My ex-husband was eager to begin a new chapter, but something about his engagement felt wrong. A casual chat at work unraveled a truth I couldn’t ignore. He refused to believe me, so I had to reveal the reality—no matter how painful it would be.
I was at work, though managing a restaurant left little time for idle moments.
This was a rare lull when the dining room was calm—no patrons demanding special orders, no kitchen chaos, no servers rushing with urgent issues.
I exhaled deeply, cherishing the fleeting quiet, knowing it was temporary.
My phone vibrated on the counter. I glanced at the screen—Aaron, my ex-husband. Intrigued, I opened the message.
A photo appeared. It was David, our son, beaming widely, clutching a massive stuffed animal. The vibrant lights of an amusement park twinkled behind him.
Warmth filled my chest. I was thrilled Aaron and David were enjoying themselves.
Nearby, two waitresses giggled, their voices bright and animated. Lindsey extended her hand, flaunting a dazzling diamond ring.
Claire seized Lindsey’s hand, eyes wide. “That rock is enormous! Probably visible from the moon.”
Lindsey chuckled, angling her hand to catch the light. “I know, right? I hit the jackpot.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. “Is he loaded or what?”
Lindsey grinned slyly. “Not a billionaire, but he’s got cash. Enough for this, anyway.”
I frowned. Lindsey had been with Leo, a kitchen staff member, for over a year. “Aren’t you dating Leo?” I asked.
“I am,” Lindsey replied, still admiring her ring.
I stared, baffled. “Since when is Leo wealthy?”
Lindsey met my gaze. “Leo’s not. My fiancé is. It was Leo’s plan, actually.”
I blinked, stunned. “What?”
“It’s straightforward,” Lindsey said. “Find a rich guy, marry him, divorce him soon after, take the cash. Then Leo and I live large.” She spun the ring on her finger. “Halfway there.”
My stomach churned. “Don’t you think that’s… heartless?”
Lindsey shrugged. “I don’t love my fiancé, so no.”
“But he might love you,” I said. “He proposed, didn’t he?”
Lindsey brushed me off. “His mistake. He fell for my youth.”
I gaped at her, struggling to process her words.
I had married young, driven by love. Aaron and I once believed love was enough.
But over time, we saw our differences. We wanted different lives, solved problems oppositely, and viewed the world through divergent perspectives.
Parting was agonizing, but we knew it was right. Even now, I had no regrets.
Aaron remained a close friend and, above all, a devoted father to David.
That evening, when I got home, Aaron was at the door with David. My son bounded inside, his face alight with excitement.
“Mom! We rode the biggest roller coaster! I wasn’t even scared!” he said, barely catching his breath.
I grinned, tousling his hair. “That sounds incredible.”
Aaron, however, stood rigidly behind him. His face was taut.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“We need to talk,” he said. “In private.”
I nodded and guided him to the kitchen.
We sat at the table. Aaron ran a hand through his hair, his fingers tapping nervously.
Something was amiss. His posture was stiff, his eyes darting, as if unsure how to begin.
I leaned in. “Aaron, you’re worrying me. What’s going on?”
He sighed heavily. “No, it’s not bad. It’s… serious. But good.”
I frowned. “Serious but good? What’s that mean?”
Aaron paused. Then, in one breath, he said, “I’m getting married again.”
I blinked. “What? That’s wonderful!” I smiled, trying to ease him. “Why were you so nervous?”
Aaron shrugged. “I thought you might be upset.”
“Upset? Aaron, I’m genuinely happy for you. You deserve joy.”
Relief softened his features. He nodded. “Thanks. I’ll tell David later. I wanted you to know first.”
“Of course. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled too,” I said.
Aaron smiled, more at ease now.
“So… who is she?” I asked. “Got a photo? How’d you meet?”
Aaron laughed. “Knew you’d ask.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “I’m ready.”
He showed me the screen. My stomach sank. I couldn’t mask my shock.
“That’s Lindsey,” I said, voice flat. “One of my waitresses.”
Aaron shifted uneasily. “Yeah. That’s why I was nervous about telling you.”
I stared at the photo, my mind racing. “How did this happen?”
Aaron scratched his neck. “I met her when I picked up David from the restaurant. Later, I found her on a dating app. We started chatting… and here we are.”
I swallowed hard. My hands clenched beneath the table. I couldn’t stay silent.
“Aaron, I need to tell you something,” I said cautiously. “And it’s not good.”
Aaron’s face tightened. “If it’s about the age gap, I know. Eleven years. It doesn’t bother us.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. Today, Lindsey was talking about her fiancé. I didn’t know she meant you.”
Aaron’s brow creased. “What are you getting at?”
“She said she’s marrying you to divorce you and take your money.”
Silence. Then Aaron’s face darkened. “This is why I hesitated to tell you!” he yelled. “I can’t believe you’re inventing this!”
“Aaron, it’s true!” I insisted. “Why would I make this up?”
His jaw tightened. “Because you’re jealous!”
I gasped. “Jealous? I’m trying to save you!”
“Right. You can’t handle me finding someone younger who loves me,” Aaron snapped.
“She has a boyfriend! He works in our kitchen!” I shouted.
“You’re lying!” His face flushed with fury. “I can’t believe you’d stoop this low.”
“It’s the truth!”
“This is over.” He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
I couldn’t let this slide. I wouldn’t let Lindsey deceive Aaron. He didn’t deserve that. No matter how angry he was, I had to make him see the truth.
All night, I obsessed over it. Aaron wouldn’t trust words alone—he needed evidence. Clear, irrefutable evidence.
The next day, I watched for Leo. He was in the kitchen, focused on slicing vegetables. I took a deep breath and approached.
“Hey, Leo,” I said, stepping closer. “You and Lindsey are so cute together. I was thinking—why not surprise her with a romantic dinner here after closing? She’d adore it.”
Leo’s face brightened. “You think so?”
“Definitely,” I said. “She mentioned wanting something special like that recently.”
He wiped his hands on his apron, excited. “Wow, I didn’t know. That sounds perfect.”
I nodded. “Set up a nice table, maybe add flowers. She’d love the gesture.”
Leo grinned. “Great idea, Melanie. Thanks. Can I do it tonight?”
I smiled. “Absolutely.”
After that, I sent Aaron a message. My fingers hesitated before typing.
I knew he wouldn’t respond. He was too furious. But he didn’t need to reply—he just needed to see it.
@Me
I know you think I’m lying, but for the truth, come to the restaurant after 10 p.m.
I hit send and exhaled. My chest tightened. Would he show? Would he ignore me? I couldn’t know. All I could do was wait.
That night, after tucking David in, I opened my laptop. My fingers shook slightly as I accessed the restaurant’s security system.
The cameras sprang to life. I found the perfect angle—one showing the table Leo had prepared.
Candles glowed in the dim light. A small vase of flowers sat in the center. It looked intimate. Too intimate.
I watched as Leo and Lindsey sat together. They ate, talked, and laughed. Leo’s eyes sparkled with devotion.
He was utterly smitten. Lindsey smiled, twirling her hair around her finger.
She leaned in, brushing his arm. Then, finally, she kissed him.
I winced and switched cameras. I couldn’t watch that. My stomach twisted.
On the outdoor camera, movement caught my eye. My breath caught. Aaron was there. He had come. He pushed open the restaurant door and stepped inside.
Heart racing, I switched back to Lindsey and Leo. Just in time.
Aaron appeared, his face twisted with fury. Lindsey and Leo pulled apart, their faces shifting from shock to panic.
Leo’s mouth opened, but no words came. Lindsey’s eyes darted, seeking an escape.
Aaron’s voice roared. I couldn’t hear the words, but his rage was unmistakable. He pointed at Lindsey, then at Leo.
Lindsey crossed her arms, tossing her hair defiantly, but Leo looked petrified.
Then, suddenly, Lindsey ripped off her engagement ring and hurled it at Aaron.
It clattered onto the table. Aaron picked it up, his face ashen. Without a word, he turned and stormed out.
I switched cameras again. Outside, Aaron stood motionless, his shoulders trembling.
His head dropped into his hand. Even through a screen, I could see—he was sobbing.
I swallowed hard. I had done the right thing. He needed the truth. Yet I still felt a pang of guilt.
Later, the doorbell rang. I hesitated before opening it. Aaron stood there, eyes red from crying, face heavy with regret.
“You were right,” he said, voice raw.
“This doesn’t feel good for me, just so you know,” I said. “I didn’t want to be right.”
Aaron nodded, his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry for doubting you.” He took a shaky breath. “I should’ve trusted you.”
He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. “Thank you.”
I hugged him back, sharing his pain.
