and leave by noon. On Thursdays, she’d come around 10:00 a.m. and stay until 1:00 p.m. They had a schedule. They had a routine. They were comfortable in their affair, thinking they’d never get caught. Simone documented everything. She started a detailed journal with dates, times, and descriptions.
She noted when Dererick lied to her about where he’d been or what he’d done. She noted when he’d come home late with excuses about work. She noted every time he said, “I love you,” while betraying her behind her back. The hardest part wasn’t the evidence gathering. It was living with him everyday, pretending everything was fine.
It was sleeping in the same bed where he brought another woman. It was kissing him goodbye in the mornings, knowing he’d have Amber in their house within an hour. It was listening to him make future plans with her, talking about vacations they’d take next year, or maybe trying for a baby soon. Every word felt like a knife in her chest.
But Simone was strong, stronger than Dererick had ever realized. She’d grown up in a tough neighborhood, raised by a single mother who taught her to never depend on a man for her happiness or security. Her mother had always told her, “Baby, you make your own way in this world. You build your own life. And if a man wants to be part of it, he better add to it, not take from it.
” Dererick had taken from her. He’d taken her trust, her peace of mind, her sense of security. He’d taken 7 years of her life and treated them like they meant nothing. But he wouldn’t take anything else. She wouldn’t let him. 2 weeks after discovering the affair, Simone went to the bank. She opened a new checking account and only her name at a different bank across town.
She didn’t close their joint account yet because that would raise suspicion, but she was getting ready. She also started quietly removing things from the house. Nothing Dererick would notice right away. Her grandmother’s jewelry that she kept in a box in the closet, the photo albums from her childhood, important documents like her birth certificate and social security card, her favorite books, little things that mattered to her.
She’d take them to work in her bag and store them in her office. Slowly, carefully, she was erasing herself from the home she’d shared with Derek, preparing for the day she’d leave it all behind. Dererick never noticed. He was too busy sneaking around with Amber to pay attention to his wife. He’d stopped really looking at Simone months ago, maybe longer.
She’d become background noise in his life, someone who was just there, someone he took for granted. That was his biggest mistake. On a Thursday afternoon, exactly three weeks after she’d first discovered the affair, Simone was at work when her assistant busted her. “There’s someone here to see you.
” “She doesn’t have an appointment, but she says it’s important.” “Who is it?” Simone asked. “Her name is Amber.” Simone’s heart stopped. “Amber was here at her office. What could she possibly want?” “Send her in,” Simone said calmly, though her mind was racing. A minute later, the woman from the videos walked into Simone’s office. She was shorter than Simone had expected, maybe 5’5, with that same long brown hair.
She was wearing jeans and a sweater today, not the red dress. She looked nervous. Hi, Amber said, standing awkwardly in the doorway. Are you Simone? I am, Simone replied, keeping her voice steady. Can I help you? Amber closed the door behind her and sat down in the chair across from Simone’s desk without being invited.
I think we need to talk about Derek. Simone felt her blood run cold, but she kept her face neutral. I’m sorry. Do I know you? I’m someone Dererick’s been seeing. Amber looked down at her hands. I didn’t know he was married when we started. He told me he was divorced, but then I found out the truth a few weeks ago.
Simone wanted to call her a liar. The emails proved Amber knew from the beginning, but she stayed quiet, letting Amber keep talking. I feel terrible about it. Amber continued. I wanted you to know. You deserve to know what kind of man you’re married to. Dererick’s been lying to both of us. Still, Simone said nothing.
She just stared at Amber, watching her squirm. Finally, Amber stood up. I’m ending it with him. I just thought you should know the truth. I’m sorry. She walked toward the door. Amber, Simone said quietly. The woman turned around. I already knew. I’ve known for weeks. and those emails you sent him where you talked about how exciting it was to sleep with a married man.
I have those too, Amber’s face went white. I I don’t get out of my office, Simone said calmly. And stay away from my husband. I’m handling this my way. Amber practically ran out the door. Simone sat back in her chair, her heart pounding. So Amber had tried to come clean, probably because she was feeling guilty or scared of getting caught. It didn’t matter.
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