My ex-husband was rushing headfirst into a new relationship, excited to start fresh. But something about his fiancée didn’t sit right with me. Then, an unexpected conversation at work revealed a secret I couldn’t ignore. When he brushed me off, I knew I had to show him the truth—even if it broke his heart.
Running a restaurant doesn’t leave much downtime, but for once, the dining room was quiet—no orders flying in, no fires to put out, no stressed-out servers. I took a moment to breathe, knowing the peace wouldn’t last.
My phone buzzed on the counter. It was a text from Aaron, my ex-husband. Curious, I opened it.
A photo of our son, David, popped up—grinning from ear to ear with a huge stuffed animal in his arms. Behind him, the colorful lights of a theme park sparkled.
I smiled. I was genuinely happy Aaron and David were making memories together.
Nearby, two waitresses were chatting animatedly. Lindsey held up her hand, proudly showing off an oversized diamond ring.
“Whoa,” Claire said, eyes wide. “That thing’s massive!”
Lindsey giggled. “I know! Total win.”
“Is he rich?” Claire asked.
“Not a billionaire,” Lindsey said with a smirk, “but he’s got money. Enough.”
I frowned. Lindsey had been dating Leo from the kitchen for over a year. “Wait, aren’t you with Leo?”
“Still am,” she said casually, admiring the ring.
Confused, I asked, “Then who’s the fiancé?”
She looked me dead in the eye. “Some guy with money. Leo and I planned this. I marry him, take half, then Leo and I live it up.”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“Don’t you think that’s cruel?” I asked.
“I don’t love the guy,” she shrugged. “No guilt here.”
“But he might love you…”
“His problem. He got blinded by youth.”
Her words left me sick to my stomach. I’d married for love—so had Aaron. Things hadn’t worked out, but we still respected each other and stayed close for David.
Later that evening, Aaron dropped David off. My son was glowing with joy, bubbling over about roller coasters and cotton candy. But Aaron looked tense.
“We need to talk,” he said quietly once David was out of earshot.
We sat at the kitchen table. He fidgeted, clearly nervous.
“I’m getting married,” he finally said.
I blinked, then smiled. “That’s wonderful! I’m happy for you.”
He relaxed a bit. “Thanks. I wanted to tell you before I told David.”
“Of course. So who’s the lucky woman?”
Aaron grinned and showed me a photo on his phone.
My blood ran cold.
“That’s Lindsey,” I said, my voice flat. “She works for me.”
Aaron looked uncomfortable. “Yeah… I figured this might be awkward.”
“How did this even happen?”
“I met her picking up David one day. We matched on a dating app later.”
I clenched my fists beneath the table. “Aaron… I need to tell you something serious.”
“If it’s about the age gap, I already know,” he interrupted. “It doesn’t bother us.”
“No—it’s not that,” I said. “Today at work, Lindsey was talking about her fiancé. I didn’t know it was you. But she said she’s marrying him just to divorce him and get his money.”
Aaron’s face went hard. “This is exactly why I was hesitant to tell you. I knew you’d say something like this.”
“Aaron, I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
His jaw clenched. “You’re jealous.”
I reeled. “What?”
“You can’t handle me being with someone younger who actually loves me.”
“She’s playing you,” I said. “She’s still with Leo—he works in our kitchen!”
“Stop it!” he snapped. “I can’t believe you’d stoop this low.”
“Aaron—please listen—”
“I’m done.” He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
I sat in silence, heart pounding. I couldn’t let Lindsey scam him like this. He didn’t deserve it. I needed a plan—something undeniable.
The next day, I approached Leo at work.
“You and Lindsey make such a cute couple,” I said casually. “Why not surprise her with a romantic dinner here after close?”
Leo lit up. “Really? That sounds awesome!”
“Tonight would be perfect.”
That evening, I texted Aaron:
“I know you don’t believe me. But if you want proof, come to the restaurant after 10.”
I didn’t expect a reply. I just hoped he’d come.
After putting David to bed, I pulled up the restaurant’s security footage. I found the angle I needed—showing the table I’d had Leo prepare with candles and flowers.
At 10:15, Leo and Lindsey sat down. They laughed, held hands, and eventually—kissed.
I looked away, sick to my stomach.
A movement on the outdoor camera caught my eye. Aaron.
He walked in and found them still seated. When he confronted them, his fury was visible even through the screen. Lindsey tried to play it cool, but Leo was clearly rattled.
Suddenly, Lindsey yanked the ring off and hurled it at Aaron. He caught it, stared at it… and left.
On the outdoor camera, he stood in the lot, shoulders shaking. He was crying.
Later, my doorbell rang. Aaron stood there, red-eyed, drained.
“You were right,” he said, voice hollow.
“This doesn’t feel like a win for me,” I said. “I didn’t want to be right.”
“I’m sorry for not believing you,” he whispered. “I should’ve trusted you.”
He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. “Thank you.”
I hugged him back. Sometimes, the truth hurts—but it still needs to be told.