I sighed as I stepped out of my office building. Today had been one headache after another. Did my boss really need those reports right now? I could have handled them tomorrow. After such a stressful morning, I decided to stop by my favorite café. I was already picturing myself enjoying a Greek salad, sipping a warm cup of coffee, and for a brief moment, letting the world fade away.

The café was nearly empty when I arrived. Just as I was about to settle into my usual spot, I froze. There, at a corner table, sat Daniel. And he wasn’t alone.

A woman, polished and elegant, sat across from him. She looked like she had just walked off the cover of a fashion magazine—platinum blonde hair, a sleek dress, jewelry that caught the light with every movement. She laughed at something Daniel said, playfully touching his hand.

I felt my stomach twist. My first instinct was to march over there and confront them. But no. That would be too easy.

Instead, I took a deep breath and stepped back. If this was a game, I would play it right.

I chose a table at the opposite end of the café, making sure I had a clear view of them. After ordering my salad and coffee, I pulled out my phone and called Daniel. His phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and quickly silenced it.

Interesting.

I watched as he leaned in, whispering something to the woman. She giggled, covering her mouth as she flashed a diamond-studded ring.

I gripped my napkin tightly. Memories flooded my mind—our first date, the way he had looked at me on our wedding day, the promises we had made. Was it all a lie?

Just then, a tall, well-dressed man passed by my table. He had an effortless charm, the kind of presence that turned heads. Without thinking, I acted.

“Excuse me,” I said, waving him over. He stopped and looked at me curiously.

“Yes?”

“I know this is going to sound strange,” I admitted, “but I need your help. See that man over there? My husband. And apparently, he’s having a… rather interesting meeting. I want to give him a taste of his own medicine. Would you mind playing along?”

The man hesitated for a moment before a slow smile spread across his face. “Why not?” He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.

“I’m Emily,” I said, offering my hand.

“Jason,” he replied, shaking it firmly.

I forced myself to relax, pretending to be engaged in conversation with Jason. He caught on quickly, nodding and smiling at all the right moments. I stole a glance at Daniel. He had noticed us. His hand, resting on the table, tensed.

Good.

I leaned in slightly, laughing at something Jason said, making sure it looked natural. Daniel’s expression darkened. He was watching us now, though he tried to pretend he wasn’t.

The woman with him continued talking, oblivious to the change in his demeanor. But Daniel wasn’t listening anymore. He drummed his fingers on the table, stealing glances in our direction.

Jason whispered, “I think we’ve got his attention. Want to up the stakes?”

“Let’s walk past them,” I suggested. “See how he reacts.”

Jason nodded. We both stood, and I took his arm as we made our way toward the exit. As we passed Daniel’s table, I stopped, turning to him with an innocent smile.

“Oh! Daniel! What a surprise to see you here,” I said sweetly. “And who’s your friend?”

Daniel’s jaw tightened. “This is… a colleague.”

The woman blinked, clearly caught off guard. “A colleague?” she echoed, turning to Daniel.

“Yes,” I mused. “Funny, I thought you had client meetings all day.”

Daniel clenched his jaw. “Emily, what is this?” he demanded. “And who is this guy?”

I feigned surprise. “Oh, Jason? He’s just someone I met. A very charming companion, don’t you think?”

Daniel’s expression darkened. “So this is some kind of game to you?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that exactly what you’re playing?”

The woman stood abruptly. “You’re married?” she asked Daniel, her voice sharp.

Daniel opened his mouth, but no words came out. With one last glare, the woman grabbed her bag and walked out, leaving him stunned.

“Well,” Daniel muttered, tossing a few bills onto the table. “I hope you’re satisfied.” With that, he stormed out.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Jason gave me an amused smile. “Well, that was quite the scene.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, suddenly feeling drained.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Jason said with a wink before walking out of the café.

I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but as I left and made my way home, my mind raced. When I walked through the door, I was startled to find Daniel sitting on the couch, looking… regretful.

“Emily,” he said quietly, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place. “Did you really…?”

I sighed and sat down next to him. “No. I didn’t cheat on you. I met Jason today. I just wanted you to feel what I felt.”

Daniel ran a hand through his hair. “I was an idiot. I should have been honest. There was nothing going on, I swear. I just handled it all wrong.”

I wanted to stay angry. But a part of me softened at his words. “Promise me you’ll never lie to me again.”

“I promise,” he whispered, pulling me close. “I’m so sorry.”

I rested my head against his shoulder, the tension in my chest easing slightly. I wasn’t ready to forget, but maybe—just maybe—we could move forward.