I Accidentally Answered My Husband’s Work Call — The Voice on the Other End Exposed His Double Life

When Julianne answers her husband’s phone, the furious voice on the other end reveals a devastating secret: her husband has been living a double life. Now, she’ll have to act fast to protect herself and her son from the fallout of her husband’s deceit.

If you’d asked me that morning if I was happy, I would’ve said yes. Maybe not convincingly, but I would’ve said it. That was before the call.

A silhouette of a woman | Source: Midjourney

A silhouette of a woman | Source: Midjourney

I spent my days juggling the roles of wife, mother, and school volunteer. My husband, Raymond, was the breadwinner, a mid-level manager who came home late too often these days, citing work stress.

My eight-year-old son, Ethan, was my anchor, and the reason I kept pushing through even when Raymond’s distant eyes gnawed at me.

But I didn’t have time to dwell. Life kept moving, and I was good at keeping up.

Close up of a woman's face | Source: Midjourney

Close up of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney

I’d already seen Ethan off to school on the bus and was leaning in to kiss Ray goodbye when he whirled away from me and grabbed his briefcase.

“I’ve got to rush. Today’s going to be crazy and Mr. Richards must be waiting for me already,” he muttered as he rushed out the door.

I didn’t even notice he’d left his phone on the kitchen table. When it started ringing a few minutes after he left, I answered automatically, thinking it was mine.

A cell phone | Source: Midjourney

A cell phone | Source: Midjourney

“Raymond,” snapped a woman’s voice, sharp and angry. “I warned you! If you don’t get rid of her, I’ll tell everyone I’m pregnant with your child.”

My throat closed up. I knew that voice… it was Vera, my sister!

“I’m done waiting, Ray. This is your last warning. Tell her today, or else!”

Before I could scream or demand answers, the line went dead.

A woman holding a cell phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding a cell phone | Source: Midjourney

I stood there, frozen, the phone clutched so tightly in my hand that my knuckles turned white. Vera had always been the storm to my calm. Beautiful, reckless, and magnetic, she flitted through life, bringing chaos and charm in equal measure.

And now she was pregnant with my husband’s child. They’d been cheating on me… for how long?

A strange, detached instinct kicked in, like my body was operating on autopilot. My thumb hovered over the screen before I unlocked Raymond’s phone, the password I’d seen him type a thousand times burning in my mind.

A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

My fingers trembled as I scrolled through the messages. And there were dozens of texts, a thread of secrets I was never supposed to uncover.

Vera’s words were insistent, pleading: When are you going to tell her? I can’t keep doing this, Ray. She’s clueless.

Then Raymond’s careful, measured replies: I just need more time. I want to do this right. We can’t risk her finding out — it’ll ruin everything.

The bile rose in my throat as I pieced it together. They had a plan, and it was cold, and calculated.

A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney

A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney

They’d leave their marriages in such a way that nobody would suspect their affair. Vera was ready to leave Jack, and Raymond had been weighing how to drop me quietly and cleanly, ensuring his finances remained untouched.

She won’t get a penny, one of his messages read. I’ll make sure of it.

My knees buckled, and I slid to the kitchen floor.

A woman sitting on a floor | Source: Midjourney

A woman sitting on a floor | Source: Midjourney

The phone slipped from my grasp and clattered onto the tiles, but I didn’t care. I sat there, shaking, the weight of betrayal pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket.

Vera’s voice replayed in my head, layered over Raymond’s careful lies. The two people I trusted most in the world had conspired against me, trading whispers behind my back while I set the table for family dinners and kissed Raymond goodnight.

The betrayal didn’t just sting; it consumed me, a fiery, unrelenting ache that made my vision blur.

An emotional woman | Source: Midjourney

An emotional woman | Source: Midjourney

I pressed my hands to my face, trying to block it all out. But it was burned into my mind now. My husband and my sister were plotting my destruction.

For the first time in my life, I felt entirely untethered. But I wasn’t going to let them destroy my life. And I wouldn’t let Ethan suffer for their selfishness.

Anger fueled me, sharpening my focus as I grabbed my keys and headed straight for Vera’s husband’s office.

An office building | Source: Pexels

An office building | Source: Pexels

Jack was the kind of man who could turn chaos into order. He was everything Vera wasn’t: level-headed, meticulous, and about as far from impulsive as a person could get. If anyone could help me, it was Jack.

The office building was quiet. Jack’s secretary wasn’t even there yet; her desk sat empty as I marched past it, my sneakers squeaking against the polished floors.

My heart pounded in my chest as I reached his door and knocked harder than I intended.

A door | Source: Pexels

A door | Source: Pexels

“Come in,” Jack called, his deep, calm voice carrying through the door.

I stepped inside, and he looked up from his desk, his brow knitting in confusion when he saw me.

“Julianne?” He stood, concern flashing in his sharp, gray eyes. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

I didn’t bother with pleasantries. My hands trembled as I crossed the room and set Raymond’s phone on his desk.

A cell phone on a desk | Source: Pexels

A cell phone on a desk | Source: Pexels

“I have something important to tell you, Jack. It’s about Vera and…” I faltered, my voice catching. “You’ll need to see it for yourself.”

He gestured for me to sit, but I stayed standing. His gaze didn’t leave me as he picked up the phone and scrolled through the messages. With each swipe, his face darkened. His jaw tightened, and his grip on the phone grew rigid.

“Goddammit, Vera,” he muttered under his breath, his calm veneer cracking.

A stressed man | Source: Midjourney

A stressed man | Source: Midjourney

He set the phone down with more force than necessary and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. I thought he might explode, but instead, he grabbed a notepad from his desk and flipped it open. His movements were precise and deliberate.

“We need a plan,” he said, his tone clipped and businesslike.

I blinked at him, startled by his composure. “You’re not… shocked? Hurt?”

“No, I’m furious,” he said, meeting my eyes.

A furious man | Source: Midjourney

A furious man | Source: Midjourney

His voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it. “Vera’s always been mercurial, but this time she’s gone too far.”

He tapped his pen against the notepad, his jaw set. “I’m filing for divorce. And I’m going to help you do the same. With evidence like this, they don’t stand a chance.”

I sank into the chair across from him, my earlier fury replaced by something steadier.

“Jack,” I said, my voice soft. “Thank you.”

A grateful woman | Source: Midjourney

A grateful woman | Source: Midjourney

His lips pressed into a thin line as he began scribbling notes. “Don’t thank me yet. This is going to be messy. But they’ve left us no choice. We’ll have to move fast, even if it means I have to pull some strings. This is what we’re going to do…”

Jack continued taking notes as he outlined his plan. My resolve solidified as I took it all in. I was a little awed by how quickly he calculated each step, but mostly, I was relieved.

I wasn’t alone in this fight. Jack and I would make sure Vera and Raymond paid for their betrayal, and that neither of us would be left picking up the pieces alone.

A lawyer in his office | Source: Midjourney

A lawyer in his office | Source: Midjourney

That evening, Vera and Jack joined Raymond and me for dinner. I’d texted Vera the invite the minute I got home. I’d then called Ray’s office to tell him he’d left his phone at home.

“Oh my God,” he muttered, a hint of panic in his voice. “Just… switch it off and put it in my nightstand drawer, okay?”

“Sure, honey,” I replied. “By the way, Jack and Vera will be joining us for dinner tonight. Could you pick up a bottle of wine on the way home?”

A woman speaking on her cell phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman speaking on her cell phone | Source: Midjourney

Next, I arranged for Ethan to sleep over at a friend’s house. By the time we sat down to dinner that evening, all the pieces of Jack’s plan were in place.

I poured a large glass of wine and set it down in front of Vera.

“Oh, no wine for me, Jules.” She pointedly stared at Raymond. “I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately.”

“I guess that makes sense,” I replied. “The first trimester is rough and pregnant women aren’t supposed to drink, are they?”

Wine glasses on a table | Source: Pexels

Wine glasses on a table | Source: Pexels

Vera’s fork clattered against her plate, and Raymond’s hand tightened on the edge of the table.

“Oh, don’t act surprised,” I said. “I know about the affair, the baby, and your little plans to leave me with nothing.”

Jack, who had been waiting for his cue, produced two folders and rose from his seat.

“These are your divorce papers,” he said, slapping one folder down in front of Vera before placing the other in front of Ray. “And these are yours.”

Divorce papers | Source: Pexels

Divorce papers | Source: Pexels

Raymond turned to me, panic flooding his eyes. “Julianne, please…”

“You don’t get to talk!” I snapped, my voice trembling with rage. “You’ve destroyed everything, and for what? Her?”

Raymond looked at Vera, who was openly crying now, then back at me. He didn’t answer. He just stared at the table, defeated.

An emotional man | Source: Midjourney

An emotional man | Source: Midjourney

In the weeks that followed, Jack and I worked like a team. He was relentless in court, helping me secure a settlement that ensured Ethan and I would be fine.

Raymond lost his assets, his reputation, and whatever shred of decency he thought he had left. Jack filed for full custody of his children, and Vera was left scrambling.

The scandal tore through our small town. Everyone knew what had happened, and neither Raymond nor Vera could walk into the grocery store without whispers trailing them.

People in a grocery store | Source: Pexels

People in a grocery store | Source: Pexels

One evening, as I watched Ethan play in the yard, I felt a strange sense of peace. My life wasn’t what I thought it was. It was messy, complicated, and painful. But it was mine, and I was free to shape it into something new.

Here’s another story: Mia’s thrilled when her unruly son, Jack, returns from a weekend at Grandma’s house as a model of discipline, but his strange transformation leaves her uneasy. Determined to uncover what happened, Mia’s questions lead her to a dangerous revelation. 

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

When I Brought a New Woman to a Party After My Divorce, My Ex-wife Blurted, ‘You Idiot!’ & Burst into Laughter

Marcus thought he’d done everything right after deciding to divorce his wife, Izzy. But his new girlfriend’s presence at his daughter’s 15th birthday party ended up with cackling laughs, a terrible slap, and a revelation he never expected.

I thought I was on the correct path when someone new and exciting came into my life. It was impulsive and fast, but it felt like the right thing, and it ruined everything.

After 20 years of marriage to Isabel, or “Izzy” to everyone who knew her well, I’d thought there would be no excitement left in life. Nothing new. But then, out of the blue, I met Jenna at a friend’s board game night that my wife didn’t attend.

A woman at a board game party | Source: Midjourney

A woman at a board game party | Source: Midjourney

Before you get any ideas, I’m 49. My wife is 47, and Jenna is 46. This isn’t the typical story of a man who leaves his wife for a young girl.

Jenna felt like someone had lit a spark in me I didn’t even know I’d lost. We just clicked. I can’t explain it in a less cliché way. But I knew one thing for certain: I would never cheat on my wife.

So, I faced the difficult choice of picking between 20 years of loyalty and two kids versus the chance of a new romance. It would’ve been a no-brainer for most people.

A businessman thinking | Source: Midjourney

A businessman thinking | Source: Midjourney

But it felt right, especially after I ran into Jenna at two different coffee shops, and even the supermarket, days after the party. It was fate, so impulse took over.

I told Izzy I wanted a divorce. Remembering that day is still painful and makes me want to go back in time, like that scene in “Interstellar.”

“MAKE HIM STAY, MURPH!”

A man in an astronaut suit | Source: Midjourney

A man in an astronaut suit | Source: Midjourney

Anyway, it was late in the evening when I got home from work, and the house felt emptier than usual. I knew our daughter, Maya, was at volleyball practice. Our son, Caleb, had his own college dorm, but he was sometimes around. Not that night, though.

I’d been thinking about Jenna all day and felt guilt as I spotted my wife. She was going through some work emails, and when I walked in, she looked up with her familiar warm smile. I wished Izzy wouldn’t have grinned at me.

Before I knew it, the words tumbled out: “I think… I think we need to talk about us. About…me wanting a divorce.”

A man looking nervous as he speaks | Source: Midjourney

A man looking nervous as he speaks | Source: Midjourney

The smile on her face and the light in her eyes faded into blankness. She was quiet for a long time after, and I was almost grateful for that silence.

But when she finally spoke, her voice was steady but strained. “You’re serious? After twenty years, just like that? Out of the blue?”

I tried to explain, saying things like “We’ve grown apart” and “It’s not you, it’s me.” More clichés that tasted bitter in my mouth. Yet, Izzy listened without interrupting.

A woman looking serious | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking serious | Source: Midjourney

Eventually, she nodded, a sad smile barely curving her lips. “If this is what you want, Marcus, I won’t stand in your way. I hope you never come to regret this.”

***

That night haunted me for weeks, but Jenna and I moved forward. And surprisingly, the divorce went smoothly. Caleb and Maya seemed to handle the news as well as they could.

It was also good timing because my son was 19 and my daughter was almost 15. They could understand more easily.

After I explained, they nodded and acted politely, though my daughter barely looked at me. Caleb wrinkled his nose several times.

A young man looking angry | Source: Midjourney

A young man looking angry | Source: Midjourney

I knew I should’ve talked to them before jumping the gun, but I didn’t want to overthink it or spoil my chance at this piece of happiness.

Meanwhile, Jenna was a breath of fresh air. She made me feel younger, and freer, like I could finally be myself again. Our dates were amazing, and she was completely focused on me. I was the sun in her galaxy. That makes a man stand taller and, honestly, more confident.

After that, things just fell into place. The divorce was amicable, though lengthy because of all our assets and the laws in our state.

As man holding some documents and smiling slightly | Source: Midjourney

As man holding some documents and smiling slightly | Source: Midjourney

My kids were also adjusting seemingly okay, though Maya had to alternate between houses. But this was our new normal, and I was genuinely happy.

Months passed, and the divorce was finalized without an issue. So, when Maya’s 15th birthday came up, I thought long and hard but concluded that it was time to introduce Jenna to everyone.

It wasn’t the easiest decision because the party was being held at my ex-mother-in-law’s house, but many of my relatives would also be there. In my mind, it was the right time.

An older woman at the front porch of a nice house | Source: Midjourney

An older woman at the front porch of a nice house | Source: Midjourney

Jenna and I walked through the door, and many did double takes. Still, my family was friendly and welcoming while I introduced my beautiful girlfriend proudly.

As we moved deeper into the house, toward the backyard, I caught sight of David, Izzy’s brother. He looked us up and down as his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. I froze for a second.

But Jenna leaned into me, squeezing my arm, and whispered, “Ignore him.” I smiled at her, nodded at my still-scowling ex-brother-in-law, and finally stepped out into the backyard, where most of the attendees were.

A backyard where people are gathered for a party | Source: Midjourney

A backyard where people are gathered for a party | Source: Midjourney

I was looking for Maya and Caleb, specifically. But I wasn’t distracted enough to not notice the immediate change in the air.

The chatter had stopped, and only the music from unseen speakers kept going. Instead of my children, I saw my ex-wife first.

She was by the drinks table, talking to some people until she noticed the atmosphere shift, too, and turned toward us. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked completely stunned as her eyes darted between me and Jenna.

A woman stunned at something standing to the side | Source: Midjourney

A woman stunned at something standing to the side | Source: Midjourney

I expected the tension. I even thought she would be angry, but I was sure I could explain any trouble away. Except, without warning, Izzy blurted, “You idiot!” and burst into laughter. The sound was loud and uncontrollable.

I froze again, as everyone turned to her in confusion. My kids, who I finally noticed, had been at a table eating burgers, but they stood and looked just as perplexed as everyone else.

I looked at my girlfriend and noticed her smile had frozen. She looked around and swallowed, nervously. But before I could ask her or Izzy what was going on, I saw Gloria, Izzy’s mother, stomping toward us.

An older woman angry | Source: Midjourney

An older woman angry | Source: Midjourney

Her face was red with anger. She stopped just inches from Jenna and, without warning, slapped her hard across the face.

My girlfriend staggered back, her hand flying up to her cheek, eyes wide with shock. I moved forward, trying to shield her, but Gloria wasn’t finished.

“How dare you show your face here!” she screamed her fury at Jenna. “After everything you did to my daughter? You think you can walk in here?!”

“Gloria, what the hell are you talking about?” I demanded, trying to push her away gently.

A man looking confused and upset | Source: Midjourney

A man looking confused and upset | Source: Midjourney

Suddenly, my ex-brother-in-law stepped forward and put his arms on Gloria to hold her back while glaring at Jenna with open hatred.

“You really don’t know, do you?” he spat, looking at me like I was the biggest fool on earth. “This woman,” he pointed at Jenna, “was Izzy’s high school bully. She tormented her, and it was relentless!”

My stomach twisted as I looked at Jenna, who was staring at the ground, refusing to meet my eyes. “Is… is this true?” I whispered.

Jenna hesitated, then nodded tightly. “Yes, but that was years ago. I was young and stupid…”

A woman looking serious | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking serious | Source: Midjourney

David cut her off. “It wasn’t just high school, Marcus! She tried to get Izzy kicked out of college. Spread lies and accused her of cheating on exams and plagiarizing papers all her freshman year.”

I stepped back, shaking my head. “No, that can’t be,” I said, turning to Jenna. “Tell them that wasn’t you!”

“It was her,” David spat. “She almost destroyed my sister’s future because she was too stupid to get into college!”

A middle-aged man in front of an older woman looking angry | Source: Midjourney

A middle-aged man in front of an older woman looking angry | Source: Midjourney

Those words set fire to Jenna. “I WASN’T STUPID!” she yelled at him but quickly turned to me. “Yes, I did those things, Marcus. It’s true. But people change. Doesn’t that count for something?”

My head was spinning. “Did you know she was my wife when we met and kept running into each other?” I asked.

Jenna looked down and nodded.

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Gloria screamed, thrashing in David’s arms.

An upset older woman pointing | Source: Midjourney

An upset older woman pointing | Source: Midjourney

“Please, Marcus. Leave with me, and I’ll explain everything,” Jenna said, trying to touch my arm, but I was done with her.

“No,” I said, and this time, my voice cracked.

A hard look came over her face. “You think you’re so perfect? You think you didn’t hurt anyone? You left your wife and kids just because you were bored. This isn’t all on me!”

A woman looking upset | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking upset | Source: Midjourney

I don’t know if she said that out of spite, to hurt me, or to justify herself. But she turned and walked away with her head held high, though I could see the redness of her cheek from Gloria’s slap.

When she was out of sight, I noticed the entire backyard was silent. Everyone watched me, waiting for something.

There was pity in my relatives’ eyes, but contempt in Izzy’s side of the family. Caleb stood off to the side with his arms crossed and his face tight. Maya looked at me like I was a stranger.

A teenage girl, looking sad | Source: Midjourney

A teenage girl, looking sad | Source: Midjourney

“Dad,” she whispered. “How could you?”

“Maya, I didn’t know any of this!” I cried out.

Caleb walked forward. “Honestly? You didn’t know?” he asked. My son had always been the suspicious type, always analyzing why people did or acted in certain ways.

“It doesn’t matter!” Maya continued angrily. “You broke our family for NOTHING!”

Those words hit me harder than anything else that day.

A man looking sad | Source: Midjourney

A man looking sad | Source: Midjourney

I’d spent months convincing myself I was doing the right thing. That it was meant to be because things were going so smoothly. Everyone seemed happy!

But my kids weren’t. At all. That’s what I realized at that moment. Yet, I still felt like the wronged party.

Throughout all this, Izzy had said nothing. She stood there and watched it play out like it was none of her business. I don’t know why I hated that so much. It was to her that I yelled, “IT WASN’T MY FAULT! I DIDN’T KNOW!” before walking out in shame.

A sad man looking at something to the side | Source: Midjourney

A sad man looking at something to the side | Source: Midjourney

***

In the days that followed, I calmed down and tried reaching out to my kids. Caleb responded occasionally but was always short with his answers. Maya didn’t respond at all. I didn’t dare call Izzy.

At first, I was defensive and told myself that no part of this was my doing. I had no clue. I’d just fallen in love. My relatives who were at the party eventually understood that, but the fact that my children couldn’t made me resentful.

After all, I’d cut Jenna off for good. She kept texting me, but I eventually blocked her. But no one was giving me the chance to explain it. Weeks later, I ran into my cousin and vented some of my feelings to her. By the end of that meeting, she gave me the business card of a therapist.

A woman holding a business card | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding a business card | Source: Midjourney

I called only a few days later. One thing he said actually put things into perspective.

“Whether you knew or not is irrelevant. You chose the divorce. You hurt your family on an impulse, as you’ve told me,” the doctor began. “What your ex-in-laws revealed was a bombshell, for sure. But at the end of the day, what matters now? Do you want to lose your kids for good?”

No, I didn’t want that. And after that simple realization, everything else he said in just one session made sense. I saw all the selfishness and stupidity I’d displayed. So, I took action.

A man in an office | Source: Midjourney

A man in an office | Source: Midjourney

First, I called David, and I got the full detailed story of how Jenna almost ruined Izzy’s future. They’d needed lawyers and cops to finally get her to stop and disappear from their lives. During our talk, he called me many names and insults and told me Jenna had played me.

I knew and was glad that, at least, my love for her was gone. She wasn’t going to play me ever again. I asked for David’s forgiveness and he gave it grudgingly.

Afterward, I called my ex-mother-in-law and begged her to see my perspective. She forgave me only after giving me a two-hour lecture. She also told me I would never find someone as great as her daughter. That was true.

An older woman looking angry while on the phone | Source: Midjourney

An older woman looking angry while on the phone | Source: Midjourney

I would never have Izzy as my wife again, but she was the mother of my children and the person I called next. This was the most painful conversation. Aside from forgiveness, I had to beg her for help with the kids.

I couldn’t let my relationship with them be completely destroyed. Fortunately, Izzy was gracious enough to agree after telling me that I really had no way of knowing who Jenna was. I breathed a sigh at last.

It took several weeks, but eventually, she called me, saying Caleb and Maya were open to having a deep conversation with me. We had to start slow, though. It had to be on their terms.

A man looking thoughtful | Source: Midjourney

A man looking thoughtful | Source: Midjourney

This is my ONE chance to make things TRULY right and get my children back. I’m seeing them tomorrow. Wish me luck.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*