I borrowed my husband’s spare phone for my business trip, and on day three, I got an accidental text with a cropped photo that shook me. My husband’s mistress was lounging in my bedroom, wearing my bathrobe. She wasn’t a stranger.

That was the moment I decided to show them what betrayal really costs.

Fifteen years of marriage and three beautiful kids later, I believed Daniel and I had built something solid together, brick by careful brick. I gave up my career dreams and my independence so my husband could climb that corporate ladder while I held down our home.

We were high school sweethearts, and he was the charming guy everyone loved while I was the quiet bookworm who couldn’t believe he chose me.

After years of being a full-time mom, I eventually took on a part-time consulting job that let me work mostly from home.
Two months ago, my boss insisted I take a week-long business trip to Chicago, something that rarely happened in my line of work.