“Your husband is mine now,” whispered her friend down the phone.
“Have you seen my blue scarf? The one with the fringe that Steven brought back from Italy?” Emily rummaged through the wardrobe, tossing clothes onto the bed. “I cant find it anywhere.”
“Check the hallway, maybe its there,” replied Charlotte absently, not looking up from her phone.
“Ive looked everywhereits vanished into thin air,” Emily huffed, slamming the wardrobe door. “I was going to wear it with my new coat for Sophies birthday party.”
Charlotte finally tore her eyes from her screen and studied her friend. Even dishevelled in an old t-shirt and jeans, Emily was radiantchestnut waves cascading over her shoulders, golden flecks dancing in her green eyes.
“Maybe you left it at Olivias last Friday? You went to the theatre together,” Charlotte suggested, rising from the sofa.
“Thats it!” Emily brightened. “Completely forgot. Ill call her now.”
As Emily searched for her phone, Charlotte wandered to the window. From the fifth floor, she watched the caretaker sweep fallen leaves in the quiet courtyard. Autumn had well and truly arrived, painting London in gold and crimson.
“Olivias not answering,” Emily sighed, joining her by the window. “Weirdwe agreed to meet before Sophies party.”
“Probably busy,” Charlotte shrugged, eyes fixed on her phone where a new message flashed. “You know Oliviaalways dashing between shops last minute.”
Emily laughed. “True. Remember when she showed up five minutes before my wedding? Steven nearly declared his best woman a no-show.”
At the mention of her husband, Charlotte tensed imperceptibly, but Emily was too caught up in reminiscing to notice.
“Speaking of, wheres Steven? Havent heard from him,” Charlotte asked casually.
“Fishing with his mates,” Emily waved a hand. “Second weekend in a row. Claims its the perfect season for it.”
“Does he go off often these days?” Charlotte kept her tone light.
“More than usual,” Emily sighed. “Work, fishing, office parties You know how it isautumns always manic for finance blokes.”
Charlotte nodded and buried herself back in her phone. The screen glowed with a message: *Changed your mind? Last chance to stop this.*
She typed quickly: *No. Proceed as planned.*
“Whore you texting?” Emily peered over her shoulder. “Youve been off all day.”
Charlotte flinched and hastily locked her screen. “Just work. No peace, even on a Saturday,” she forced a smile. “Waitwhat if the scarfs in the car?”
“The car?” Emily paused. “Oh! I wore it when Steven dropped Olivia and me home from the theatre. Must still be there.”
She grabbed her keys and headed for the door.
“Ill come,” Charlotte blurted. “Need some air.”
Outside, the crisp air smelled of damp leaves. Emily unlocked their family Volvo and searched the back seat.
“Strange,” she muttered, straightening up. “I couldve sworn it was here.”
Charlotte chewed her lip, watching silently. Her phone buzzed again, but she ignored it.
“Em,” she finally said, her voice odd. “Dont you think Stevens been different lately?”
“How so?” Emily shut the car door and turned.
“All these trips, the fishing” Charlotte stared intently. “Nothings seemed off to you?”
Emily frowned. “Spit it out, Char. If you know something, say it.”
Charlotte took a deep breath. “I think no, Im sure Stevens cheating on you.”
Emily froze, then burst out laughing. “*Steven?* With *who*? Weve been together ten years, weve got two kidshe doesnt even *look* at other women!”
“Are you *sure*?” Charlotte asked quietly.
Something in her tone made Emily stiffen. “Charlotte. What do you know?”
Charlotte looked away. “Remember last Friday? You and Olivia went to the theatre, and Steven drove you?”
“Yeah. And?”
“He didnt go straight home,” Charlotte spoke slowly. “I saw his car outside Olivias. Late that night.”
Emilys stomach dropped. “Youre mistaken. He just dropped her off. She rang me after to thank him.”
“Emily,” Charlotte laid a hand on her arm. “His car was there till *morning*. I saw him leave her building. At eight. In yesterdays clothes.”
Emily shoved her hand away. “Liar. Why would you? Steven said he stayed at his parents because he was out late. Hed never”
“Call him,” Charlotte cut in. “Right now. Ask where he is.”
After a beat, Emily dialled. The call went to voicemail.
“No answer,” she whispered, staring at the screen. “Probably no signal out there.”
“Or hes *busy*,” Charlotte said meaningfully. “With Olivia.”
“*Stop it!*” Emilys voice cracked. “Olivias my *best friend*shed *never*”
The words died as she remembered Olivia hadnt answered either.
“I didnt want to tell you,” Charlotte continued. “But Ive seen them together more than once. Theyve been at this for months. Every fishing trip or work doits *her*.”
Emily leaned against the car, nausea rising. “Not Olivia. Weve been friends since uni. She *knows* how much I love him”
Charlotte pulled her into a hug. “Come to mine. You shouldnt be alone right now.”
Emily shook her head. “No. I need to see Olivia. *Now*.”
“Are you *sure*?” Charlotte looked uneasy. “At least calm down first”
“I *am* calm,” Emily said icily, steel in her eyes. “I just want the truth.”
They rode the lift in silence. Emily snatched her bag and keys.
“Im coming,” Charlotte said.
“No,” Emily said flatly. “This is between me and Olivia.”
Alone, Charlotte paced. Her phone rang. She answered in a hushed voice: “Its working. Shes on her way.”
Twenty minutes later, Emily parked outside Olivias flat. Her heart hammered. She didnt *want* to believe Charlottebut doubt had already taken root.
Then she saw it: Stevens Volvo, parked right where it always was when they visited.
*Charlotte was right.*
She marched upstairs and rang the bell. Olivia answered, damp-haired and wrapped in a robe, stunned. “Emily? What?”
“Can I come in?” Emilys voice was glacial.
Olivia hesitated, glancing behind her. “Ive got a salon appointment”
“Let me in,” Emily stepped forward. “Or shall I fetch *Steven*? I saw his car.”
Olivia paled and stepped aside.
The living room was emptybut two coffee cups sat on the table, and Stevens birthday shirt (the one *shed* bought him) was draped over the sofa.
“Where is he?” Emily demanded.
“Emily, I can explain,” Olivia twisted her robe belt. “Its not what you think”
“*Not what I think?*” Emily let out a brittle laugh. “His *car* is here, his *shirt* is hereand hes supposedly *fishing*?”
Steven emerged from the bathroom, towelling his hair. He froze. “Emily?”
“Hello, *darling*,” Emily crossed her arms. “Catch anything?”
“Em, listen”
“No, *you* listen,” her voice shook. “How long? And who else *knew*?”
Olivia and Steven exchanged glances.
“Two months,” Olivia murmured. “It just happened. We never meant to hurt you.”
“*Just happened?*” Emilys laugh cracked. “How does sleeping with your best friends husband *just happen*?”
“Emily,” Steven stepped closer. “We were going to tell you. Today. Thats why I said I was fishingto talk to Olivia and sort this out.”
“And what did you sort out?” Emilys chest tightened.
“Were in love,” Steven said simply. “I want a divorce.”
The words hit harder than a slap. Emily gripped a chair.
“*Love*,” she whispered. “What about our *children*? Our *ten years*?”
“The kids stay with you, obviously,” Steven said quickly. “Ill help, visititll be civil.”
“*Civil*,” Emily echoed. “So youve got it all figured out.”
“Emily,” Olivia reached for her. “I know Ive betrayed you. But this is *real*. We couldnt fight it.”
“*Shut up*,” Emily hissed. “Dont you *dare* talk to me about *feelings* or *friendship* ever again.”
She turned to Steven. “And youyouve taken *everything*. Not just youmy best friend. My trust. My *faith in people*.”
She pulled out her phone. “Charlotte?” she said when the line picked up. “You were right. *Absolutely* right.”
Sitting in her car outside Olivias, Emily finally broke. The tears came in ugly, gasping sobslike a child whod lost something irreplaceable.
When the storm passed, she wiped her face and started the engine. Her phone showed missed calls from Stevennone from Olivia. But there was a text from Charlotte: *Come to mine. Dont be alone.*
Charlotte embraced her the moment she arrived. Her flat, always a sanctuary, felt like one now more than ever.
“Tell me everything,” Charlotte said, handing her tea.
Emily did. Charlotte listened, nodding, wincing.
“Heres the odd thing,” Emily finished. “I dont feel *destroyed*. Betrayed? Yes. But not shattered. Maybe part of me knew?”
“Or youre stronger than you think,” Charlotte said softly. “What now?”
“I dont know,” Emily admitted. “Pack Stevens things. Talk to the kids when theyre back from Mums. Then figure it out.”
Charlotte suddenly took her hand. “Emily. Theres something else. About Steven and Olivia.”
Emily groaned. “What *now*?”
“Do you remember last year? When you two nearly split over that colleague of his?”
“Yes. Whats that got to do with?”
“Olivia was *so* supportive,” Charlotte pressed on. “Said Steven wasnt worth your tears, that you deserved better.”
“And?”
“And *thats* when she started texting *him*,” Charlotte said. “Calls, messagesasking to meet and save your marriage.”
Emilys blood ran cold. “How do you know?”
“From *Steven*,” Charlotte said. “He told me because he didnt know what to do. He rejected her. Said he only loved *you*.”
“But she wore him down,” Emily said bitterly.
Charlotte shook her head. “Olivias not who you think. Shes spent *years* coveting what you have. First that job at your firmremember? Then the same car. A house in your neighbourhood. And now your husband.”
Emilys head spun. “Youre saying this was *planned*?”
“I dont know,” Charlotte shrugged. “But the patterns there. And Emily theres more.”
She showed a photo on her phoneOlivia hugging a man who *wasnt* Steven.
“Whos *that*?” Emily frowned.
“Her ex,” Charlotte said. “They met up last week. The *same day* Steven was supposedly with her.”
Emily was lost. “If she was with *him*, where was Steven?”
Charlotte took a breath. “With *me*,” she said quietly. “We were having coffee, planning your birthday surprise.”
Emily stared. “*What?* But you *said*”
“I lied,” Charlotte looked down. “Im sorry. But I had to show you who Olivia *really* is.”
“But *why*?” Emilys mind reeled.
“So youd *see* it,” Charlotte squeezed her hand. “Not just hear it from me like before.”
“Wait,” Emily pulled back. “So Steven *didnt* cheat? Theyre *not* divorcing?”
“Stevens faithful,” Charlotte said. “But Olivia *wants* him. Today, she”
“Today I *confronted* them,” Emily covered her face. “*God*, what have I done? I need to call Steven”
“*Wait*,” Charlotte held her back. “If they *were* together, if they *admitted* it maybe its not so simple? Maybe *Im* wrong, and they”
Emilys phone rang. *Steven*.
“I have to answer,” she stood.
“Of course,” Charlotte smiled strangely. “Put it on speaker. I want the truth too.”
Emily answered. “Hello?” Steven sounded frantic.
“Em, where *are* you? Ive been worried sick.”
“Im at Charlottes,” Emily watched her friends face.
A pause. “*Charlottes?*” Stevens voice darkened. “Em, listen carefully. Get out of there. *Now.*”
“What? Why?”
“Because Charlottes *not your friend*,” he said urgently. “*She* set this up. She called Olivia, pretended to be *you*, said wed rowed and I was coming over”
Emily turned slowly. Charlottes smile had vanished.
“Steven, what nonsense!” Charlotte snapped at the phone. “*Olivias* the one cheating with you!”
“*Charlotte?*” Stevens voice turned sharp. “Em, listen. Shes been obsessed with me for *months*. I turned her down, and now shes trying to wreck us.”
“Hes *lying*!” Charlotte cried. “Ask him where he was this morning!”
“At Olivias,” Steven said calmly. “Because *Charlotte* rang her *pretending to be you*, saying there was an emergency. When I got there, there was *no* crisisOlivia was horrified. We tried calling you, but your phone was off.”
Emilys vision swam. Charlotte had gone pale.
“Hes making it up,” Charlotte whispered. “Dont believe him.”
“Then why did *you* tell me you saw Stevens car at Olivias *all night*?” Emily demanded. “Why say theyve been at it for *months*?”
“Because its *true*!” Charlotte looked desperate. “I was *protecting* you!”
“Em, come home,” Stevens voice was firm. “Or to meIm still at Olivias. Well sort this *together*.”
“Dont you *dare*!” Charlotte grabbed Emilys arm. “Theyre twisting this against me! You *saw* them, you *heard* them confess!”
“Let go, Charlotte,” Emily pulled free. “Im going to my husband.”
Charlotte blocked the door. “You dont *understand*,” her voice broke. “Hes never loved you like you *deserve*. You could have *so much more**we* could”
“*We?*” Emily stepped back. “What are you *talking* about?”
“*Us*,” Charlotte said simply. “Ive loved you *always*. Since uni. But you chose Steven. Then Olivia with her doe eyes”
Emily felt the ground tilt. She lifted the phone. “Steven, Im on my way. Be there in twenty.”
“Ill meet you downstairs,” he said, relieved.
“Emily, *please*,” Charlotte reached for her. “We can talkI just wanted you to see theyre *not good enough* for you”
“Goodbye, Charlotte,” Emily stepped around her and left.
Outside, Emily inhaled the crisp air. The world felt unreal, yet clearer than everas if fog had lifted, revealing ugly truths.
She got in the car. Her phone rang again*Olivia*.
“Emily? Its me,” Olivia sounded shaken. “Steven said you were at *Charlottes*?”
“Not anymore,” Emily said. “Im coming to you.”
“*Thank God*,” Olivia exhaled. “We were *terrified*. Charlotte called me this morning, saying such *horrible* things That your husband was *hers* now”
“I know,” Emily cut in. “See you soon.”
She hung up and pulled away. Leaves swirled onto the windscreen. Autumn stripped away pretence, laying bare whatand *who*was real.
