like him. Like someone else’s husband.
Funny, isn’t it? Stats say about 10% of men leave their wives for the other woman. Half of those go crawling back. And how many women waste years waiting for a married man to keep his empty promises? Too many.»