I never imagined that a routine appointment at my massage studio would unravel my entire marriage. The woman on my table that day had no idea who I was, and by the time she realized the truth, it was too late.

If you asked anyone to describe me, they’d probably say I’m the typical hardworking mom. My life revolves around my two boys, Ethan and Leo.

At 10 and 8 years old, they’re at that stage where they want to be independent but still need their mom for everything. And honestly, I love being there for them. The morning rush to get them ready for school, the endless soccer practices, and those quiet moments at bedtime when they tell me about their day motivates me to keep going.

But my life isn’t all about the kids.

Five years ago, I opened my own massage studio, and it quickly became my second home. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about helping people relax.

It’s my passion, and I’ve poured my heart and soul into that place.

Then there’s Henry, my husband of 12 years.

I met him when I was a young, vibrant woman, full of dreams and energy. Back then, I’d dress up for him, wear makeup, and make sure my hair was perfect. And he loved it.

We were inseparable. Henry always found a way to make me laugh and I continued believing we’d be happy forever. But life doesn’t stay the same.

Over the years, I’ve become more practical.

I don’t spend hours on my hair or makeup anymore. I wear comfortable clothes and don’t spend money on fancy stuff because I believe I’d rather invest my time and money in my kids.

Henry never complained about it, but sometimes I wondered if he noticed.

It wasn’t that our marriage was bad. Henry still did his part. He was a present father, always at the boys’ games and school events. He fixed things around the house and never missed a birthday or anniversary.

I thought we were solid.

But over the past year, something felt… off. Henry started working late more often. At first, I didn’t question it. He’s a lawyer, and I assumed he was putting in extra hours to give us a comfortable life.

Still, there were moments that gnawed at me.

He’d get home late and head straight for the shower without saying much. Sometimes, he’d sit with us for dinner, but his mind seemed elsewhere.

I chalked it up to stress. After all, I was busy too. Running a business and raising kids wasn’t easy.

But deep down, a part of me knew something had changed. We weren’t the same couple we used to be.

I figured it was just part of being married for over a decade. You know, life gets busy, romance takes a backseat, and you fall into routines.

What I didn’t know was that my husband’s routine included someone else.

It was an ordinary Tuesday morning when Emily walked into my massage studio. She looked exactly like the kind of woman who turned heads without even trying.

Everything about her screamed luxury. The way her sleek hair cascaded over her shoulders, the designer bag she casually set down on the chair, and her expensive perfume that filled the room.

“Hi, I’m Emily. I have a 10 a.m. appointment,” she said with a friendly smile.

I returned the smile, though something about her felt off. Maybe it was her confidence or the way she seemed so at ease as if she owned the place.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, so I brushed it off.

“Welcome, Emily. Please, make yourself comfortable,” I said, gesturing toward the massage room. “You can hang your things there and lie down on the table. I’ll be right with you.”

Once she settled in, I started my usual routine. The room was calm and serene, with soft music playing in the background. As I massaged her back, she let out a deep sigh.

“Finally,” she said, her voice muffled by the table’s headrest. “I’m going to relax.”

I chuckled. “Much stress?”

“Too much,” she groaned. “I really needed this.”

I kept my tone light and conversational. “Work stress?”

“Relationship stress,” she corrected. “My boyfriend is… complicated.”

I stayed silent, letting her talk if she wanted to. Some clients like to open up during their sessions, and I’ve learned that listening can be just as therapeutic as the massage itself.

Emily sighed again. “He’s in the process of a divorce, and it’s been messy. I don’t know why he hasn’t just finalized it already. His wife is such a drag.”

I felt a pang of sympathy. Divorce is never easy, especially when kids are involved. Still, something about the way she said “drag” didn’t sit right with me.

“I guess that’s always hard,” I said carefully. “Especially with kids in the picture.”

“Oh, they’re not my problem,” she said dismissively.

My hands froze for a split second before I forced myself to keep going. I was horrified. How could someone be so heartless?

But I reminded myself not to judge. I didn’t know the whole story.

“I don’t know how his wife does it,” Emily continued. “She just works, looks after the kids, cooks, cleans… No wonder he’s leaving her. She’s boring. No makeup, no effort. Just a mom. And of course, he’ll get the house. It’s his. The kids can stay with her. I don’t want to raise someone else’s brats.”

Her words stung, though I wasn’t sure why. It was like she was describing me. I shook the thought away.

Pure coincidence, I told myself.

Emily’s phone suddenly buzzed on the side table. I glanced at it, and my heart nearly stopped.

The screen lit up with a picture of her and… Henry.

My husband. My Henry. Smiling with her. Holding her.

My heart pounded faster as I processed what I was seeing. My mind raced, replaying everything Emily had just said.

“Oh, I’ll answer later,” Emily said casually, reaching to silence the phone.

“No, dear,” I said, my voice unnervingly calm. “Please, answer it.”

She blinked, surprised by my tone. “What?”

I stepped back and crossed my arms. “It’s my husband—your boyfriend dreaming of divorcing me—calling you. Go ahead.”

For a moment, there was dead silence. Then she screamed, “What the hell did you do?! I CAN’T MOVE!”

I watched as Emily struggled to lift her head, her arms trembling as she tried to push herself off the massage table. But her body refused to cooperate.

For a moment, I panicked. Did I seriously paralyze her? But then I realized what had happened.