I Cut Short My Business Trip upon Learning My Wife Was in the ER – Found Another Man by Her Bed When I Arrived

Ethan’s world flipped upside down when he hurried back from a business trip, only to find his wife in the ER. His heart raced with fear, but nothing prepared him for the sight of a stranger sitting beside her bed. The man’s shocking revelation was about to turn Ethan’s entire world upside down. Who was this mysterious man, and what secrets did he bring?

Everything had seemed perfect.

Ethan and Isabel had been married for eight years. They lived in a beautiful home and led a life that Ethan thought was as close to perfect as possible. Each morning, Ethan woke up early to go to work, determined to give them the best life he could. He took pride in knowing his hard work made Isabel happy.

Isabel wasn’t just Ethan’s wife—she was his best friend. They laughed together, shared their dreams, and planned their future. Ethan tried hard to be a good husband, always wanting to make her feel loved and cherished.

One evening, as Ethan sat on their porch watching the sunset, he felt a deep sense of contentment.

“We really do have a great life, don’t we?” he said to Isabel when she joined him. She smiled and nodded, but there was something in her eyes—a shadow he couldn’t quite understand.

“Yes, Ethan, it’s wonderful,” she replied softly.

Ethan didn’t press her. He assumed she was just tired. Like any couple, they had their ups and downs, but he believed they could overcome anything together.

He was wrong.

While Ethan was about 40 miles out of town on a business trip, his phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but something told him to answer.

“Hello?”

“Is this Ethan?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Yes, who’s calling?”

“This is Nurse Karen from the local hospital. Your wife, Isabel, is in the ER. She’s unconscious.”

Ethan’s heart sank. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“She was brought in a short while ago. I don’t have all the details yet, but you need to come to the hospital as soon as possible.”

Panic surged through Ethan. “I’ll be there right away.”

He pulled off the road, his hands shaking as he tried to control his breathing. Isabel was in the hospital, unconscious. His mind raced with fear. What could have happened? She was fine when he left this morning.

He turned the car around and sped back toward town, his foot pressing hard on the gas pedal. The scenic drive he usually enjoyed felt like a nightmare. Every mile seemed to stretch on forever, his thoughts consumed by worry.

“Please be okay, Isabel,” he whispered, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Tears blurred his vision, but he wiped them away, focusing on getting back to her as quickly as he could.

He called the hospital again, desperate for more information, but they could only tell him that she was still unconscious and being treated. The uncertainty gnawed at him. Was it an accident? A sudden illness?

After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the town limits. The hospital was just minutes away now. He prayed silently, begging for Isabel to be okay. He couldn’t lose her—not like this.

As soon as he arrived, he rushed through the hospital doors, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Where is my wife?” he asked frantically at the nurse’s station. “Isabel Williams. I got a call that she’s here.”

The nurse looked at him with surprise. “That’s strange. I thought her husband brought her in. He’s with her now.”

His confusion deepened. “I am her husband,” he insisted, panic rising in his voice.

She pointed down the hall. “Room 12.”

Ethan hurried to the room, his mind spinning with questions. When he entered, he saw a man sitting beside Isabel’s bed, holding her hand. The man looked up as Ethan approached.

“Who are you?” Ethan demanded, his voice trembling with anger and fear.

“I’m Logan,” the man said calmly. “Her… lover. We’ve been seeing each other for a year. We were in an accident while you were on your business trip. I brought her here and asked the nurse to call you.”

Ethan’s fists clenched, and he felt a surge of rage. He wanted to hit Logan, to scream, to do something—but he forced himself to stay calm. “You’re her lover?” he asked, struggling to keep his voice steady.

“Yes,” Logan said. “But I know she loves you. She just felt neglected because you were always so busy with work.”

Ethan stood there, trying to make sense of his words.

Isabel had a lover? She felt neglected? He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He looked at her lying there, unconscious, and his heart ached.

As they waited for Isabel to wake up, Logan continued. “I care about her deeply, Ethan. But she always talked about you—how much she missed the way things used to be. She felt like you were drifting apart, and she didn’t know how to tell you.”

Logan’s words cut deep. Ethan had been working so hard, thinking he was doing the right thing for their family. But he had been blind to Isabel’s feelings. He glanced at Logan, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, and felt a mix of anger and guilt.

“Why didn’t she talk to me?” Ethan asked, more to himself than to Logan.

Logan shrugged. “Maybe she was afraid. Maybe she thought you wouldn’t listen. I don’t know. But she’s here now, and she needs you.”

Ethan took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. He had to focus on Isabel and getting her through this.

“She wanted attention and affection,” Logan confessed quietly. “That’s why she cheated.”

A deep pain pierced Ethan’s heart. He felt like he couldn’t breathe.

“I love her,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I thought working hard was the best way to take care of her. I was wrong.”

“I understand, Ethan. You were doing what you thought was right. But she needed more than that.”

Ethan looked at Isabel, lying there so still, and the weight of guilt and sorrow pressed down on him.

Logan sighed. “I told the nurse I was her husband. I didn’t want to complicate things when I brought her in. I’m sorry for the confusion.”

Ethan shook his head, trying to take it all in. “I appreciate you bringing her here,” he said, though the words were difficult to utter. “But this is something Isabel and I need to face together.”

Logan nodded. “I understand. I’ll step back. She needs you now.”

Just then, Isabel’s eyes fluttered open. At first, her gaze was unfocused, but then she saw Ethan.

“Ethan,” she said, smiling weakly. Relief washed over Ethan.

“I’m here, Isabel,” he said, gently squeezing her hand.

She turned her head and noticed Logan. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice faint.

Logan smiled gently. “I’m your husband’s work colleague,” he lied smoothly. Then, leaning closer to Ethan, he whispered, “Make her happy.”

Ethan nodded, grateful for Logan’s understanding. Logan gave Isabel one last look before quietly leaving the room. His words echoed in Ethan’s mind: “Make her happy.” It felt like a second chance, an opportunity for a fresh start.

Ethan turned back to Isabel, who was watching him with a mix of confusion and trust.

“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.

“A bit disoriented,” she admitted, “but I’m okay. What happened?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Ethan said, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Right now, just rest. I’m here with you.”

She nodded, her eyes closing again as she began to relax.

What should Ethan do now? Should he tell her the truth?