I hadn’t seen Nancy in five years, though we stayed in touch through texts, memes, and occasional Zoom calls. Life had gotten busy—her new job, my family. So when she reached out to meet up, I felt a warm excitement.I suggested a Saturday adventure. The kids could meet, we’d catch up. Nancy agreed, and soon we were at the amusement park, laughing over rides and snacks, just like old times. But something shifted when we stopped for coffee.

As I showed her pictures from a recent hiking trip, my son Connor leaned over and pointed to a photo of Spencer. “That’s Daddy!” he said, and Nancy’s reaction was… off. She quickly corrected him, but there was something in her voice that didn’t sit right.I scrolled through the pictures, feeling the air thicken around us. The truth began to settle in. I showed Connor another photo, asking him if that was his Daddy. He nodded, innocently confirming what I feared: Spencer and Nancy had been hiding something for years.

Later, that night, I found evidence—messages, photos, everything. Spencer had been flying to Nancy during his “business trips.” They’d been together while I was pregnant with Olive. I wasn’t angry. I was numb.he next morning, I texted Nancy, asking her to meet again. This time, I had a plan. At the café, as the kids played, I stepped away and called Spencer, pretending to feel unwell. He rushed to the café, and the moment he walked in, I hit record.

“Daddy!” the kids shouted, and Nancy froze. She didn’t say a word; she just grabbed Connor and left. Spencer tried to explain, but I didn’t want his lies. I walked out with Olive, keeping my composure.

Later, I began preparing for a life without Spencer. I hired a divorce lawyer, uncovered secret accounts, and froze everything. Spencer didn’t even know what hit him. He came home one day to find boxes packed and the life we built unraveling.I deserve peace and joy,” I told him. He stood there, defeated.Nancy texted me days later: I never meant to hurt you, Bri. I didn’t respond. Instead, I wrote her a letter, detailing every moment she’d pretended to be my friend while betraying me. I ended it with, You are no longer welcome in my life.I mailed it without a return address.Sometimes, I look at Olive, her breath steady and safe, and wonder how close I came to living a lie. But now, I live in the truth. It’s colder, but it’s mine.