He Slept With Her In My House I Made It His Worst Mistake Chapter 07

He Slept With Her In My House I Made It His Worst Mistake Chapter 07

Thursday night.

My phone rang. It was my mom. Her voice was unusually serious.

“Vivian.”

She almost never used that tone with me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“What’s going on between you and Bradley?”

My stomach dropped.

“Bradley came by today,” she continued. “He brought his mother.”

I straightened. “He went to the house?”

“Yes. His mom cried. Said you’re asking for a divorce. Said you’ve been suspicious. Said…”

I let out a cold laugh. “What else did he say?”

“He said he’s willing to change. Said there’s nothing between him and that female coworker. Said you keep checking his phone, his bank accounts. Said you…”

I actually laughed this time, sharp and humorless. “Go on.”

She hesitated. “He said your mental state hasn’t been great lately. That you’ve been under a lot of stress.”

My mental state.

I switched the phone to my other hand.

“Vivian,” my mom said carefully, “your dad thinks… maybe this is something you two can handle privately. No need to make it a big deal between both families. It’s embarrassing for everyone…”

“Mom.”

She paused. “Yes?”

I kept my voice steady. “Do you believe him?”

Silence.

I exhaled slowly. “Mom, ask me. Just ask me what’s really going on. Let me explain first.” Chapter 7

“…Alright,” she said, reluctant. “Go ahead.”

I gripped my phone tighter.

Bradley had gone to my parents’ house. Brought his mother. Put on a performance.

That wasn’t an apology.

That was narrative control.

He wanted my parents on his side first. So when I told the truth, it would sound like proof that I was “paranoid.”

Originally, I planned to divorce quietly. No drama. No involving my parents. No making them worry. No embarrassing them.

But Bradley had already blown that option apart.

If I said nothing, my parents would think I was the problem.

If I told the truth…

My fingers tightened.

I had never told them about the apartment. They only knew that after I got married, I moved into Lakeside Vista. They didn’t know I paid for it in full. They didn’t know Bradley hadn’t contributed a single dollar.

Because I had been protecting his image.

Every Christmas when we visited, my dad would ask how Bradley’s job was going. I always said, “He’s doing well.” My mom would ask if the mortgage was stressful. I’d say, “It’s manageable.” They thought we bought the place together. They thought he carried his weight.

If I told them now, they would realize exactly what kind of man their daughter had married. The son-in-law they were proud of hadn’t even paid part of a down payment.

This wasn’t just privacy.

This was dignity.

Mine. And theirs.

Three seconds.

I took a deep breath. “Mom, there’s something I never told you. Go sit down with Dad.”

She hesitated. “What is it?”

I swallowed. “The apartment at Lakeside Vista. Nine hundred sixty thousand dollars. Paid in full. By me. No mortgage. No contribution from Bradley. The deed is in my name only.”

Silence on the other end.

“I never told you,” I continued, my voice tightening. “Because I didn’t want you to know he didn’t pay anything. I didn’t want you to think I married the wrong man. I didn’t want you to worry.”

I wasn’t crying. It just felt like something was lodged in my chest.

My mom stayed quiet for a long time.

Then she said, very slowly, “He sat on our couch today. Cried. Said he put down three hundred thousand dollars as a down

payment.”

I closed my eyes. “He didn’t pay a cent. Not one dollar.”

Her tone changed.

Not soft. Not angry.

Cold.

“Wait there. I’m getting your father.”

So much for handling this quietly.

That option was gone the moment he dragged both families into it.

I hung up.

Stood by the window.

Three seconds.

Then I picked up my phone and created a group chat.

My dad. My mom. Bradley. Bradley’s mother.

Group name: [Lakeside Vista Unit 1402.]

I typed:

[Tomorrow, 3 PM. Starbucks outside Lakeside Vista. I have something to say in person. I’ve prepared the documents. Everyone involved should be there.]

I hit send.

Set my phone down.

I had planned to take the quiet road.

Now I was taking the main one.