My Boyfriend Has Been Having An Affair With My Best Friend’s Husband, They’re Planning To Leave Us Both…To Expose Their Secret Relationship.

They don’t deserve your kindness. She was right. I knew she was right. What do you suggest? She smiled. We beat them at their own game. We plan better. We prepare better. And when the time comes, we make sure everyone knows exactly what they did. Amber doesn’t know. She’s innocent in this. So tell her I can’t.

Not yet. I need to think. Rachel stayed for 3 days. We planned. We strategized.

We documented everything. She helped me open a separate bank account, transfer half of our shared savings. She helped me talk to a lawyer. Just a consultation to know my rights. She helped me find a new apartment just in case. Put down a deposit. You’re preparing for war, she said on her last night. That’s good, but are you preparing for after? What do you mean after the confrontation? After it all blows up after Marcus is gone and Amber probably hates you for not telling her sooner after all the mutual friends pick sides. What then? I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I don’t know. Just be ready. This is going to be ugly and it’s going to hurt. And some days you’re going to wonder if you made the right choice. Did I make the right choice to wait to plan? Yeah, you did. Because now you have control. Now you’re not the victim. You’re the one holding all the cards. After Rachel left, I went back to pretending everything was normal. Marcus didn’t suspect anything. Why would he? I was the same Elena. Same routines, same conversations. Except I wasn’t. I was documenting everything, recording conversations, screenshotting messages.

I watched him differently now. Noticed things I’d missed before. The way he’d tense up when his phone buzzed, how he’d take calls in another room, how he’d started going to the gym more. Coming home showered already. how he’d pull away sometimes when I touched him, like he was somewhere else, with someone else. With Jake. Three weeks went by, Thanksgiving happened. We spent it with my parents. Marcus carved the turkey, told jokes, helped my dad with the dishes. My mom pulled me aside. He’s going to propose soon. I can tell you’re going to be so happy, honey. I just smiled. Amber and Jake spent Thanksgiving with Jake’s family in California. She texted me photos. Beach sunset. Jake holding her hand. Grateful for this man. I wondered if Jake felt guilty. if Marcus did, if they talked about us while they were together, if they laughed about how clueless we were.

December arrived. Marcus started acting different, more attentive, bringing me flowers, planning date nights. I realized why. He was trying to make the breakup easier, making good memories so he could tell himself he’d been a good boyfriend until the end. Or maybe he was just feeling guilty. One night in early December, my phone rang. Unknown number.

Hello, Elena. It’s Jake. My heart stopped. Oh, hey Jake. What’s up? I need to talk to you in person. Can we meet?

What about please? It’s important tomorrow. The coffee shop on Morrison Street. Noon. Does Amber know you’re calling me? Silence. No. And she can’t.

Please, Elena, just meet me. He hung up.

I sat there shaking. Why did Jake want to meet? Did he know I knew? Was he going to confess? I called Rachel. Go, she said. Record everything. This could be useful. The next day, I arrived at the coffee shop 15 minutes early, set up my phone to record audio in my purse.

Jake showed up exactly at noon. He looked terrible, exhausted, stressed. We ordered coffee and sat in the back corner. “Thank you for meeting me,” he said. “What’s this about, Jake?” He rubbed his face. I don’t know how to say this. Just say it. I’m leaving, Amber.

What? After New Year’s, I’m going to ask for a divorce. I pretended to be shocked. Jake, what? Why? I’ve been I’ve been seeing someone else. Oh my god. I know. I know it’s terrible. I’m a terrible person, but I can’t keep living this lie. Does Amber know? No. I wanted to tell you first. Why me? He looked at me. Really looked at me because you’re going to need to be there for her. When I tell her, she’s going to need her best friend. The audacity. The absolute audacity. Who is it? Who are you leaving her for? He looked away. I can’t tell you that yet. It’s someone I know, isn’t it? Elena. Is it Marcus? His face went white. Bingo. How did you I know everything, Jake. I’ve known for weeks.

He stood up, sat back down, stood up again. You know, does Amber know? No, I haven’t told her. Why not? Because I’m still deciding how to handle this. How did this even happen, Jake? You and Marcus? He put his head in his hands. It started at the gym 6 months ago. We were both working out at the same time.

Started spotting each other, talking. We realized we had things in common. You’re both gay, bisexual, we’re both bisexual.

We just We’ve been hiding it, living these straight lives, trying to be what everyone expected. So, you decided to have an affair instead of being honest.

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

It just happened. One conversation led to another and then hotel rooms, secret messages, lying to your wives. I know it’s wrong. I know we’ve hurt you both, but Elena, I’ve never felt like this before with anyone. Marcus makes me feel like I can finally be myself. I wanted to throw my coffee in his face. Does he make you feel good about lying to me every single day? About planning your new life while I’m at home thinking everything is fine? No. I feel terrible.

We both do. Not terrible enough to stop.

No. At least he was honest about that.

Why are you telling me this now? I asked. Why not just wait until New Year’s like you planned? Because I can’t do it anymore. The lying, the sneaking around. I want to tell Amber this weekend. I want to come clean. And you wanted to warn me first? I wanted to ask you to be there for her. Please, Elena.

She’s going to need you. I laughed.

Actually laughed. You’re asking me to comfort my best friend after you destroy her marriage? To help her through the heartbreak of finding out her husband is leaving her for my boyfriend? That’s what you’re asking? I know it sounds insane. It is insane. You and Marcus did this. You deal with the consequences. I stood up to leave. Elena, wait. There’s something else. What? Marcus doesn’t want to wait. He wants to tell you tonight. He’s planning to. I convinced him to wait until after the holidays, but I don’t think I can stop him anymore. My blood ran cold tonight?

Yeah, he’s been talking about it all week. He feels guilty. He wants to come clean. Does he know you’re talking to me? No. He’d kill me if he knew. I grabbed my purse. Don’t tell him we talked. Don’t tell him I know. Give me time, Elena. Just give me until the weekend, please. I left before he could respond tonight. Marcus was going to tell me tonight. all my planning, all my preparation, and he was going to ruin it by confessing early. I called Rachel from my car. He’s going to tell me tonight. Jake just warned me. I have hours. Okay. Okay. Don’t panic. You have options. Like, what? You tell him first.

You take control of the narrative. You tell him you know everything and you’re leaving. But Amber, Amber is going to find out either way. Either tonight when Jake tells her or this weekend or whenever. But at least if you control how this happens, you’re not sitting there like a victim while Marcus dumps you. She was right. I drove home. Marcus wasn’t there yet. Still at work. I had 3 hours. I packed a bag. clothes, toiletries, important documents, photos I wanted to keep. I took Biscuit’s favorite toys, his food, his bed. I wasn’t coming back here. I called the apartment I’d put a deposit on. Asked if I could move in early. They said yes. I loaded everything into my car. Made three trips. The apartment was empty, but it was mine. Just mine. I set up Biscuit’s bed in the corner. He looked confused. New place, buddy. Just for a little while. I went back to our apartment, Marcus’ apartment now. I sat on the couch and waited. He came home at 6:30 carrying Chinese takeout. Hey, babe. Got your favorite Kungpow chicken.

I looked at him. this stranger I’d been living with. We need to talk. His face changed. Okay. What’s up? I know about Jake. He went completely still. The takeout bag slipped from his hands.

What? I know about your affair. I know about the hotels, the messages, the plan to tell me after New Year’s. I know everything. He sat down heavily. Elena, how long have you been lying to me, Marcus? I I was going to tell you tonight. I was going to tell you tonight because Jake told you to or because you actually felt guilty? Both. I don’t know. I’m so sorry, Elena. I never meant for this to happen, but it did happen for 6 months. It happened while I was here thinking we were happy. thinking we were building a life together. Tears were running down his face. We were happy. I do love you, Elena. I just I also love Jake and I can’t keep living this lie. Which lie? The one where you pretend to be straight or the one where you pretend to love me? I’m not pretending. I’m bisexual. I can love both of you. I just I choose to be with him. The words hit like a physical blow.

Does Amber know? Not yet. Jake is telling her this weekend. No, he’s not.

He’s telling her tonight. He already told me we met this afternoon. Marcus’ eyes widened. You talked to Jake? Yeah.

He wanted to warn me, to ask me to be there for Amber when her world falls apart. Because apparently you two think you can just blow up our lives and walk away clean. It’s not like that. Then what is it like, Marcus? Explain it to me. Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you and Jake have been having fun playing house while Amber and I were home being loyal and faithful and stupid. I know we hurt you. I know this is awful, but Elena, I’ve been struggling with my sexuality my whole life and meeting Jake. Being with Jake, it made me realize I can’t keep hiding who I am. Then you should have told me that instead of sneaking around behind my back, you’re right. You’re absolutely right. I handled this terribly, but I’m telling you now. I’m being honest now. I stood up. You’re being honest because you got caught or because Jake forced your hand, not because you actually wanted to. Where are you going? Away from you, Elena. Please, can we talk about this? Can we figure this out?

Figure what out, Marcus. You just told me you choose him. There’s nothing to figure out, but we have a life together.

4 years. We have biscuit. We have this apartment. We have We have nothing. You made sure of that when you decided to fall in love with someone else. I walked to the door. Elena, wait. What about your stuff? I already moved it. What’s left is yours. You already moved out.

When? This afternoon while you were at work planning your big confession. You knew I was going to tell you tonight.

Jake told me. Like I said, we talked. I could see his mind racing, trying to understand how much I knew. How long I’d known. How long have you known? He asked. Long enough to prepare. Long enough to make sure I’m okay. Long enough to realize I deserve better than this. I left. He didn’t follow me. I drove to my new apartment. Biscuit was waiting. Tail wagging. I sat on the floor and cried. Not because I was heartbroken, but because four years of my life had just ended and I felt relieved. My phone started buzzing.

Marcus calling. I declined. Text messages flooded in. Please, let’s talk about this. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Can we please just talk? I blocked his number. Then I called Amber.

She answered on the first ring. Hey, what’s up? Are you home? Yeah, Jake’s here, too. We’re making dinner. Want to come over? I’m actually calling about Jake. What about him? Can you put me on speaker? I need both of you to hear this. Um, okay. Hold on. Rustling sounds. Okay, you’re on speaker. Elena, what’s going on? I took a deep breath.

Jake is having an affair with Marcus.

They’ve been together for 6 months.

They’re planning to leave us both.

Silence. Then Amber’s voice, shaky.

What? Elena, that’s not funny. I’m not joking. Jake met with me today. He told me everything. He was planning to tell you this weekend. Jake. Amber’s voice was desperate now. Jake, tell her she’s wrong. Tell her this is crazy. More silence, then Jake’s voice. Quiet.

Broken. It’s true. What? Amber, I’m so sorry. It’s true. I’ve been seeing Marcus. I was going to tell you. I swear I was going to tell you. You’re You’re gay. Bisexual. I’m bisexual. The sound Amber made was inhuman. A whale. A scream. Amber, I’m so sorry. Get out, Amber. Get out of my house. I could hear things breaking, crashing, Jake saying her name over and over. Then footsteps.

A door slamming. Then just crying.

Horrible broken crying. Amber, I said softly. Elena. Her voice was destroyed.

I’m here. How long have you known? 3 weeks. 3 weeks. And you didn’t tell me.

I didn’t know how. I wasn’t sure how to handle it. You should have told me.

You’re supposed to be my best friend. I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Are you with Marcus right now? No, I left him. I moved out this afternoon. You moved out and didn’t tell me. Everything happened so fast. I need you to leave me alone.

Amber, I can’t do this right now. I can’t talk to you. You knew for 3 weeks and you didn’t tell me. You let me keep living this lie. I was trying to protect. She hung up. I tried calling back. It went straight to voicemail. I texted her. No response. I’d lost my boyfriend and my best friend in the same night. Rachel called an hour later. I heard Jake called Marcus. Marcus called you. You didn’t answer, so he called me trying to find you. What did he say?

That you ruined everything? that you told Amber before he could explain properly that you’re being cruel. I laughed. I’m being cruel. That’s what he said. Apparently, Jake wanted to tell Amber gently over the weekend somewhere private and you just blew it all up over the phone. Jake told me Marcus was going to confess tonight. I couldn’t let him control the narrative. I needed to tell Amber myself. Except now Amber’s mad at you for not telling her sooner. I know.

And Marcus is playing the victim. I know, Elena. This is messy. Really messy. What was I supposed to do, Rachel? There was no good way to handle this. I know. I’m not saying you did anything wrong. I’m just saying it’s going to get worse before it gets better. She was right. The next few days were hell. Marcus tried to get into my new apartment. I changed the locks before I even moved in. He left things at the door. Notes, flowers, a stuffed animal for Biscuit. I threw them all away. Amber still wasn’t talking to me.

I tried calling, texting, nothing. I drove to her house. Jake’s car wasn’t there. The lights were off. I left a note. I’m sorry. Please talk to me. I love you. No response. Work was awkward.

People knew something was wrong. I took a week off. Rachel flew back out. Stayed with me. You did the right thing, she kept saying. You took control. You protected yourself. But it didn’t feel like the right thing. It felt like I’d lost everything. A week after the confrontation, I got a call from an unknown number. Hello, Elena. It’s Jake’s mom, Patricia. I’d met her once at their wedding. Oh, hi, Patricia. I’m calling because I wanted to thank you.

Thank me for telling Amber the truth, for not letting my son continue lying to her. I was stunned. I I didn’t do it to hurt anyone. I know. Jake told me everything about Marcus, about the affair, about his struggles with his sexuality. She paused. I wish he’d felt like he could talk to us, to his father and me. We would have supported him. We would have helped him figure it out before he got married. I’m sorry this happened. So am I. But Elena, what you did took courage. You could have kept it secret. Let them tell you on their timeline, but you took control. You protected yourself and Amber. That’s not easy. I started crying. Thank you. I needed to hear that. Amber is staying with us right now. She’s not doing well, but she’s strong. She’ll get through this. Can you tell her I’m sorry that I miss her? I will give her time. After we hung up, I felt lighter somehow. At least someone understood. Two weeks later, I got a text from Amber. Can we talk? Yes, anytime. Anywhere. Coffee tomorrow? Same place? The coffee shop on Morrison Street where Jake had met me.

I’ll be there. The next day, I arrived early again, nervous. Amber walked in looking thinner, tired, but composed. We ordered coffee, sat down. I’m sorry, I said immediately. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you right away. She held up her hand. Let me talk first. I nodded. I was angry at you. I’m still a little angry at you because you’re supposed to be my person. You’re supposed to tell me when something is wrong. I know, but I also understand why you didn’t. You were processing. You were trying to figure out how to handle it. And honestly, if you had told me when you first found out, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Really, Jake was my husband. I trusted him completely. If you had come to me with no proof, just suspicions, I would have thought you were crazy. I might have even stopped being your friend. I hadn’t thought of that, so I get it. She continued, “I get why you waited. Why you gathered evidence? Why you protected yourself first? I still should have told you before I told you over the phone like that was cruel, maybe, but Jake was forcing your hand.

Marcus was going to confess. You had to make a choice. We sat in silence for a moment. Are you okay? I asked. She laughed bitterly. No, I’m not okay. My husband of four years left me for a man.

My marriage was a lie. I’m getting divorced at 32. I’m definitely not okay.