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?

Walking Away

I walked over to Tristan, patted him on the shoulder. “Thank you, cousin.”

And I walked straight to the door without looking back even once. I didn’t need to witness their collapse. I didn’t need to hear any more pleas or insults. I had done my job. I had reclaimed my justice and my honor. As I walked through the door and breathed in the cool night air, I felt as if I had been born again. A new life, a new future awaited me.

As I walked out the door, leaving behind a chaos of ruin and humiliation, I didn’t go far. I went to the backyard where it had all begun. The night was late, the garden was silent under the moonlight. The jasmine trellis still gave off its soft fragrance; the roses still silently displayed their beauty. Everything was the same; only the hearts of the people had changed.

I sat on the wooden swing where I used to read, gently rocking back and forth. From the house, the echoes of arguments and insults still reached me, but they no longer seemed to affect me. I felt a strange peace, a relief as if a weight that had oppressed my heart for years had been lifted.

I knew that from this moment on, my life would enter a new stage. I was no longer Olivia the submissive wife, the resigned daughter-in-law. I was myself, a free and independent woman.

A short while later, Tristan came out. He was carrying a cup of hot chamomile tea.

“I figured you’d be out here,” he said, handing me the cup.

“Thank you,” I said, accepting it. The warmth spread through my hands. “How is everything inside?”

“A mess,” Tristan sighed. “After you left, Ethan’s parents and Chloe’s parents had a huge fight. They blamed each other, insulted each other mercilessly. Chloe’s parents demanded their daughter return the money, and Ethan’s parents said their daughter had seduced their son. In the end, Chloe’s parents dragged her away, cursing her the whole time.”

“And Ethan?”

“Ethan…” Tristan hesitated. “After everyone insulted him, he just sat in a corner saying nothing, as if he had lost his soul. Your father-in-law seems to have suffered a serious shock; they had to help him to his room. And your mother-in-law, she’s still crying, blaming everyone but her son.”

I nodded, not surprised. It was the end I had foreseen. A family built on lies and appearances, when stripped of its facade, all that remains is selfishness and evasion of responsibility.

“And what are you going to do now?” Tristan asked, a hint of concern in his eyes.

“I’m getting a divorce,” I replied firmly. “I’m starting a new life. I’ve put up with enough.”

“I support you,” Tristan said. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

I smiled at him, a sincere smile. “Thank you, Tristan. You were very brave today.”

“It was nothing, Olivia. I just did the right thing.”

We sat in silence for a while, gazing at the garden under the moon. The chirping of crickets, the rustling of leaves—that peace was very precious.

“Hey, Olivia,” Tristan said suddenly. “In the future, don’t trust anyone too much. People can be very unpredictable.”

I nodded. “I know. Thanks for reminding me.”

That conversation with Tristan that night made me realize many things. I had been too trusting, I had sacrificed too much, turning myself into a victim. But I didn’t regret it. It was those falls, that pain, that forged me into the woman I am today: a stronger, more resilient version.