My ex-husband, Aaron, was ready to start a new chapter in his life. He was engaged, moving forward, and finding happiness again. But something about his engagement didn’t sit right with me. It was just a feeling at first, a tiny knot of unease in my stomach. Then, a casual conversation at work turned that feeling into a full-blown revelation—one I couldn’t ignore.
The problem? Aaron refused to believe me. So, I had to show him the truth, no matter how much it would hurt.
A Shocking Discovery
I was at work, sitting at the small desk tucked behind the restaurant’s front counter. As the administrator, I rarely got a chance to sit down, but at that moment, the dining area was quiet. No special requests from guests, no complaints from the kitchen, no servers in distress. Just a rare moment of peace.
My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen—Aaron. My ex-husband. Curious, I picked up the phone and tapped his message.
A photo loaded. It was David, our son, grinning from ear to ear, holding a giant stuffed animal. Behind him, bright amusement park lights shimmered like tiny stars.
A warmth spread through me. I was glad Aaron and David were having fun. No matter what had happened between Aaron and me, he was a great father, and that was all that mattered.
Nearby, two waitresses chatted excitedly. Lindsey, one of my servers, stretched out her hand, displaying a massive diamond ring.
Claire, another waitress, gasped and grabbed Lindsey’s hand. “That stone is huge! Probably visible from space.”
Lindsey laughed, tilting her hand to catch the light. “I know, right? I got so lucky.”
Claire smirked. “Is he rich or something?”
Lindsey grinned. “Not a millionaire, but he has money. Enough to buy this, at least.”
My forehead creased. Lindsey had been dating Leo, one of our kitchen staff, for over a year. “Aren’t you with Leo?” I asked, confused.
“I am,” Lindsey said, still admiring the ring.
I blinked. “Since when was Leo rich?”
Lindsey finally looked at me, a smirk playing on her lips. “Leo isn’t. But my fiancé is. That was Leo’s idea, actually.”
I frowned. “What?”
“The plan is simple,” Lindsey said, lowering her voice. “Find a rich guy, marry him, divorce him in a few months, take the money. Then Leo and I live the good life.” She twirled the ring on her finger. “Halfway there.”
My stomach twisted. “Don’t you think that’s… cruel?”
Lindsey shrugged. “I don’t love my fiancé, so no.”
“But he might love you,” I said. “He proposed, didn’t he?”
Lindsey waved me off. “That’s his problem. He fell for the fact that I’m younger.”
I stared at her, my heart pounding. Who was this “fiancé” of hers? A stranger? Someone I knew?
Then a terrible thought struck me.
Aaron had mentioned he was seeing someone. Someone younger. Could it be…?
No. It couldn’t be.
Right?
The Bombshell
That evening, when I got home, Aaron was already at the door with David. My son bounced inside, his face glowing with excitement.
“Mom! We went on the biggest roller coaster! I wasn’t even scared!” he said, barely pausing for breath.
I smiled, ruffling his hair. “Sounds amazing.”
But Aaron… he stood stiffly behind David, his posture rigid. His expression tense.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, my stomach clenching.
“We need to talk. Privately.”
I nodded and led him to the kitchen.
We sat at the table, and Aaron ran a hand through his hair, his fingers drumming lightly on the wood.
Something was off. He looked nervous. Almost guilty.
I leaned forward. “Aaron, you’re scaring me. Did something happen?”
He exhaled sharply. “No, nothing bad. Actually… it’s serious. But in a good way.”
I frowned. “Serious in a good way? What do you mean?”
Aaron hesitated. Then, in one breath, he said, “I’m getting married again.”
I blinked. “What? That’s great!” I smiled, trying to reassure him. “I don’t see why you were so worried.”
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought you’d be upset.”
“Upset? Aaron, I’m really happy for you. You deserve to be happy.”
Relief softened his face. He nodded. “Thanks. I’ll tell David later. I wanted you to know first.”
“Of course. I’m sure he’ll be happy for you too,” I said.
Aaron smiled, more relaxed now.
“So… who is she?” I asked. “Are you going to show me a picture? How did you two meet?”
Aaron chuckled. “I knew you’d ask.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “I came prepared.”
He turned the screen toward me.
My stomach dropped. My throat went dry. I couldn’t hide my shock.
“That’s Lindsey,” I said, my voice flat. “One of my waitresses.”
Aaron shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah. That’s why I was worried about your reaction.”
I looked back at the picture, my mind racing. “How did this even happen?”
Aaron scratched the back of his neck. “I met her when I picked up David from the restaurant. Later, I saw her on a dating app. We started talking… and here we are.”
I swallowed hard. My hands clenched under the table. I couldn’t keep this to myself.
“Aaron, I need to tell you something,” I said carefully. “And it’s not good.”
Aaron’s face tensed. “If this is about the age difference, I already know. Eleven years. It doesn’t bother us.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. Just today, Lindsey was talking about her fiancé. I didn’t realize she meant you.”
Aaron’s brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”
“She said she’s marrying you just to divorce you and take your money.”
Silence. Then, suddenly, Aaron’s expression darkened. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you!” he shouted. “I can’t believe you’re making this up!”
The Plan
Aaron refused to believe me. So I had to show him the truth.
That night, I set up a trap. I convinced Leo to plan a surprise dinner for Lindsey at the restaurant after closing. Then, I sent Aaron a message:
@Me: I know you think I’m lying, but if you want the truth, come to the restaurant after 10 p.m.
Aaron showed up. And he saw everything.
Lindsey and Leo, together. Laughing. Kissing.
Aaron stormed in, his face red with rage. Lindsey ripped off the engagement ring and threw it at him.
Later that night, he stood at my doorstep, his face streaked with regret. “You were right,” he said hoarsely. “I should have trusted you.”
I didn’t gloat. I didn’t say “I told you so.”
Instead, I pulled him into a hug and whispered, “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”
