welcome to Lost relation Chronicles it's quiet now too quiet the kind of quiet that Creeps in after years of noise chaos and laughter have left their imprint on the walls Cathy's out shopping she says it's just for groceries but knowing her she'll come back with something for the house or maybe even something small for me she's always thoughtful like that we've been married for 24 years and in just a month we'll hit the big 25 a quarter of a century that thought hits me harder than I expected it feels like just yesterday I was fumbling
with a ring in my pocket trying to figure out how to propose without making a complete fool of myself and here we are now two kids grown and gone the House suddenly feeling so much bigger than it used to both kids Jack and Emily are off at College Jack's finishing up his senior year Emily just started her sophomore it's strange not having them around the house used to hum with activity Jack blasting music from his room Emily arguing with Kathy about curfews the constant Buzz of their friends coming and going now it's just me and
Cathy most days and when she's out like this it's just me I decided it was time to get out of bed Cathy would probably laugh if she saw me now lounging around like some retiree when it's barely midm morning I reached for the bottle of vitamins on my nightstand popped the cap and tipped one out into my hand except it didn't land in my palm the small round pill bounced off the edge of the table hit the floor and of course rolled straight under the bed sighing I muttered a few few Choice words under my
breath and got down on my knees to retrieve it it was darker under there than I expected with a faint smell of dust I hadn't noticed before I felt around blindly brushing my fingers against stray bits of lint and an Old Sock that must have been Jack's before he left for college then my fingers closed around something else thin crinkly and very out of place I pulled it out and stared at it for a moment my stomach sinking as I realized what it was a condom wrapper for a moment my mind blanked I just sat
there on the floor holding the thing in my hand like it was some alien artifact my first thought was confusion who the hell no one's been here no guests no parties nothing it's just been me and Cathy in this house for the last 3 months and then another thought hit me one that made my chest tighten I had a vasectomy after Emily was born we decided two kids were enough and I went through with it no questions asked so why would there be a condom rapper under our bed that's when it crept in the thought
I didn't want to entertain but couldn't push away Cathy is cheating on me anger bubbled up inside me hot and sharp but I clamped it down what was I going to do storm up to Cathy the moment she got home waving a condom rapper like it was a Smoking Gun that wouldn't get me anywhere she deny it or Worse turn it around on me no I needed more than this flimsy piece of plastic to confront her I got up threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt and grabbed my keys the house felt suffocating
now every every corner suddenly suspect I needed to clear my head and I knew exactly who to talk to Davey Jones no not the pirate from the movies the real Davey Jones my old friend and a damn good private investigator he got the nickname back when he was in the Navy and it stuck even after he swapped the sea for the streets if anyone could help me figure out the truth it was him when I walked into his office Davey was leaning back in his chair feet up on his desk sipping coffee from a chipped
mug he looked up grinned and stood to greet me with a firm handshake well if it isn't Ben Miller he said motioning for me to sit to what do I owe the pleasure I hesitated for a moment the words sticking in my throat but then I told him everything the condom rapper my suspicions the gnawing feeling in my gut that wouldn't go away Davey listened his face serious nodding every now and then but never interrupting when I finished he leaned back in his chair stroking the graying stubble on his chin all right Ben I'll help
you give me a week and I'll see what I can dig up but listen before we go down this road I need you to think about something if this is what you think it is you should be prepared talk to a lawyer get a sense of what you're looking at financially and otherwise if this ends in divorce the thought made my stomach churn but I knew he was right yeah I said quietly I'll do that Davey stood and clapped a hand on my shoulder wek get to the bottom of this Ben I promise I nodded
thanked him and left his office the rapper still burning a hole in my pocket 2 hours later I found myself sitting in Butch Reed's office the man himself leaning back in his chair his piercing eyes studying me like a hawk sizing up its prey they didn't call him the best oforce lawyer in town for nothing the man was a shark plain and simple if anyone could give me the hard truth it was him after laying out my situation I waited as Butch flipped through a legal pad jotting down notes finally he looked up and said
Ben if this goes where you think it's going you're looking at losing half assets savings the house everything California's a community property State it's a clean 50/50 split no matter what 50% half of everything I'd worked for everything Cathy and I had built together it felt like a punch to the gut but as much as it stung I knew one thing for certain I could lose half my life my money my house but I couldn't stay married to a cheater Butch seemed to read my thoughts because he leaned forward his voice lowering if you're serious
about this Ben here's my advice keep your head down and act normal don't give her any reason to suspect you're on to her if she smells something's up she'll lawyer up too and that'll make things a lot Messier I nodded feeling the weight of his words I'll do my best I said by the time I left his office I was mentally drained but determined I needed to play it cool no matter how much it tore me up inside when I got home Cath was in the kitchen chopping vegetables for dinner she looked up and smiled
as I walked in her face the picture of normaly it made my chest tighten but I forced myself to smile back I've got a business trip tomorrow I said casually leaning against the counter I'll be out for the entire week that night Cathy slid into bed beside me her hand brushing against my arm I could feel her warmth as she moved closer her intentions clear come on she murmured softly her voice carrying that familiar tone but I couldn't I'm tired I said my voice low and flat she paused for a moment then sighed rolling over
to face the other side of the bed I lay there in the dark staring at the ceiling my thoughts churning was I making a mistake what if the condom rapper wasn't hers what if it was Jack's he'd stayed in our room for a couple of nights before he left for college while his was being painted could it have fallen out of his pocket or maybe I was just grasping its straws trying to convince myself that wasn't what it looked like but then again what if it was exactly what I feared what if Cathy was cheating
on me the questions noded me tearing holes in my resolve but in the end I knew I couldn't back down now I needed to see this through no matter where it led the next morning I got up early packed a small bag and booked a cap Cathy barely stirred as I grabbed my things and left the house her soft breathing filling the silence as I closed the door behind me the drive to the outskirts of town was uneventful the the city slowly giving way to open roads and Scattered buildings the motel was as unremarkable as
I'd expected cheap clean enough and Anonymous perfect for what I needed I checked in dropped my bag on the bed and sat down staring at the peeling wallpaper as the hours crawled by it was almost evening when my phone busted it was Davey Ben he said his voice calm but with an edge of urgency Cathy just left the house she's checked into a motel my heart skipped a beat which one he paused for a moment then said the same Motel where you're staying I sat on the edge of the bed my heart pounding in my
chest as the silence in the room pressed down on me like a wait the thought of Cathy being here in this Motel burned in my mind when Davey called again his voice was calm but insistent shek in the room next to yours Ben he said quietly listen to me don't confront her this isn't the time or place just leave the room go somewhere else cool off you don't want to make a scene but I couldn't no Davey I said my voice strained I need to know I need to hear it for myself Davey sighed heavily
his frustration clear fine but don't do anything stupid promise me Ben I muttered an agreement and hung up the phone trembling in my hand the minute stretched on each second feeling like an eternity until suddenly I heard voices muffled through the thin walls at first I couldn't make out the words just the sound of Cathy's voice and a mans a deep unfamiliar tone then it became clearer they were having sex Cathy was very vocal in bed and then what I heard made my stomach twist I don't know why you're still with him the man said
his voice dripping with contempt the guy's old washed up he can't satisfy you can he Cathy's voice came next breathless and filled with something I couldn't recognize anymore no he can't she said her words cutting through me like a blade you're the best I've had in a while he's HEK just so old now the man laughed a cruel mocking sound then why are you still with him her reply came quickly without hesitation I need him to keep the Bills running now shut up and keep doing what you were good at I sat Frozen on the
edge of the bed every muscle in my body tin every breath labored the voices from the Next Room continued their laughter like acid eating away at me I couldn't take it anymore I stood up fists clenched ready to tear through the door and end this nightmare but before I could take a step the door to my room opened and Davey walked in his expression Grim he grabbed my arm firmly holding me in place don't he said sharply his voice low but commanding not like this let me go I hissed trying to pull free but Davey's
grip tightened listen to me Ben he said his tone leaving no room for argument theyve left the window open I've got my camera rolling I'm filming everything you'll have all the evidence you need if you storm in there now you're the one who's going to end up in jail and that'll screw you over in the divorce I glared at him my breathing heavy my vision blurred by rage I don't care about the divorce I growled I want to make them pay Davey stepped closer his grip unyielding and you will he said firmly but not like
this think Ben if you lose it now you lose everything for a moment I struggled against him the anger boiling inside me threatening to spill over but Davey was stronger and his words were like a cold slap to the face slowly the fight drained out of me replaced by a wave of overwhelming grief I slumped back onto the bed my head in my hands I felt broken humiliated powerless the woman I had loved and trusted for over two decades was in the Next Room tearing apart everything we built together after a long silence I stood
up my jaw set my fists still trembling I'll have my revenge I said my voice low and steady though every word burned like fire she might take away my assets but I'll wreck her like she wrecked my marriage and my trust after Davey left I sat in the dimly lit motel room my head spinning with everything that had just happened my body felt heavy like I was weighed down by a thousand Stones the plan was simple stay out for 3 days while Davey kept tabs on Cathy that was the agreement but sitting there alone knowing
what was happening felt like torture by the time Davey called later that night I was already pacing the room my fists clenching and unclenching replaying her words over and over in my head his voice on the other end of the line was calm methodical as if he were trying to keep me grounded she and the man left the motel Davey said I've got a positive ID on him his name's Roger Smith he's her coworker I didn't say anything for a moment my throat dry and tight Roger Smith the name meant nothing to me but the
fact that she was with someone from her office cut deeper than I'd expected all those late nights she claimed were spent working Davey continued keeping his tone matter of fact I'll keep watching for now just stay put like we agreed you don't want to make any moves before we've got everything we need I barely muttered a response before hanging up the hours that followed were excruciating every tick of the clock a reminder of what she was doing and who she was doing it with the next day Davey called again his updates were short clinical but
each word landed like a punch to the gut she's been spending time with Roger at his place it's the same pattern meeting up after work staying late I've got enough footage to make a case I stayed quiet gripping the phone tightly and she's been having sex with him every day Davey said his voice steady though I could sense the hesitation in his tone she's doing it at Roger home before heading back home I met with Butch and Davey in Butch's office the atmosphere was Heavy the blinds drawn and the room filled with the faint scent
of leather and coffee Butch leaned back in his chair his fingers steepled while Davey stood near the window arms crossed so we're sticking to the plan Butch said his voice firm and direct Ben you go back home keep it cool and don't let her suspect a thing the evidence Davy's gathered is more than enough but the longer we play this smart the stronger your case will be Davey nodded in agreement you've got to act normal in no confrontations no slip UPS let her think everything's fine meanwhile I'll keep tracking her movements just in case she
tries to pull anything new I swallowed hard the knot in my stomach tightening I understand I said my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me I'll handle it Butch leaned forward his expression sharp good now remember if you lose your cool you lose your leverage keep that in mind every second you're in that house with a deep breath I nodded we reviewed the details one last time before I left the weight of what was ahead felt suffocating but I was resolved to see it through when I arrived home Cathy was in the kitchen her
face lighting up when she saw me you're back she said cheerfully coming closer as if to hug me I stepped back raising a hand wait I said quickly I think I might have been exposed to covid-19 someone at work tested positive and I'm not feeling great I don't want to risk getting you sick her face shift Ed to concern oh no are you okay do you have symptoms just a bit of a sore throat I lied keeping my tone calm but I think it's best if I stay in the guest room for a few days
just to be safe Cathy nodded her worries seeming genuine of course let me know if you need anything tea soup whatever I'll take care of you I nodded forcing a small smile thanks I'll manage she hesitated for a moment then asked do you think we should cancel the iary party it's only a few weeks away I shook my head keeping my expression neutral no no need for that I'll be fine in a few days while I'm in isolation I'll use the time to plan the anniversary celebrations her face softened and she smiled that's sweet of
you I nodded again keeping my composure inside I was anything but calm the phone buzzed on the nightstand breaking the Silence of the guest room I picked it up already knowing it was Davey she left the office during lunch he said without Preamble shek at Roger house again same routine my jaw clenched but I said nothing letting him continue I've sent you the videos and pictures Davey added you should have everything in your inbox I stared at the phone for a moment before opening the email there they were clear undeniable proof of her betrayal Cathy
stepping into Roger house the two of them Tangled together in ways I didn't want to imagine for a few minutes I just watched in Silence the bu SM rising in my throat my hand tightened around the phone the anger simmering just beneath the surface finally I broke the silence if I wasn't her husband I said my voice cold and detached I'd probably enjoy these videos but now she just makes me sick there was a pause on Davey's end before he spoke again his tone measured I know this isn't easy Ben but it's only a matter
of time now 7 Days in isolation felt like an eternity but I knew I had to stick to the plan Cathy was too oblivious too wrapped up in her little world to suspect anything when the time came for me to come out of isolation I did so with as much composure as I could muster I forced myself to rejoin her to act like everything was normal she was eager of course probably hoping things would go back to how they used to be but when she tried to pull me close I didn't let her I'm still
feeling weak I said my voice steady despite the mess inside me I don't think I'm up for anything tonight she frowned her concern genuine you've been sick Ben you should take it easy I will I said but I'm really not feeling great the next day I want to get a full STD check I needed to know the truth to make sure I wasn't walking into a disaster the clinic was quick and efficient and I tried not to think too hard about what might come back from the results but I had to know when I returned
home I started sending out invitations for The Anniversary Party family friends everyone I could think of the party was happening and I was going to make sure it went off without a hitch that afternoon the phone rang my kids called to confirm they would be there to celebrate I felt a small flicker of something warm at the sound of their voices but it didn't last long later Cathy came up to me looking softer than usual I love you Ben she said her voice sincere I'm so happy to have you as my husband I gave her
a small empty smile The Mask firmly in place I know you are honey a week later the day finally arrived the anniversary celebration it was all set the house was filled with people their voices ringing through the rooms laughter echoing off the walls everyone was congratulating me telling me how lucky I was how beautiful the years had been Cathy was radiant as usual beaming with that bright almost innocent smile she always had in front of guests she had invited people from her office of course Roger was there too with his wife I couldn't stop myself
from noticing how they exchanged glances how Cathy was practically glued to my side while he stood nearby pretending to be engaged in conversation with someone else I didn't invite anyone from my office I could have but I didn't want them there not while this charade was playing out Cathy found it odd that no one from my work was around but I had a quick answer prepared they're all tied up in an important meeting I said my voice smooth not giving her a reason to doubt it it wasn't exactly a lie it was just a little
creative truth but I didn't need anyone from my office there Cathy's parents arrived soon after congratulating us showering us with kind words I forced myself to smile and thank them but inside I was anything but happy they didn't know the truth of course they didn't know what I knew Cathy for her part held on to me throughout the evening her arm around mine her smile never faltering as she greeted everyone with that same practiced enthusiasm she was so intent on making sure everyone saw how perfect everything was perfect we were but all I could think
about was how long I could keep up the act the evening was in full swing everyone mingling laughing congratulating it was almost too much too perfect and yet I had to remind myself that this was only the Calm before the storm then Davey and Butch arrived I had been waiting for this moment the moment when everything would finally come crashing down I had spent weeks setting it up planning every detail now it was time to execute I asked Cathy to let go of my hand her touch a constant reminder of everything I had endured she
didn't question me just smiled and continued to greet our guests blissfully unaware of what was coming I walked over to the giant screen we had installed for the occasion and as I stood in front of it the lights dimmed suddenly I was visible to everyone I grabbed the mic my heart pounding in my chest but I pushed through it I'm grateful that everyone is here tonight I said my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me everyone here matters a lot to me and to Cathy the crowd murmured nodding smiling I've been married to Cathy
for the last 24 years and 6 months I continued Cathy tried to sneak in her voice quiet but urgent no it's 25 years I smiled a small knowing smile and looked at her I'll explain honey then I turned to Davey who was holding the large carefully wrapped portrait sized gift Davy I said please present the gift to my wife Davey walked up to the stage the gift in his hands Cathy still smiling moved toward him standing next to her parents she didn't know yet what was coming as her father helped her unwrap the gift I
could feel the tension building every second felt like an eternity the shock on Cathy's face as the image appeared was everything I expected but it didn't make it any easier to watch it was Cathy on top of Roger having sex with him she screamed her voice piercing the tension in the room and her father's reaction was just as I'd anticipated angry Furious Ben what is the meaning of this this is a very sick joke he shouted the rage in his voice almost drowning out the shock I was feeling I glanced at my father-in-law trying to
keep my voice calm despite the boiling anger inside me it's not a joke that image is just a better screenshot of the video I'm about to play the image was only the beginning and i' prepared for it Davey moved to the controls and I could hear the clicks of the buttons before the video video filled the giant screen Kathy on top of Roger and the words Cathy had spoken in the video echoed through the room her voice almost unrecognizable I'm keeping him just to keep the bills rolling the impact of those words hit like a
punch to the gut but I'd heard it before so this time it did not hurt at all the silence that followed was thick suffocating I could feel every eye in the room on me but I didn't falter a man in the black suit appeared suddenly his calmness only adding to The Surreal nature of the scene he moved with purpose not even glancing at Cathy whose face was still Twisted in shock he walked up to her his steps deliberate and handed her the manila envelope with one simple sentence Mrs Miller you have been served Cathy froze
her hand instinctively reaching for the envelope but she didn't open it her eyes darted between the man and me confusion and anger swirling on her face she opened her mouth to speak but the words caught in her throat without hesitation the man turned walking passed her to Roger who was standing rigidly his own expression a mix of surprise and guilt the man in the black suit handed him another envelope his voice steady as he said Mr Smith you have been served Roger eyes widened as he took the envelope glancing nervously at Cathy who was still
processing everything but before he could say anything the man moved on almost as if he had done this 100 times before next the man walked to the CEO the room seemed to shrink as the man approached his footsteps echoing off the walls he handed the CEO his envelope the same words slipping from his lips Mr Thompson you have been served the CEO a man I'd respected not long ago took the envelope with a furrowed brow his face paling as he processed the situation what is this he asked his voice shaking slightly but the man didn't
answer turning away and exiting the room just as quickly as he had entered Mr Thompson I began locking eyes with the CEO my words slow but deliberate that is a lawsuit for not enforcing the company's morality code your employees were out on lunch going home to have some immoral sex the room was silent everyone still processing the events unfolding I could see Thompson's face twist in confusion and anger but I didn't care he had played his part in this betrayal too I turned to Roger the man who had not only destroyed my trust but shattered
my marriage Mr Smith you've been served for alienation of affection and breaking down my marriage I could hear the words echo in the room the sting of them hitting hard but then my gaze shifted to Cathy I swallowed hard but I didn't let myself waver she was the one who had hurt me the most the one who had chosen this path and destroyed everything we had built and Cathy you just got served for divorce her eyes were wide now her lips trembling but I wasn't done I had to make this clear I had to make
her understand I previously said that we've been married for 24 years and 6 months yes it's true but the truth is our marriage died the day you went out to screw this guy the words tasted bitter but they were the truth and I wasn't going to sugarcoat it and from our investigations we know it started 6 months ago I saw the flicker of guilt and anger in her eyes but I didn't care she had made her choice and now it was my turn to make mine I don't care why you did it I said my
voice hardening the finality in my words ringing through the room I don't need to know just get out of my house and just like that I felt something inside me click into place it was over the days following that moment felt like an endless waiting game but the chaos hadn't stopped Cathy's parents were Relentless calling me coming over trying to talk me down from what they saw as a rash decision They begged me pleaded with me to forgive Kathy to give her another chance Ben you don't understand Cathy's going through something her mother insisted her
eyes full of concern you've been together for so long you can work through this her father usually a man of few words joined in with a more direct approach you can't just throw away 24 years think about the family think about everything you've built together but I was Resolute I had made my decision and nothing was going to change that the Betrayal had cut too deep there was no coming back from this I didn't need their pleading or their well-meaning advice I had given Cathy more than enough chances to be honest with me and she
had chosen to lie Li to deceive it was over still Cathy didn't give up as if the truth of everything we'd been through wasn't enough she fought back with a new strange excuse at the hearing her eyes filled with tears and she looked at me with a pleading expression Ben please she started her voice cracking I've been going through a lot I have a hormone imbalance and that's why I wanted more sex you weren't able to provide that for me and that's why I I couldn't believe what I was hearing after everything this was her
excuse I looked over at Butch my lawyer and saw the skepticism on his face he was quick to respond Miss Miller you have never informed my client about this hormone imbalance issue in fact there are no medical records or doctor test reports to substantiate your claim Cathy flinched at Butch's words her eyes darted down clearly caught off guard the judge who had been quiet until now leaned forward a stern look on his face Miss Miller if there was any medical issue why didn't you inform your husband why didn't you take the necessary steps to address
it with him especially if it was affecting your marriage so drastically Cathy remained silent for a moment and I could see the frustration building in her the judge didn't give her time to form a response continuing with an air of finality if you truly had such an issue you should have communicated it with your husband and now we find no substantial proof the court finds no grounds for reconciliation the weight of his words felt heavy but it was what I had expected I'd made my case and I knew there was no turning back now I
was done trying to make sense of her actions the judge finally concluded after 7 months of back and forth that the divorce was granted the divorce had done its damage but the Fallout didn't stop there Jack and Emily my kids were in the middle of all this chaos they didn't take sides but their silence spoke volumes they were angry at Kathy for what she had done but they were also angry at me for how I exposed her I couldn't blame them I had put everything on display torn apart the life they knew and even though
it was justified in my eyes I understood that the way I handled things had hurt them they stopped communicating with both of us as much as it pained me I knew it was their way of dealing with the Betrayal I kept my distance from them trying to give them space to heal it wasn't easy not knowing where I stood with them left a hole that nothing seemed to fill but I had made my choices and now I had to live with the consequences financially things had changed too my assets had been reduced by half after
the divorce settlement everything I had worked for divided down the middle but as hard as it was to watch everything I had accumulated over the years slip away I couldn't bring myself to regret it Cathy had taken her share but my dignity my self-respect they were still mine I had kept those intact Roger wasn't fairing any better he was in his own battle fighting for a divorce from his wife I knew she had hired Butch to represent her and there was no way he was going to come out of that without a major Dent the
guy might have played a role in the destruction of my marriage but his own was falling apart and it was only a matter of time before the damage hit him too the CEO on the other hand wanted this whole mess to go away he had his own interests to protect and the public Scandal was bad for business it wasn't long before I got a call from him arranging a backdoor meeting the offer was simple a million dollars for me to withdraw the case they wanted silence closure and I was the key to that I had
already divorced Cathy and I wasn't looking for more Revenge I had made my peace with the decision and if this money would end the chaos and give me some Financial cushion as I started this next chapter then I'd take it so I withdrew the case I still keep the million with me a symbol of the deal I made to end it all 3 years later I'm sitting on the porch of my little Farmhouse watching the sun dip below the Horizon the colors bleeding across the sky in a way that only the countryside can offer the
air is crisp the world feels quieter here and it's the piece I've been craving for years I'm surrounded by my animals two German Shepherds Max and Duke both loyal and protective their eyes always watching as if they're making sure no one or nothing can hurt me anymore they're more than pets they're my companions my constant reminder that I'm not alone out here the farm itself is small nothing extravagant but it's mine I've spent the past year learning the ropes feeding the chickens working the land fixing fences and finding satisfaction in the simple repetitive tasks that
make up a day it's a different kind of life than the one I left behind but it's the life I needed I found a sense of purpose here that was missing for too long something grounding there's a rhythm to it the animals the land the seasons I've stopped rushing it's like time here moves slower and I've learned to appreciate every moment of it what's even more surprising is that my kids have started visiting again jack and Emily the two people I thought I had lost forever have come around it hasn't been easy and it's still
awkward sometimes but I can see the walls coming down between us they're older now with their own lives and their own battles but every visit feels like progress we talk about the farm about life about things that don't feel as heavy as they once did I'm not trying to fix anything anymore I'm just here for them when they need me as for Kathy well I've heard through the grapevine that she's living with her parents now from what I gather she's under therapy trying to work through everything that happened I didn't expect things to be easy
for her she's facing her own demons and I can't help but feel a small sense of empathy for her even after everything it's not my problem anymore but it's hard to completely shut off the person I once cared about I'm not bitter about it though I'm not angry I've let all of that go in this quiet place I've learned that holding on to rage only keeps you chained to the past and I'm not living in the past anymore I've moved on and for the first time in years I'm actually happy I wake up to the
sound of the bird Birds the wind and the trees and the occasional bark of my dogs chasing after something I have everything I need right here dear listeners please share your thoughts in the comments section below and don't forget to like share and subscribe
