The truth is that there are certain secrets that are there in front of you, just waiting for the proper time to destroy everything. I never imagined that I would find myself in such a situation until I came into my own home and saw that my whole life had been turned upside down.
Do you believe that you are familiar with the individuals who are closest to you? When I was younger, I really believed that. When it came to my spouse, my sister, and my whole life, I was the sort of person who trusted readily. On the other hand, life has a way of striking you hard when you aren’t prepared, and all of a sudden, you find yourself in a situation that you wouldn’t want on anybody else.
I am Thalia, and I am thirty years old. I am a marketing manager, and my work is so insane that it requires me to travel more than I would want. We have been married for a total of five years now, Elton and I. All along, we have been the kind of couple that people describe as “perfect together.” Do you remember those high school sweethearts who were able to make their lives work, build a life, and make it appear easy?
And then there is Sable, who is my sister. She is two years younger than me, brimming with vitality, and she is constantly the center of attention. If I am the one who is solid, then Sable is the one who is the wild spark. Up until this point, I had the impression that we were a good match for one another.
I was out on a business trip the week before last. As usual, there are never-ending meetings, expensive meals, and an excessive amount of idle chatter. I was missing Elton like mad by the sixth day of the trip.
For this reason, I thought, why not surprise him by coming home a day earlier than usual? I anticipated this wonderful moment in which he would be overjoyed to see me, perhaps we would go out to dinner, and then, well, you know what happens next.
When I finally arrived to the driveway, I was brimming with joy. I slid off my shoes in a stealthy manner, hoping to catch him off guard. In spite of the fact that the home was quite silent, I assumed that Elton was either sleeping or out doing errands.
As I made my way across the living room, I became aware of the sound of the shower running. I couldn’t help but beam with happiness. Isn’t that the perfect timing? That would be the romantic reunion I’d been fantasizing about all week long, and all I would have to do is climb in.
Nevertheless, as I approached closer, I became aware of another sound. A voice that is female. Although my heart began to race, I continued in my journey, telling myself that it was nothing to worry about. That is, until I recognized the voice. A sable. This is my sister. At my residence. Alongside my hubby.
I came to a complete and total halt, my breath being trapped in my throat. I then heard Sable’s voice once again, and it was as clear as anything else: “Hurry up, baby! The time remaining till she returns is barely a few of days away.
My gut was in a knot. Suddenly, it seemed as if my whole universe had collapsed in a single terrible instant.
My hands were trembling, and my heart was pounding and pounding in my ears. I had the want to storm in and shout at them, to catch them both in the act of being caught away from their guard. On the other hand, I did not. Something inside me suddenly… clicked. But all of a sudden, fury transformed into something else, something that was far more pleasant.
I would be willing to participate in the games if they wanted to. And I was going to emerge victorious. I took a few steps back, grabbed my keys, and then walked out the door as softly as I had in. When I started the vehicle, my hands were trembling, and my brain was spinning from the combination of fury and shock.
As I drove for a longer period of time, clearer my strategy became. There was more to it than merely calling them out. That is much too straightforward and predictable. I was going to make them regret every single second of this brief affair in the most hilarious, humiliating, and wonderful manner that was even somewhat imaginable.
Upon arriving at the closest store, I immediately grabbed a shopping cart and began loading it with everything that I would need for my plan. They had made a mistake by interacting with the wrong lady, and by the time I was finished, they would wish they had never entered my home in the first place.
A first step? As I made my way back home. At that point, Elton and Sable were lounging about in the living room as if they were just at home there.
My flesh crawled as I listened to their laughing. While I was inside, I stayed on the perimeter of the room so that they wouldn’t see me. Although it was difficult to maintain my composure when all I wanted to do was scream, I managed to suppress my urges.
After that, I went and got some rubbish bags and began packing up Elton’s belongings, which included his clothing, shoes, and even his very valuable video gaming systems, as well as his shaving kit. On the surface, it seemed as if I was evicting him, but that wasn’t the intention at all.
I loaded up my vehicle and headed directly to Sable’s apartment as soon as I had everything I needed available. In the process of dumping Elton’s belongings all over her front yard, I made sure that his preferred gaming system hit the ground with its face down. After taking a few deep breaths, I felt a surge of contentment wash over me. Even though I wasn’t finished, this was a good beginning.
My second step was to contact Wren, a friend of ours who is also a fan of a little bit of drama. She is the kind of person who would wear a nice dress to a pizza night simply for the sake of having fun. She had the potential to make this scheme an epic one, if anybody could.
I spoke to Wren with a voice that was shaking with both rage and excitement. “Wren, you won’t believe what just happened,” I said.
What are you doing, Thalia? Immediately concerned, she inquired about it.
There was the shower, the treachery, and the disposal of Elton’s belongings; I told her everything. When she finally caught her breath, she let out a gasp and then began laughing so hard that she had to put me on speakerphone.
“Oh my goodness, Mr. Thalia. How crazy is this! How does the plan work?
When I saw that the plan was beginning to take form, I smiled and added, “Well, we are supposed to have that barbecue the following weekend…” We should postpone it till tomorrow. It’s not just any BBQ, however; it’s a huge reveal celebration at the grill.
It was all in for Wren. She immediately began contacting individuals, and within a few minutes, the number of persons on the guest list had increased by a factor of two. This was going to be the most exciting event of the year, and everyone was about to find out what Elton and Sable had been keeping a secret from each other.
Third step was the most enjoyable part. My friends and family, including Elton and Sable, were included in the group chat that I created and sent out a message that said, “Exciting news! You are in for a tremendous surprise if you come to Wren’s tomorrow! Dress code: vibes typical of a beach party!
Wren’s garden was crowded with people the next day, many of them were wearing flowered shirts, sunglasses, and bright colors. They were drinking beverages and wondering what the big news story was. As Elton and Sable arrived, I observed them from a distance. Both of them were anxious, as if they were aware that something was about to happen.
“Hey, love,” Elton said immediately upon catching sight of me. How long did it take you to return from your trip? What is the point of all of this?
With a charming grin on my face, I made the statement, “Oh, you’ll see, babe.” While she was tinkering with the strap of her sundress, Sable avoided my gaze. As soon as I noticed that she was anxious, I knew that she was exactly where I wanted her to be.
My intention was to get everyone’s attention by clinking my glass when they were all present. What’s up, everybody? My first words were, “Thank you for coming on such short notice.” “I am aware that you are all interested in the surprise, and believe me when I say that it is a good one.”
I caught a glimpse of Elton and Sable, whose expressions were a mixture of bewilderment and concern. It was almost as if I regretted them. Not quite.
As I continued, I said, “So, here’s the deal.” It was yesterday that I discovered that my wonderful husband, Elton, and my wonderful sister, Sable, have been secretly conducting themselves behind my back.
The yard was filled with gasps, and Elton, Sable, and I all had our eyes darting back and forth between us.
I’m not angry, so don’t worry about that. Indeed, I am grateful for this. as a result of the fact that this mess taught me something significant and revealed to me who my true friends are.
Elton looked like he’d been punched. “Thalia, hold on—” he said, but I raised my hand.
“Oh, we’re not done. Since you two adore surprises, we’re playing a little game today. It’s called ‘Who Can Pack Faster?’” I took out two bags I’d packed and placed them at Elton and Sable’s feet.
“You’ve got ten minutes to pack your stuff and get out of my life. The faster you run, the quicker you win.”
There was a startled hush, then Wren broke out laughing, followed by laughter rippling across the gathering. Elton’s face flushed hot crimson, his lips expanding and shutting like he couldn’t find words. Sable looked like she wanted to disappear.
Elton stuttered, his voice breaking. “Thalia, please, it’s not what you think, I swear—”
“Save it, Elton,” I stopped him off, arms folded. “The only word I want from you is ‘goodbye.’”
As tears welled up in her eyes, Sable reached for her suitcase. Her voice was shaking as she yelled out in a scream, “This is crazy!” as she rushed for the entrance.
Elton remained in the background, gazed at our companions, and hoped that someone would support him. “Come on, guys, this is the result of a mix-up—”
With a smile on her face, Wren lifted her glass. Elton, you should look for a new position. My best wishes!
When Elton eventually turned around to follow Sable out of the room, his face was bright red with humiliation. He remained there with his shoulders down. By the time it was over, half of our friends were giving me drinks, and the other half were advising Elton to figure out where he was going to live as soon as possible.
It should not come as a surprise that Elton did not return home that evening. Is that Sable? Since that time, she has avoided attending family gatherings. In spite of their belief that they could play me, I ended up being the one who had the final laugh.
