My Husband Mocked Me For Being “Naive” While Having An Affair In My Own Garden. He Didn’t Realize I Was Listening From The Shadows. Should I Tell Him About The “Gift” I Left In His Underwear Before The Party?

An Unexpected Ally

Things had gone too far. There was no turning back. The shock of the contract and the mortgage took me several minutes to calm down. This betrayal was more painful than catching them in the act; it proved that Ethan was not just a man who succumbed to temptation, but someone who had been plotting and calculating for a long time.

He had planned to strip me of my assets, preparing an exit with his mistress. Probably in his plan, after having the boutique and his own business, he would find a way to kick me out of the house. Thinking about this, a chill ran down my spine. I was about to be left with nothing, to be thrown out of my own home without knowing it.

The hatred inside me grew stronger than ever. I could no longer fight this battle alone. I needed an ally, someone who could help me not only morally but also with things I couldn’t do alone. I immediately thought of Tristan, Ethan’s cousin.

Tristan was the son of Ethan’s youngest aunt. He came from a small town to the city for college and stayed to work. He was a good, honest guy, but somewhat shy. His family back home was not wealthy, so he was never highly valued in the family. Whenever they went back to their hometown, my mother-in-law and the other aunts would often compare him to Ethan, criticizing him for not being sharp, for lacking ambition.

Ethan, although he was his cousin, barely paid him any attention. He saw him as a country cousin, someone he only turned to for minor favors. Only I, perhaps out of empathy for his situation, always treated him well. From time to time I would give him some money, buy him new clothes, or invite him over for a meal.

I knew that Tristan appreciated me, but he was also very afraid of Ethan’s family. Would he dare to help me? I hesitated for a moment but decided I had to try. I had no other options.

I called Tristan and arranged to meet him at a quiet coffee shop. Tristan arrived promptly, looking surprised and worried.

“Olivia, did you call me for something urgent? Your voice sounded strange.”

I didn’t beat around the bush. I got straight to the point.

“Tristan, I have something very important to ask of you. But before I tell you, you have to promise me you’ll keep it a secret.”

Tristan nodded immediately. “Of course, Olivia. Anything. You’ve helped me so much; I’ll never forget it.”

I took a deep breath and began to tell him. I didn’t tell him about the infidelity; I knew Tristan was young and that might put him in an uncomfortable position. I focused on the financial aspect.

I showed him the partnership agreement and told him about the mortgage on the house. I told him that Ethan had deceived me, that he planned to steal my assets. I needed a witness, someone who could confirm Ethan’s shady actions in front of the whole family at the party that night.

As he listened, Tristan turned pale. He was stunned, unable to believe that his cousin, whom he had always looked up to, was capable of such a thing. He was silent for a long time, a conflicted expression on his face. I knew he was scared. Facing the whole clan, especially my mother-in-law, was not easy.

“I know I’m asking a lot of you,” I said, my voice somewhat subdued. “If you don’t want to, I won’t blame you. I’ll manage on my own.”

Tristan looked up and met my eyes directly. His usual shy gaze had become strangely firm.

“No, Olivia,” he said with a determined voice. “I’ll help you. I’ve had enough of their condescension for too long. Ethan… he’s never considered me his cousin. That family only cares about money and appearances. You’re the only person in that house who has treated me well. I can’t let them continue to take advantage of you.”

I didn’t expect Tristan to agree so resoundingly. I felt immense gratitude.

“Thank you, Tristan. I’ll never forget this.”

“Don’t say that,” Tristan said. “Tell me, what do I need to do?”

I began to explain my plan. “Tonight at the party, after everything is revealed, I just need you to stand up and be my witness. Tell them about the times Ethan asked you to run shady errands, the times he boasted about how he was fooling me. Do you remember that time he asked you to photocopy some documents for a bank loan? Do you still have any copies?”

Tristan nodded. “Yes, I remember. It seemed strange, so I secretly made a copy. I still have it at my apartment.”

“Perfect!” I exclaimed. “That will be irrefutable proof tonight. Come to the party as if nothing is wrong, act normally. At the right moment, I’ll give you a signal. Understood?”

“Don’t worry,” Tristan replied, his eyes full of determination.

With Tristan as an ally, my plan was much more solid. I no longer felt alone.

That afternoon, everything was ready. The fresh seafood had arrived, the vintage wine was chilling. The house, splendidly decorated, was ready to receive the guests. Standing in the middle of the living room, I contemplated my work with a strange calm.

This would not be a warm family party; it would be a trial, a stage for the verdict. And I was both the victim, the prosecutor, and the director. All the actors were invited, the props were ready. All that was left was to wait for the show to begin, for the curtain to rise.

The Curtain Rises

At 6:00 in the evening, the sky began to darken. The guests started to arrive. Our house filled with noise and commotion; laughter, lively conversations, and the chatter of children echoed throughout the house.

My mother-in-law, dressed in an elegant burgundy velvet suit and a pearl necklace, paraded around greeting everyone, endlessly boasting about her brilliant son and their magnificent home.

“Look, Auntie, my Ethan is such a star. As soon as he got promoted, he wanted to throw this party to thank his parents and the family,” she said to the great-uncle, her voice full of pride.

I, standing at the door, greeted each guest with a smile. I played the role of the docile daughter-in-law and attentive hostess to perfection. No one could have guessed the storm raging inside me.

Ethan, impeccable in an expensive suit, stood beside me, his arm wrapped affectionately around my waist. From time to time he would lean in to whisper compliments in my ear:

“You look so beautiful today, my love. Thank you for all your hard work.”

His performance was so perfect I almost believed it. But every time he touched me, I felt a wave of revulsion.

Chloe’s parents had also arrived. They were simple country folk, somewhat intimidated upon entering such a luxurious environment. I went out to greet them at the door, welcoming them effusively.

“Welcome! Was it a long trip? Come in, make yourselves comfortable.”

Chloe’s parents seemed very moved by my welcome. They didn’t know they were here not as honored guests, but as key witnesses to their own daughter’s shamelessness.

Chloe hadn’t arrived yet; perhaps she wanted to make a late entrance to draw attention.

Tristan, Ethan’s cousin, was also there. He sat quietly in a corner, occasionally glancing at me, a discreet nod instead of a greeting. I knew he was ready.

When all the guests were present, the party officially began. Ethan and I raised a toast together to welcome everyone.

“Thank you all, aunts, uncles, cousins, for coming from far and wide to celebrate with us today. To mark a small achievement in my career, my wife and I wanted to host this small gathering to express our gratitude to our parents and the entire family for their constant support,” Ethan said, his voice firm and confident.

Everyone applauded. I, by his side, smiled as I looked at him. Great performance, Ethan. It will be the last time you stand in this position saying such noble words.

The party proceeded in a cheerful atmosphere, at least on the surface. People ate, chatted animatedly. My mother-in-law was the happiest; she went from table to table toasting, receiving congratulations, her face flushed with wine and vanity. She didn’t know that her joy was about to vanish.

Just then, Chloe appeared. In a tight white spaghetti-strap dress that highlighted her curves, her hair in voluminous waves, and flawless makeup, she looked incredibly beautiful and seductive. Her arrival drew all eyes.

“Chloe, you came!” I exclaimed, feigning great joy. I went up to her, took her arm familiarly, and introduced her. “Everyone, this is Chloe, my neighbor and a dear, dear sister to me.”

I deliberately emphasized the words “sister” and “dear”.

Ethan’s eyes upon seeing Chloe couldn’t hide his fascination. He quickly stood up to offer her a chair, a gallant gesture that contrasted with his usual behavior. My mother-in-law looked at her with some displeasure but said nothing; perhaps she thought that after all, she was just an unimportant neighbor.

The party continued. Ethan and Chloe, although seated separately, kept exchanging meaningful glances. They thought they were being discreet, but I saw them. I saw everything. I registered everything.

From time to time, I would turn to talk to Chloe.

“Asking about her work… I heard you’re going to open a boutique, right? That’s great! You’ll need a lot of capital. Are you managing on your own?”

My question flustered her a bit. She glanced at Ethan and stammered:

“Well, I have some savings, and someone is helping me.”

“That’s wonderful! Whoever is so generous, you have to introduce me,” I said smiling, my tone loaded with double meaning.

Ethan, on the other side, overheard the conversation and his face changed. He quickly intervened:

“Let’s eat, the food is getting cold.”

Time passed slowly. I looked at the clock; it was almost 8:00. Everything was going according to plan. The guests were already a little tipsy from the wine, the atmosphere was noisier. It was the perfect moment.

I gave Tristan a signal. He understood, stood up silently, and went to the karaoke machine I had prepared to liven up the party.

“I’d like to sing a song for everyone,” Tristan said into the microphone.

Everyone applauded. But Tristan didn’t sing. He connected a USB drive to the projector.

“But before I sing, I want to show you a little video. These are very everyday, very real moments of my cousin Ethan and my sister-in-law Olivia’s family which I accidentally recorded.”

Everyone looked curiously at the large screen hung in the middle of the living room. Ethan and Chloe too. They had no idea that the video they were about to watch would be the death sentence for their honor and their secret affair. The lights in the living room dimmed, leaving only the light from the projector. The best part of my play was about to begin.