Returned Home to Find My Husband and All His Belongings Gone

When she got home, neither her husband nor his things were there.

“What’s that look for?” Zoe smirked. “Stan just wanted to prove he’s a real catch. Thats all there is to it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The truth, sweetheart,” said Stan’s ex-wife.

“I dont understand” Alice was bewildered.

“Ah! Heres Stan nowhell explain everything,” Zoe nodded toward the door.

Alices mother, Anne, had raised her like a rare, delicate flower.

Anne herself was a tough woman, running her own sawmill with an iron fist.

But with her only daughter, she was differenther voice softened, almost lulling, and her eyes brimmed with tenderness.

So Alice grew up gentle, fragile, and trusting.

Shed never known hardship, attending a regular school and a music school, happily learning piano.

She didnt become a world-class musician, but she made a fine teacher.

All she needed was a good marriage, and soon enough, a charming man named Vincent appeared.

He courted her beautifully, spending his modest drivers salary on her.

He whispered sweet words, gazed into her eyes so tenderly

Yet her mother didnt take to him.

“Good-for-nothing layabout!” was Annes verdict.

“Mum, but I love him,” Alices bright blue eyes welled up.

“Fine, fine,” her mother relented. “But youll live with me!”

Their spacious three-bedroom flat had room for everyone, and the new husband didnt mind living with his mother-in-law, who spent most of her days at work.

He had nothing to his name.

The caring, gentle Vincent soon revealed his true coloursdrinking, staying out late, snapping at his young wife.

Around Anne, he kept up appearances, barely.

Alice refused to see his flaws.

Exactly nine months after the wedding, she gave birth to a son, little Leo, and rejoiced in their little family.

But Leo was sickly, needing constant attention, and Vincent grew even more irritable.

She endured, hoping for better.

Her patience ran out when her mother died suddenly, having only a year to enjoy her grandson.

The funeral arrangements were handled by Annes old friend, Geoffrey.

Vincent didnt come home for days, and when he finally did, his bags were packed in the hallway.

He threatened lawsuits, division of assets. Alice didnt react.

Thankfully, Geoffrey all but threw him out.

As a seasoned lawyer, he made sure Vincent got nothing.

Alice and Leo never saw him again.

Of course, Alice couldnt run the sawmillprofessionals hired by Geoffrey took over.

So the suddenly shrunken family wanted for nothing.

Losing her mother and divorcing was hardAlice had no friends, no relatives.

But she had Leo, who needed her, and she focused on him.

MenGeoffrey didnt countwere out of the question.

That day, she and five-year-old Leo left the clinic, struggling to stay dry under a large umbrella.

Waiting out the rain was pointlessit wouldnt stop anytime soon. Alice didnt drive, and taxis were impossible to get.

So they risked it.

“Hop in quick!” Before theyd gone twenty metres, a car pulled up, the driver flinging open the rear door. “Come on, no stopping here!”

It didnt occur to Alice it might be dangerousshe recognised him from the clinic, where hed brought his son, around Leos age.

“Thank you!” she said warmly after the ride (theyd exchanged names on the way).

“Any time!” Stan grinned. “Can I get your number?”

She tensed.

“Sorry, I dont date married men,” she said, cutting him off and heading inside with Leo.

She didnt expect to see him so soon, but the next day, Stan waited in the courtyard.

“Im not married,” he said, handing her his month-old divorce papers instead of a greeting.

Was she lonely? Was Stan too charming? Did Leo take to him immediately?

Later, she couldnt explain why she let him join their walk, then stay for dinner.

They saw each other daily after that, and she fell for him.

Hard enough that when he proposed a month later, it didnt surprise her.

Of course. He loved her, adored Leo.

Leos approval sealed itthe boy worshipped Stan, calling him “Dad” before the wedding.

“Dad” didnt mind. She was just happy.

After the marriage, Stan suggested adopting Leo.

“Always wanted two sons,” he said, then darkened.

Alice squeezed his shoulder. She knew his ex-wife, now with a wealthy man, kept their son from him, and it tormented him.

So three months after meeting, they were a proper family.

The only thing Alice kept from Stan was her finances.

The sawmill wasnt huge, and profits were split three ways (as agreed with new partners), but it brought in decent money.

She saved it for Leos education, a flat, his future. All of it was for him!

No need for Stan to know.

Geoffrey had taught her that, before retiring to the coast.

If Stan suspected, he didnt let on.

The idyll lasted less than a year.

Stan grew distant, coming home sullen, snapping.

“Just work stress,” hed say at first.

“Cant you transfer? Youre a brilliant electrician.”

“Ill sort it.”

Soon, he didnt bother excusing himselfjust glowered or barked at her.

He left Leo alone, but the boy clearly annoyed him.

Alice didnt know what to think until it all became clear.

That day, she and Leo walked in the parkStan was late but promised to join them for ice cream.

“Shouldnt have let him adopt the boy,” a mocking female voice said behind her.

Alice turned. A striking brunette in a bright orange coat perched on the bench.

“Do I know you?”

“Now you do,” the woman said. “Im Zoe. Stans ex. Temporarily.”

Alice stared. Thank God Leo was playing with other kids, out of earshot.

“Whats that look for?” Zoe smirked. “Stan just wanted to prove hes a real catch. Thats all.”

“What are you saying?”

“The truth, sweetheart.”

Zoe was five years older but looked down on Alice like a child.

“I dont understand”

“Ah! Heres Stanhell explain.”

Stan approached, eyeing both women warily.

“Stan sweetheart, explain things to the girl,” Zoe said, ruffling his hair before strolling off. “Were waiting!”

“Whats that look for?” Stan asked as Alice reeled. “Whatever Zoe saidyes, I married you to spite her.”

He sighed.

“She kept at meWhod want you? Only I put up with you. Then flaunted her rich bloke, Max. So I left.”

“Why adopt Leo?” Alice whispered.

“To make it real. New wife, new son, perfect life!” Stan said. “I noticed you at the clinicknew youd do.”

“As a placeholder wife?”

He said nothing.

“What now?” She already knew.

“Dunno,” Stan muttered. “Guess I got used to you.”

He made his choice fast. He didnt come home that night.

Next morning, after dropping Leo at nursery, Alice returned to an empty flatno Stan, no trace of him.

She sighed and dialled Geoffrey. She needed a lawyer again.