My phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at the screen—Aaron. My ex-husband. Curious, I picked it up and tapped the message.

A photo loaded. It was David, our son, grinning from ear to ear, holding a giant stuffed animal. The bright lights of an amusement park sparkled behind him.

A warmth spread through me. I was glad Aaron and David were having fun.

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Nearby, two waitresses chatted, their voices light and excited. Lindsey held out her hand, her fingers stretched to display a massive diamond ring.

Claire grabbed Lindsey’s hand, her eyes wide. “That stone is huge! Probably visible from space.”

Lindsey laughed, tilting her hand to catch the light. “I know, right? I got so lucky.”

Claire raised an eyebrow. “Is he rich or something?”

Lindsey smirked. “He’s not a millionaire, but he has money. Enough to buy this, at least.”

I frowned. Lindsey had been dating Leo, one of our kitchen staff, for over a year. “Aren’t you with Leo?” I asked.

“I am,” Lindsey said, still admiring the ring.

I stared at her. “Since when was Leo rich?”

Lindsey finally looked at me. “Leo isn’t. But my fiancé is. That was Leo’s idea, actually.”

I blinked. “What?”

“The plan was simple,” Lindsey said. “Find a rich guy, marry him, divorce him in a few months, take the money. Then Leo and I live the good life.” She twirled the ring on her finger. “Halfway there.”

My stomach twisted. “Don’t you think that’s… cruel?”

Lindsey shrugged. “I don’t love my fiancé, so no.”

“But he might love you,” I said. “He proposed, didn’t he?”

Lindsey waved me off. “That’s his problem. He fell for the fact that I’m younger.”

I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing.

I had married young and for love. Back then, Aaron and I believed love was enough.

But as the years passed, we realized we were too different. We wanted different things, handled problems in opposite ways, and saw the world through separate lenses.

Letting go had been painful, but we knew it was the right decision. Even now, I had no regrets.

Aaron was still a good friend, and most importantly, he was a wonderful father to David.

That evening, when I got home, Aaron was already at the door with David. My son bounced inside, his face glowing with excitement.

“Mom! We went on the biggest roller coaster! I wasn’t even scared!” he said, barely pausing for breath.

I smiled, ruffling his hair. “Sounds amazing.”

Aaron, however, stood stiffly behind him. His expression was tense.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“We need to talk,” he said. “Privately.”

I nodded and led him to the kitchen.

We sat down at the table. Aaron ran a hand through his hair, his fingers drumming lightly against the table.

Something was off. His shoulders were tense, his gaze shifting, like he wasn’t sure how to start.

I leaned forward. “Aaron, you’re scaring me. Did something happen?”

He exhaled sharply. “No, nothing bad. Actually… it’s serious. But in a good way.”

I frowned. “Serious in a good way? What do you mean?”

Aaron hesitated. Then, in one breath, he said, “I’m getting married again.”

I blinked. “What? That’s great!” I smiled, trying to reassure him. “I don’t see why you were so worried.”

Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought you’d be upset.”

“Upset? Aaron, I’m really happy for you. You deserve to be happy.”

Relief softened his face. He nodded. “Thanks. I’ll tell David later. I wanted you to know first.”

“Of course. I’m sure he’ll be happy for you too,” I said.

Aaron smiled, more relaxed now.

“So… who is she?” I asked. “Are you going to show me a picture? How did you two meet?”

Aaron chuckled. “I knew you’d ask.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “I came prepared.”

He turned the screen toward me. My stomach dropped. I couldn’t hide my shock.

“That’s Lindsey,” I said, my voice flat. “One of my waitresses.”

Aaron shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah. That’s why I was worried about your reaction.”

I looked back at the picture, my mind racing. “How did this even happen?”

Aaron scratched the back of his neck. “I met her when I picked up David from the restaurant. Later, I saw her on a dating app. We started talking… and here we are.”

I swallowed hard. My hands clenched under the table. I couldn’t keep this to myself.

“Aaron, I need to tell you something,” I said carefully. “And it’s not good.”

Aaron’s face tensed. “If this is about the age difference, I already know. Eleven years. It doesn’t bother us.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that. Just today, Lindsey was talking about her fiancé. I didn’t realize she meant you.”

Aaron’s brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”

“She said she’s marrying you just to divorce you and take your money.”

Silence. Then, suddenly, Aaron’s expression darkened. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you!” he shouted. “I can’t believe you’re making this up!”

“Aaron, it’s the truth!” I protested. “Why would I lie?”

His jaw clenched. “Because you’re jealous!”

I gasped. “Jealous? I’m trying to protect you!”

“Right. You just can’t stand that I found someone younger who actually loves me,” Aaron snapped.

“She has a boyfriend! He works in our kitchen!” I shouted.

“You’re lying!” His face was red with anger. “I can’t believe you’d sink this low.”

“It’s the truth!”

“This conversation is over.” He stormed out, slamming the front door behind him.

I couldn’t just let this go. I wouldn’t allow Lindsey to scam Aaron. He didn’t deserve that. No matter how angry he was at me, I had to make him see the truth.

All night, I kept thinking about it. Aaron wouldn’t believe words alone—he needed proof. Clear, undeniable proof.

The next day, I watched for Leo. He was working in the kitchen, focused on chopping vegetables. I took a deep breath and walked over.

“Hey, Leo,” I said, stepping closer. “You and Lindsey make such a great couple. I was thinking—why not surprise her with a romantic dinner here after closing? She’d love it.”

Leo’s face lit up. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “She even mentioned wanting something special like that recently.”

He wiped his hands on his apron, looking excited. “Wow, I had no idea. That sounds perfect.”

I nodded. “You could set up a nice table, maybe bring some flowers. She’d love the effort.”

Leo grinned. “That’s a great idea, Melanie. Thanks for suggesting it. Can I do it tonight?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

After that, I sent Aaron a message. My hands hovered over the keyboard for a moment before I typed.

I knew he wouldn’t reply. He was too angry. But he didn’t have to answer—he just needed to read it.

@Me

I know you think I’m lying, but if you want the truth, come to the restaurant after 10 p.m.

I hit send and exhaled. My chest felt tight. Would he come? Would he ignore me? I had no way of knowing. All I could do was wait.

That evening, after putting David to bed, I opened my laptop. My fingers trembled slightly as I logged into the restaurant’s security system.

The cameras flickered to life. I found the right angle—one that showed the table Leo had set up.

Candles flickered in the dim light. A small vase with flowers sat in the center. It looked romantic. Too romantic.

I watched as Leo and Lindsey sat together. They ate, talked, and laughed. Leo’s eyes shone with love.

He was completely devoted to her. Lindsey smiled, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

She leaned in, brushing her hand against his arm. Then, finally, she kissed him.

I grimaced and quickly switched cameras. I couldn’t watch that. My stomach twisted.

On the outdoor camera, movement caught my eye. My breath hitched. Aaron was there. He had come. He pushed open the restaurant door and walked inside.

Heart pounding, I switched back to Lindsey and Leo. Just in time.

Aaron stepped into view, his face contorted with rage. Lindsey and Leo broke apart, their expressions shifting from shock to panic.

Leo’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Lindsey’s eyes darted around, searching for an escape.

Aaron’s voice boomed. I couldn’t hear what he said, but his anger was clear. He pointed at Lindsey, then at Leo.

Lindsey crossed her arms, tossing her hair over her shoulder, but Leo looked terrified.

Then, suddenly, Lindsey yanked off her engagement ring and threw it at Aaron.

It clattered onto the table. Aaron picked it up, his face pale. Without another word, he turned and stormed out.

I switched cameras again. Outside, Aaron stood still, his shoulders shaking.

His head dropped into his hand. Even from behind a screen, I could tell—he was crying.

I swallowed hard. I had done the right thing. He needed to see the truth. But somehow, I still felt guilty.

After a while, the doorbell rang. I hesitated before opening it. Aaron stood there, his face red from crying, his eyes filled with regret.

“You were right,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“This isn’t satisfying for me, just so you know,” I said. “I didn’t want to be right about this.”

Aaron nodded, his shoulders heavy. “I’m sorry for doubting you.” He took a shaky breath. “I should have trusted you.”

He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. “Thank you.”

I hugged him back, feeling his pain.