When Lexie overheard her husband and the neighbor’s daughter talking about their affair, she didn’t cry. She didn’t scream or confront them. No, Lexie planned. And what she had in store for them? Well, let’s just say revenge had never been so sweet.
For ten years, Lexie had been married to Mark. They had two kids, a house with a mortgage, and what she had thought was a stable life together. Of course, Mark wasn’t exactly the model husband. He never helped with the cooking, never cleaned, and never lifted a finger when it came to raising their kids. That was all on Lexie. Exhausting? Absolutely. But she told herself it was fine because, as Mark often said, “We’re a team, Lexie.”
Apparently, though, Mark had joined another team without informing her.
It all started with a bag of groceries.
Lexie had just pulled into the driveway after a long, tiring trip to the store. Her trunk was filled with heavy bags, and she was mentally preparing for the effort of carrying everything inside by herself—because, of course, Mark wouldn’t help. But just as she reached for a bag, she heard voices.
Mark’s voice. And Emma’s.
Emma was their neighbors’ 25-year-old daughter. She had recently moved back home after finishing her interior design studies and landing an internship. Her parents were incredibly proud of her. And now, there she was, standing on Lexie’s front porch, laughing with Mark like they had some kind of secret.
Curious, Lexie stayed quiet, ducking behind her car, hidden by the shadows.
“I can’t believe she hasn’t figured it out yet,” Emma giggled.
Mark chuckled too. “She’s too busy with the kids and the house. Lexie barely notices anything else. She’s gotten so gray, too. She tries to brush her hair a different way to hide it, but it doesn’t help. Honestly, she’s let herself go so much. She doesn’t even look like a woman to me anymore. She’s nothing compared to you, my princess.”
Emma laughed, flipping her hair. “Well, lucky for you, mister, I’m here now. You can parade me around all you want. And trust me, there’s no gray hair in sight.”
Then they kissed.
Lexie felt her heart stop for a moment. Her grip tightened around a bag of groceries until she thought the plastic might tear. A wave of humiliation and rage crashed over her, her vision blurring for just a second.
But other than a few quiet tears, she didn’t break down.
She didn’t yell.
She didn’t confront them.
Instead, she picked up her groceries, walked inside through the back door, and started planning.
The next morning, Lexie woke up feeling unexpectedly calm. She made Mark’s breakfast—his eggs fluffy, his bacon extra crispy, and his coffee with just a hint of cinnamon, the way he liked it. She kissed him on the cheek, smiled, and waved as he left for work.
Then she walked next door and knocked on Emma’s door.
Emma opened it, blinking in surprise. “Oh! Hi, Mrs.—um, hi, Lexie,” she stammered, her smile a little too bright.
“Hi, Emma,” Lexie said warmly. “I was wondering if you could come over tomorrow evening. I could really use your advice on something.”
Emma tilted her head. “Advice? On what?”
Lexie hesitated, letting her voice sound unsure. “I’ve been thinking about redecorating the living room. Your parents mentioned you studied interior design, and I thought you could help me pick out colors or furniture ideas.”
For a moment, hesitation flickered across Emma’s face. Then she smiled. “Oh! I’d love to help! What time?”
“Seven should be fine. Dinner time!” Lexie said sweetly. “Thanks so much, Emma. You’re a lifesaver.”
Emma showed up the next evening, dressed to impress, her usual confidence shining. Lexie welcomed her warmly and led her inside.
“Oh, before we get to the living room,” Lexie said casually, “I wanted to show you a few things first.”
She guided Emma through the house, pointing out key areas.
“Here’s the dishwasher. You’ll need to load it every night since Mark won’t. The kids’ laundry goes here, but make sure to separate the loads—they have sensitive skin.”
Emma blinked. “What?”
Lexie continued, unfazed. “And this is the after-school schedule. You’ll be picking them up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ve written down the plumber, electrician, and pediatrician’s numbers—just in case.”
Emma’s smile started to slip. “Uh, Lexie… I’m not sure what’s happening here.”
Lexie led her into the kitchen, where the smell of roast chicken filled the air. “This is where you’ll prep all the meals. There’s breakfast, school lunches, work lunches, snacks, and dinners. Oh, and Mark likes his steak medium-rare, but the kids like theirs completely cooked through. The deader, the better.”
Emma paled. “Lexie, I—I didn’t sign up for this.”
Just then, Mark walked in. His face drained of color when he saw them.
“Lex, what’s going on?” he asked, his voice tense.
“Oh!” Lexie said brightly. “I’m just showing Emma how to run the house. Since I’ve ‘let myself go,’ I figured I should prioritize myself. So, Emma will be taking over everything I do.”
Emma looked horrified. “Wait, what? No, no, I—”
Before she could finish, there was a knock on the door.
Lexie opened it, revealing Emma’s parents.
“Oh, it smells delicious!” Emma’s dad said. “I told Annie you were making your roast chicken, Lexie.”
Lexie smiled. “Thanks for coming, Anne and Howard. You must be so proud of your daughter. She and Mark have gotten so close—I figured it was time to make her part of the family.”
Anne’s eyes narrowed. “Emma. Tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
Emma’s face turned beet red. “It’s not what it looks like!” she stammered.
Mark, desperate, tried to shift the blame. “Lexie, this isn’t fair! Emma came onto me!”
Howard cut him off. “Mark, this is on you. And Emma? You’re coming with us. Now.”
Emma stormed out, shooting Lexie a murderous glare. Her parents followed, muttering apologies.
Mark turned to Lexie, desperation in his eyes. “Lex, please. Let’s talk. We’ve been together so long…”
“Oh, we’ll talk,” Lexie said. “My lawyer will call you tomorrow. But for now, pack your bags.”
Mark’s face fell. “Where will I go?”
Lexie shrugged. “Motel. Friend’s house. Circus. Not my problem.”
A week later, Emma dumped Mark. “It was fun, but I didn’t sign up to play mom. To him or his kids.”
Two weeks later, Mark showed up at Lexie’s door with flowers. “Please, let me come back.”
Lexie laughed. “I don’t care, Mark. Leave.”
And just like that, the door closed on him for good.
Now? Lexie’s never been happier. She’s taken up salsa dancing, rediscovered her confidence, and found a new rhythm with her kids—one filled with love and laughter.
As for Mark? He’s still single. Emma’s parents, however, still adore Lexie. Anne bakes her pies. Howard rakes her leaves.
Karma, after all, has a wicked sense of humor.
