Yesterday, a young woman came to my massage studio.

Her: “Finally, I’m going to relax.” Me: “Stressed?” Her: “Too much! My boyfriend is divorcing his wife. Well, I’d leave her too. She just works, looks after their kids, cooks, and cleans. Of course, he’ll keep the houseโ€”it’s his. I don’t want to raise someone else’s brats.”

Then her phone buzzed. I looked at her profile picture and almost fell over. It was her and MY husband.

Her: “Oh, I’ll answer later.” Me: “No, dear. Please, answer. It’s my husbandโ€”your boyfriendโ€”calling.”

Silence. Then suddenly, she screamed: “What did you do to me?! I CAN’T MOVE!”

I stood there, my heart pounding in my ears. I hadn’t done anything. Not physically, at least. But her reactionโ€”the fear, the panicโ€”was like a confession. She knew she had wronged someone. And for a second, I almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

“Relax,” I said coolly. “It’s just your mind playing tricks on you. Stress does that, remember?” I placed a firm hand on her shoulder, my massage therapist voice kicking in. “Breathe.”

Her chest heaved as she gasped for air, her wide eyes darting around the room. I wasnโ€™t sure if she was truly frozen with fear or if she was playing some sort of mind game. Either way, I wasnโ€™t about to let her off that easy.

“You have two options,” I continued, my voice steady. “One: You get up, walk out of here, and pretend you never met me. But remember, karmaโ€™s got a long memory. Or two: You sit here, and we have a little chat. Woman to woman.”

She swallowed hard. “Chat? About what?”

I pulled up a chair and sat down across from her. “Tell me, does he know youโ€™re here? Does my husband know you just walked into his wife’s business, talking about how his โ€˜bratsโ€™ donโ€™t fit into your dream life?”

Her lips pressed together, her bravado cracking just slightly. “Heโ€”he said he was going to tell you soon. Heโ€™s just waiting for the right time.”

I almost laughed. “Right. And let me guess, he told you his marriage was dead? That I was cold, distant? That I didnโ€™t understand him?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

“And you believed him?”

More silence.

I leaned back. “Let me guess. He pays for your rent? Helps with bills? Promises you a future where you wonโ€™t have to lift a finger?”

Her eyes flickered with somethingโ€”embarrassment, maybe. “Thatโ€™s none of your business.”

“Oh, but it is,” I countered. “Because the house he promised you? The one he told you heโ€™s keeping? Guess whose name is also on that mortgage? Guess who pays the bills while he plays Prince Charming with you?”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“Youโ€™re not the first,” I continued, my voice almost pitying. “And you wonโ€™t be the last. Heโ€™s a man who takes what he wants until something shinier comes along. I know because I was you once.”

Her brow furrowed. “What?”

I gave her a small, knowing smile. “We met when he was still with his ex. He told me the same story. The loveless marriage, the nagging wife, the kids he felt trapped by. And I believed him. Because I wanted to. Because it was easier than admitting I was just a distraction from real life.”

She looked like she had been slapped. “No. Heโ€”he loves me.”

I sighed, standing up. “Maybe he does. But love doesnโ€™t look like sneaking around and making promises he canโ€™t keep. And letโ€™s be real, if he could leave me, he can leave you too. What makes you so sure you wonโ€™t be in my chair one day, listening to him tell some new girl that you were the mistake?”

She swallowed hard. The realization was settling in, but pride was a stubborn thing.

“I have an appointment after you,” I said, walking to the door. “So if youโ€™ll excuse me, I think weโ€™re done here.”

She shakily got up, her legs still unsteady. “Whatโ€”what are you going to do?”

I opened the door for her, giving a small shrug. “I donโ€™t have to do anything. Youโ€™ll see soon enough.”

She hesitated for a moment, then rushed past me, her head down. As she reached the sidewalk, I watched her pull out her phone, furiously typing. Probably demanding answers, just like I once had.

I turned back inside, locking the door behind me.

That evening, I changed the locks, called a lawyer, and poured myself a glass of wine.

By morning, my soon-to-be ex-husband would have nowhere to go.

Lesson? People who cheat with you will cheat on you. The way someone treats their past partners is a preview of how theyโ€™ll treat you. Donโ€™t ignore the signs.

And ladies, always check whoโ€™s calling.

If this resonated with you, share it. Someone out there needs this reminder.