When I found out my wife was cheating, I saw a chance instead of hurt. I had no clue that my scheme to cash in on her affair would pull me into a messy moral tangle, making me wrestle with what freedom really costs.

I knew Sophie was stepping out on me. It wasn’t tough to piece together with all her late-night texts, sudden work trips, and sneaky phone calls. But I didn’t call her out. Honestly, I didn’t feel a thing for her once I knew. We’d been hitched so long, my heart was empty.

The real problem was, I was terrified of a divorce. It’d leave me flat broke. I leaned on her big paycheck to keep our life going. She covered the apartment, insurance, groceries—everything. So, I just clenched my jaw and played like all was well.

One day, while sorting laundry, I found a crumpled receipt from a swanky restaurant in her jeans pocket. The name on it? Liam M—.

“Whoa,” I muttered to the empty laundry room. It all fell into place. I knew the guy—her dad’s buddy, who I’d seen a couple times at her dad’s birthday bashes.

I remembered Liam from those parties. Loaded guy, a bit doughy, always gazing at Sophie like she lit up the sky. Back then, I figured he was just being friendly. Now? Now I saw the truth.

I plopped down on the cold tile floor, receipt in hand, and let out a dry laugh. Not a happy one—more like something you’d hear in a loony bin.

“Ethan?” Sophie’s voice floated down from upstairs. “You okay?”

I scrunched the receipt and stuffed it in my pocket. “Yeah, all good. Just… stubbed my toe.”

That night, sleep wouldn’t come. I kept mulling over Liam and Sophie, the extra cash we’d been seeing, the new car I got for my birthday. It all added up now.

Next morning, I waited till Sophie left for “work” before I snooped through her old phone. She was always careless with her passcode—4673, our anniversary. Ironic, huh?

What I found twisted my gut. Old texts to Liam, dripping with hearts and kisses. Texts to her friends, raving about how awesome he was. But there was more—something I didn’t see coming.

“I still love Ethan,” one text to her friend said. “But we needed the money. Liam’s just… a way to keep going. Is that awful?”

Her friend shot back quick, “Girl, do what you gotta do. But be careful—this could backfire big time.”

I scoffed. If she only knew.

I kept scrolling, reading texts between Sophie and Liam. It was crystal clear: Liam was head over heels, and Sophie was stringing him along.

“I wish you’d ditch him,” Liam wrote. “We’d be so happy together.”

Sophie’s reply was cagey. “It’s complicated, Liam. Let’s just enjoy this for now.”

I set the phone down, my mind racing. A wild, brilliant idea hit me. Why not turn this to my favor?

I saved Liam’s number to my phone and bided my time, cooking up my next move.

A week later, I made the call. My heart was thumping as the phone rang.

“Hello?” Liam’s voice was deep, self-assured.

I took a deep breath. “Liam? This is Ethan, Sophie’s husband.”

The silence on the other end was heavy. I could practically hear his brain scrambling.

Finally, he spoke. “Ethan. What’s up?”

I didn’t beat around the bush. “I know about you and Sophie. I know you’re footing our bills. I’m ready to walk away, file for divorce, and let you have her. But I need something in return.”

“And what’s that?” His tone turned wary.

“Fifty grand. To start fresh.”

A long pause. I could hear his breathing.

“Why would I hand over money?” he asked at last.

I let out a short, bitter chuckle. “Because if I leave and break her heart, she’s all yours. I just need a clean slate. Think of it as… a bet on your happy ending.”

“You’d just walk away like that?” He sounded floored.

“Liam, buddy, I checked out of this marriage ages ago. I’m just looking for a way out that doesn’t leave me penniless.”

He went quiet for so long I thought he’d hung up. Then, “I’ll think it over.”

“Don’t take too long,” I said. “Offer’s good for 48 hours.”

I hung up before he could answer. My hands were shaky as I put the phone down. I’d done it. Now I just had to wait.

The next two days dragged on forever. Every time my phone buzzed, I jumped, thinking it was Liam. But it was always someone else—a spam call, a text from my mom. Never Liam.

Sophie picked up on my mood. “You alright, honey?” she asked over dinner. “You seem off.”

I forced a grin. “Just work crap. No big deal.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand. That touch, once cozy, now made my skin crawl. I pulled back, pretending I needed more water.

When the 48-hour deadline loomed, I started to sweat. What if Liam called my bluff? What if he spilled to Sophie? What if…

My phone buzzed. Unknown number.

“Hello?” I answered, voice barely a whisper.

“It’s done,” Liam said. “Check your account.”

I fumbled for my laptop, logging into my bank with trembling fingers. There it was: $50,000. Just like that.

“Thanks,” I said, my voice rough. “Just… look after her, okay?” I added, almost pleading.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth—that Sophie was playing him just like she’d played me. Instead, I just said, “Goodbye, Liam,” and hung up.

I sat there forever, staring at the screen. $50,000. My ticket out. My shot at a fresh start.

I heard Sophie’s car pull into the driveway. Showtime.

I was on the couch when she walked in, a folder of divorce papers on the coffee table.

“Ethan?” Her voice was shaky. “What’s going on?”

I looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time in months. She was gorgeous, no doubt. But I felt… nothing.

“It’s done, Sophie,” I said, voice steady. “I know about Liam.”

Her face went white. “Ethan, I can explain…”

I raised a hand. “Save it. I don’t want excuses. I want a divorce.”

She stood, took a few wobbly steps, and sank into the armchair across from me, her legs giving out. “But… what about money? The apartment? Our life?”

I smiled, and for the first time in years, it felt real. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

As I walked out of that apartment for the last time, duffel bag over my shoulder, I felt lighter than I had in years. Sophie was sobbing behind me, begging me to stay, to talk. But I was done talking.

I checked into a cheap motel that night, sprawled on the lumpy bed, staring at the grimy ceiling. My phone kept buzzing—Sophie, Liam, Sophie again. I ignored them all.

Come morning, I’d start hunting for a new place, a new job, a new life. But for now, I just lay there, the weight of the past few years slipping off my shoulders.

Just as I was dozing off, my phone buzzed again. Against my better sense, I checked it.

It was Sophie: “I’m sorry. I really did love you.”

I stared at the text for a long time before typing back, “I know. But sometimes love’s not enough.” I hit send, then turned off my phone. Tomorrow was a new day, and for the first time in years, I was pumped for it.