Off The Record
I Found Out My Friend’s Husband Was Cheating And Planning To Steal Her House—But She Ended Up Turning On Me
My dearest friend requested me to guard her house while she was away on a business trip. I consented without realizing that I would expose her husband’s treachery and his covert scheme to seize everything from her. She didn’t thank me, though, when I told her the truth. Instead, she accused me.
Friends are the family you choose, they said. I had a strong belief in that once. Since college, Jessica has been my best friend, and we have stayed close over the years.
We had shared nearly everything, laughed, and cried. However, the day I met Jessica’s husband Mark was the loudest my intuition had ever yelled. There was something off about him.
Cold eyes with a loving grin. similar to someone who is being nice but has a darker side. At the time, I didn’t like him. And now I didn’t like him as much.
As we had done so many times before, Jessica and I were sitting on her porch one day.
Her cat, Taco, was spread like a king or queen on the sunlit tiles, one paw twitching in a dream, and the air was warm but not oppressive, with a hint of late spring heat.
Slowly, quietly, Jessica stirred honey into her tea. She then gave me that guilty little smile I was all too familiar with, the one she wears when she wants something but is afraid to ask.
Jessica uttered, “I need a favor.” She spoke softly, as if she knew I wouldn’t enjoy what was about to happen.
I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. “What sort of favor?”
She looked away from me. Next week, I’m taking a plane to New York. large-scale marketing campaign. I will be away for five days.
I waited. She hadn’t really asked any questions yet.
“Could you see how the house is doing?” she added. “Water the plants, feed Taco, and perhaps bring in the mail.” Just make sure it doesn’t appear empty.
I arched an eyebrow. “And your spouse? While you’re away, what is he doing?”
Her eyes lowered to her tea. “It’s not really his thing,” he remarked.
I blinked. “What doesn’t he like?”
Maintaining the residence. The cat is being fed. It’s not a man’s job, he remarked.
I shook my head and scoffed. “So he can wear cufflinks and close real estate deals before midday, but a tin of cat food is too much?”
She clenched her jaw. “Mark simply isn’t domestic.” He just is that way.
I bent over. “I love you, Jessica. You are aware of that. However, you’re doing it once more.”
She scowled. “What are you doing?”
“You’re giving him a pass. Once more. You keep standing up for him even if he doesn’t accomplish much. Why?”
She raised her voice. “You’ve never been fond of him. right from the start. You never stop finding reasons to despise him.”
“Jess, I had a reason. I still do. As soon as I met him, my instinct told me no.”
“You’re alone, Lee,” she said, pointing a finger at me. And he is not to blame for that.
I winced. That one struck hard, but I spoke steadily. “You believe I’m envious? Do you believe that I want your life?”
She crossed her arms and got to her feet. He was never given a chance by you. Before you ever heard him speak, you made up your mind that you didn’t like him.
The sliding door behind her opened before I could respond. As if he controlled the world, Mark left. Crisp polo. flawless hair. Thumbs tapping, phone in hand.
“What are we discussing?” He uttered those words. “Me once more?”
I remarked, “Just your refusal to feed the cat.”
I detested the arrogant smile he flashed. When it makes sense, I assign tasks to others. We call it efficiency.
I looked across at Jessica. “He’s not raised his head from that phone. Who is he sending so many texts to?”
“Work,” she remarked. He has a significant client. Property.
I gazed at his display. “The deal must be extremely flirtatious.”
Jessica threw down her drink. “Enough. Perhaps you shouldn’t assist if you’re going to continue criticizing him.”
I let out a sigh. “I will do what I said I would do. For you. Not for him.”
Mark raised his head. “Avoid moving the furniture around.”
I grinned. “I don’t want to disturb your kingdom.”
However, I had already made plans to keep an eye out.
When I parked into Jessica’s driveway, it was late in the afternoon. The air felt motionless, as if it were waiting for something negative to happen, and the sky appeared odd, with dark clouds rolling in slowly.
After parking, I ascended the stairs. In my hand, the key to the back door felt warm. I opened it and went inside.
Taco immediately appeared, pressing against my leg and purring loudly as usual. He didn’t know what was happening.
After bending over, I quickly scratched behind his ears. “Hey, friend,” I muttered. “Let’s get you a meal.”
After filling his bowl with water, I went around the kitchen. I looked at the mail on the counter and the plants in the window. Everything appeared to be typical. Too typical. I heard it at that point.
Laughter.
The voice of a man—Mark. A woman’s laugh then came next.
At the bottom of the stairs, I froze. My heart was racing. I went as slowly and silently as I could. The bedroom door was slightly ajar. I moved in to take a look.
On the bed was Mark. He had half of his shirt unbuttoned. A woman in Jessica’s robe was standing next to him, drinking from her favorite glass as if she owned the area.
Mark remarked, “I told you it would work.” Lifting his glass, he sipped. She didn’t read it before signing it. didn’t even pose inquiries. Just have faith in me as usual.
The female chuckled. “Are you certain you’ll get the house?”
Mark reclined against the cushions. Indeed. It will be finished on Friday once I have it notarized. It seems like dull bank documents to her. It has to do with refinance. I made it seem easy.
The woman surveyed the space. “What about all she owns? Clothes? Books?”
He gestured with his hand. “What we don’t want, we’ll discard. Sell a few items, perhaps. I’ve already packed a few boxes. The remainder is garbage. The cat is also leaving.”
Her eyebrows went up. Whoa. She will be devastated.
Mark grinned. “She won’t be.” Before she knows it, we’ll be long gone. Miami condos have been on my radar. The gym, the pool, etc. By the time she returns, this location will be listed.
I was ill. I was no longer able to listen. My foot struck the stairway’s edge. A faint squeak.
Mark looked around. “Have you heard that?” His voice was stern as he inquired.
I didn’t hold out. I took off running. Down the steps. through the rear entrance. into my vehicle. I reached for my phone with trembling hands. I pressed the name of Jessica.
“Lee?” She replied. “What’s happening?”
“A woman is at your home. Alongside Mark. They were visible to me. I heard it everything. You were duped into signing documents by him. Your house is being stolen by him.”
She took a while to respond.
“You’re lying,” she remarked after that.
“I’m not. Please believe me, Jess—”
“You’ve detested him forever. You’ve been looking for an excuse to break us up. You’re envious. You are now fabricating stories.”
“No, I’m attempting to assist you. I’m attempting to keep you safe.”
Her tone became icy. “Don’t give me another call.”
Click. The line died.
It was later that night when my doorbell rang. I took it open. Mark was standing there. Be calm. His hands were in his pockets.
He said, “She told me everything.” “Your little story,” I said.
I was not blinking. “You don’t scare me.”
He took a step toward her. “You ought to be. If you keep pushing, someone will be harmed.”
Unless Jessica witnessed it firsthand, I knew she wouldn’t believe me. Words alone would not suffice.
She was unmoved by weeping. Jessica loved him too much. Too devoted. Too arrogant.
She would not leave without anything substantial. Evidence she could handle. Evidence she was unable to deny.
That’s why I did something I detested, something that felt right but yet cold and harsh.
I got a phoney call app. I made it appear as though she was being called by the hospital.
I had been in an automobile accident, according to the message. I was in the emergency department and wasn’t waking up, it said.
I was aware that frightening her in that way was inappropriate, but it was the only way to quickly get her to return.
And it was successful.
My door was knocked on six hours later. Jessica was panting heavily as she stood there. She had untidy hair. She had large eyes. She appeared to have run the entire distance.
“Are you alright?” Jessica hurried inside and inquired. Her breath came quickly, and her face was pale. She appeared to have been in tears.
“I’m all right,” I said. “An accident did not occur. I’m not injured. I made it up.”
“You told me a lie?” She yelled. She trembled when she spoke. Lee, what the devil? Why would you do that?”
I answered, “Because you wouldn’t listen.” “I wouldn’t be heard by you. I had to return you. You have to witness it for yourself.”
Her eyes were wide with pain as she gazed at me. I briefly feared that she would strike me. However, she inhaled deeply before responding, “All right. Show me.”
We took a car to her home. Neither of us said anything. The quiet was oppressive.
I parked a few homes down when we got to her block. We exited and took a leisurely stroll. We paused at her window and peered in.
The same woman was sitting with Mark on the couch. They were sharing a kiss as if they were completely carefree.
Jessica remained silent. She pulled out her phone. She took picture after picture despite her trembling hands. She clenched her jaw.
She said, “I want to go inside.”
We made our way to the door. It had been unlocked.
Everything was different inside. Her favorite candle had lost its aroma.
The corridor was silent and chilly. The wall was lined with black garbage bags. There were boxes piled on top of one another.
Her life was being packed away as if it didn’t matter, with sharp words like “JUNK,” “DONATE,” and “TRASH” scribbled across them.
Jessica’s voice pierced the atmosphere like a blade. “Mark!”
His eyes widened as he spun around quickly. Jessica? “Why in the world are you here?”
She took a step forward. She spoke loudly. She held her hands at her sides in fists. “Why am I in this place? Are you serious? You’re a liar! You are a liar! My life is being thrown away like garbage by you!”
The woman on the sofa leaped to her feet. She picked up her handbag and headed for the door. “I’ll just—”
“Take a seat!” Jessica yelled. “I’m not done yet.”
Mark held up both hands. “Wait, Jessica. This is not as it appears.”
Her laugh sounded frigid and abrasive. Not what it appears to be? In my house, you’re kissing another woman! She’s dressed in my robe. I’m sipping from my glass. You put my belongings in trash bags. “And you’re telling her that you now own my house?”
Mark appeared anxious. “You put your signature on the documents. You didn’t read them at all.”
“You deceived me,” Jessica remarked. Now her voice was trembling. “I was informed that it was for refinancing. You lied while you were in front of me.”
He gave a shrug. It doesn’t matter. They have a signature. It’s lawful. It’s finished. You simply destroyed everything.
Then he turned and pointed at me. She is to blame for this. Lee. She has opposed me from the beginning. Your psyche was poisoned by her.
Jessica walked over to him. “No, Mark. This is what you did alone. Lee was honest. Do you believe you can shatter me? Do you really believe you can empty my possessions and leave me with nothing?”
She gave a headshake. “You won’t have anything left. Only your pride. And now it won’t assist you.”
Mark’s expression contorted. “You’re going to regret this.”
“No,” Jessica replied. Now she spoke calmly. “You’ll.”
She gestured toward the door. “Leave. You two. Neither of you should ever again be in this house.”
First to leave was the woman. She didn’t turn around. Mark remained motionless for another second.
He clenched his jaw. He balled his fists. After that, he turned and left. Behind him, he slammed the door.
Jessica remained still. She refrained from crying. She didn’t yell. She remained still. Silent and still.
I gave her a look. “You’re incredibly composed.”
“Because I already knew,” she said, turning to face me. I’ve sensed it for some time. I was aware of his infidelity. I noticed the odd documents. I simply didn’t want to accept it. I required evidence.
I said, “You could have told me.”
She remarked, “I didn’t want it to feel fake.” I wanted him to believe that I still had faith in him. And you had to be normal for me. You did.
I gave a nod. “So you took advantage of me?”
She gave a headshake. “No. I had faith in you. even when I pretended not to. You supported me.”
I said, “I always will.”
She smiled slightly at me. She then examined the cartons and bags. Let’s tidy up this. I have to rebuild my life.
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