I am Patricia, 35 years old, and until recently, I thought I had a decent grasp on who I was and the life I was leading with my husband, Joseph, 40.

But recently I have been noticing a few changes in my husband’s behavior, which make me believe he’s cheating. He has just been a bit more secretive whenever he is texting or taking a phone call. Whenever we are sitting together his phone is always faced down.

He’s also been coming home late and having a bit too many work trips or late nights at the office. The other day, when he got back from one of his long nights at the office, I pretended to sleep while he tried to sneak into the house.

From the corner of my eye, I could see that his shirt was unbuttoned, he might have unbuttoned it to get comfortable after work but it’s unlike him to have it completely open with just his vest showing. He’s also usually a morning shower person but this evening, he went straight to the shower and left his clothes in the laundry basket.

I woke up the next morning and the first thing I did was smell the clothes and inspect them for any clues. His shirt had a very fruity and feminine scent and a small stain of red lipstick. Everyday it seemed like i was getting closer to the truth while also being so far.

But I wanted to get to the bottom of this because cheating was the last thing I was willing to settle for in a marriage. I’ve always been someone who values precision and strategy, which is why I insisted on a prenup before marrying Joseph. It was my safety net, one that would entitle me to everything if infidelity ever tainted our marriage.

One day, I came home early to find Joseph and his coworker too close for comfort on our bed. They scrambled to make it seem like nothing had happened, but the seed of doubt had already been planted. He tried really hard to convince me that it was not anything serious, but I knew better than to believe a word coming out of his mouth.

Days later, I caught glimpses of messages on Joseph’s phone from a woman named Amber, each vanishing within seconds of being read. The deceit was like a noose tightening around my neck, suffocating me with each passing day.

I accidentally stumbled upon Amber’s contact information. My heart raced as I dialed her number. “Amber, we need to talk,” I said, trying to mask the tremor in my voice.

We met and I laid out my plan. I couldn’t catch him in the act, but I was certain of his betrayal. I proposed she pretend to be pregnant. It was my way to trap Joseph and retaliate against his gaslighting and mockery.

In the midst of our scheme, I uncovered something more damning. Joseph had forged my signature on documents for his financial gain. This was my breaking point.

With Amber’s help, the pregnancy trap was set in motion. Joseph’s reaction to the news was one of absolute dread, exactly what I had anticipated. He filed for divorce to protect his assets, thinking he could outmove me, but I was ready.

I never thought I would have the strength to face him. But sitting across the table from him, my voice was steady, “Joseph, you have two choices: sign the divorce papers and walk away, or prepare to see me in court, exposing every lie, every deceit.” His face, usually so controlled, twisted with the realization of his predicament.

His signature on those papers was the most satisfying moment of my life. Amber and I later celebrated our cunning victory. However, the sweetness of revenge was fleeting. “We did it, Patricia,” Amber said over the phone, her voice tinged with triumph. “Yes, but it’s not over yet,” I replied, determined. “He can’t just walk away from everything he’s done.”

I pressed charges against him for his illegal activities, and eventually, he was imprisoned. Through this ordeal, I discovered a strength and resolve within myself I never knew existed. I stood up to Joseph, and in doing so, I stood up for my future.