They had no idea they were coming to witness Samuel and Heather’s social execution. I spent Thursday shopping for the dinner party, selecting the menu with the same care I’d once put into planning our anniversary celebration. But this time I wasn’t celebrating love.
I was celebrating justice. Friday morning brought the first fruits of my labor. Samuel called, his voice shaking with rage.
What did you do? Giovanni Development just fired me. I told them the truth, I replied calmly. I thought they deserved to know what kind of man they were employing.
You destroyed my career. That was my biggest client. You destroyed your career when you decided to live a double life and not just a double life you slept with my best friend.
I just made sure people found out about it. Theresa please. I have a daughter to support now.
I need that job. The irony was delicious. You should have thought about supporting your daughter three years ago.
But don’t worry. The state will make sure you support her now. Whether you have a job or not.
I hung up on his sputtering protests and immediately called Mildred. Samuel’s been fired from his biggest client, I reported. How does that affect our divorce proceedings? It could actually work in your favor, Mildred said.
If his income drops significantly, he’ll have less ability to fight for assets. And if he can’t pay child support, the state will come after him even harder. Good.
What about the DNA test? I’ve filed a motion to compel. Given the circumstances, I think we’ll get it. Especially with the Child Support Enforcement Agency backing us up.
Everything was falling into place perfectly. Friday afternoon, I got a call from my sister Rebecca. Theresa, I just heard about Samuel.
Are you okay? Word was already spreading. Exactly as I’d planned. I’m better than okay, I told her.
I’m free. I can’t believe he did this to you. And with Heather.
I never liked her, you know. There was always something fake about her. I almost smiled.
Rebecca had never mentioned disliking Heather before. But people love to rewrite history when scandals broke. Will you come to my dinner party tomorrow night? I asked.
I’m telling everyone at once. I don’t want to keep repeating the story. Of course.
Do you need help with anything? Just bring your appetite for drama. Saturday evening arrived crisp and clear. I’d spent the day preparing, cooking Samuel’s favorite meal with bitter irony.
This was going to be his last supper in our social circle. It might as well be memorable. The guests arrived promptly at 7. Rebecca and her husband Tom, our college friends Marcus and Jennifer, Samuel’s business partner David and his wife Susan, my work colleague Grace and several others.
Notably absent were Samuel and Heather, though I hadn’t expected them to show. Where’s Samuel? Jennifer asked as I served cocktails. Is he working late again? Samuel won’t be joining us, I said with a mysterious smile.
I’ll explain everything over dinner. The conversation flowed easily at first. Everyone was curious about my important news, but they were too polite to press.
They complimented the food, asked about work, shared gossip about mutual friends. I waited until dessert to drop my bomb. I want to thank you all for coming tonight, I began, standing at the head of the table.
Your friendship has meant everything to me over the years, which is why I wanted you to hear this from me personally. The table fell silent. Everyone leaned forward expectantly.
Samuel and I are getting divorced. Gasps and murmurs of shock rippled around the table. I know this comes as a surprise, I continued.
It certainly surprised me when I discovered that my husband of 7 years has been having an affair with my best friend Heather for the past 4 years. Jennifer’s wine glass hit the table with a clink. David’s face went pale.
But that’s not the most shocking part, I said my voice steady and calm. The most shocking part is that they have a 3-year-old daughter together. The little girl I’ve been babysitting, buying gifts for, treating like a niece.
She’s actually my husband’s child. The silence was deafening. I could see the wheels turning in their minds, remembering all the times they’d seen Samuel with Amanda.
All the family gatherings where he’d played the doting uncle. I found out at our anniversary party, I continued, when Amanda called Samuel, Daddy, in front of everyone. Apparently, keeping their secret became too much for a 3-year-old.
Rebecca was crying. Grace looked furious. David was staring at his plate like he wanted to disappear.
I wanted you all to know because Samuel will probably try to spin this story. He’ll make excuses, claim it was a mistake, try to minimize what he did. But I have evidence.
Bank records showing he’s been supporting them with our money. Receipts for gifts he bought Amanda while telling me we couldn’t afford things. Documentation of his lies going back years.
Marcus finally found his voice. Teresa I’m so sorry. We had no idea.
Of course you didn’t. They were very careful. Very sneaky.
Very good at making me look like the fool who couldn’t see what was happening in her own marriage. I sat back down taking a sip of wine. I just wanted you to know the truth before the rumors start flying.
Samuel’s already been fired from Giovanni Development. The state is pursuing him for backchild support. And I’m taking him for everything he’s worth in the divorce.
Good, Grace said fiercely. He deserves everything he gets. The rest of the evening was spent dissecting Samuel and Heather’s betrayal.
My friends rallied around me, sharing their outrage, offering support, promising to cut all ties with the cheating couple. By the time everyone left, Samuel and Heather’s social destruction was complete. Word would spread through our entire circle within days.
They’d be pariahs, outcasts, the couple everyone whispered about and no one wanted to associate with. As I cleaned up the dishes, I felt a deep satisfaction settling in my chest. This was just the beginning.
Samuel thought he’d lost everything when he got fired, but he had no idea how much more he was about to lose. My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. You’re destroying innocent people.
Amanda doesn’t deserve this. Heather. She’d gotten a new phone number probably hoping to avoid the fallout.
I typed back, Amanda deserves a father who isn’t a liar and a cheat. Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you decided to sleep with my husband Heather. Her response came quickly, Samuel loves you.
You made a mistake but he loves you. Don’t destroy him over one mistake. One mistake.
Four years of lies, deception and betrayal was one mistake. I typed back, watch me. Then I blocked the number and went to bed already planning my next move.
The war was far from over. Monday morning brought news Monday morning brought news that made my coffee taste like victory. Mildred called with an update that had me smiling for the first time in days.
The DNA test has been fast-tracked, she said. Samuel’s lawyer advised him to comply rather than fight it. Smart move considering the alternative was a court order.
How long until we have results? 72 hours. Patricia there’s something else. The Child Support Enforcement Agency moved faster than I expected.
They’ve already frozen Samuel’s bank accounts pending the paternity results. I set down my coffee cup savoring the moment. All of them.
Every account they could find. And they’ve put a lien on his car. If the DNA confirms what we already know, they’ll be pursuing him for three years of back support plus penalties.
We’re talking about a six-figure debt. Samuel’s financial destruction was happening even faster than I’d hoped. But I wasn’t done yet.
That afternoon I drove to Amanda’s daycare, the same Sunshine Daycare that Samuel had been secretly funding. I’d called ahead posing as a concerned family member. I’m Amanda’s aunt, I told the director, a kind-looking woman in her 50s.
I’m helping update the family’s paperwork. Could you confirm who’s listed as Amanda’s father on your records? The director hesitated. I’m sorry, but I can only discuss that information with the parents.
Of course. I understand completely. I paused then added casually, I just want to make sure everything’s in order before the custody hearing.