Just Friends (Betrayal Exposed)

Just Friends (Betrayal Exposed)

"Honey, he's just a friend!"

Big thanks to OffRoadDiesel for the editing and suggestions

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Tags: #Reconcilliation #Revenge #Burn the Bastard #Cheat #Love

When I met Ellie, she was already close friends with Clark, a good-looking guy that she said was gay and lived with another man. When I first met Clark, I was shocked at his appearance. He was almost perfect: big, muscular, square jaw, model face, blond hair, striking blue eyes. Hell, I bet the female race was very disappointed that this Greek god was batting for the other team.

I met Ellen when my crew was doing some restoration in the building she worked in. We bumped into each other while I was getting a cup of coffee and after several funny remarks she fell for my humor. For the last year I had been so focused on building my business that I hadn't had any time to go out or meet women. She was beautiful and something just clicked between us, and I asked her for drinks right then. To my surprise she accepted and six years later we've been happily married for 5 years.

She introduced me to Clark at an after-work event, and I found him to be friendly and likeable. I realized that Ellie and he were close, and even though this guy was every woman's wet dream, I didn't feel threatened. Ellie never gave me a reason to worry, and after meeting his partner, it was clear I had nothing to worry about. We even invited them over for dinner and get-togethers at our home, and we all became good friends.

Ellie and I had just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary when Ellie came home upset and a little sad. When I asked what was wrong, she explained that she had lunch with Clark today and said that Clark and Calvin broke up, and Clark had been miserable at work. She took it upon herself to help him get through the breakup and became his confidant. At first, I didn't think too much about it, but things shifted a little as her heightened concern for Clark made me a little uncomfortable.

It was about a week later that I noticed that she was texting throughout the night and during the weekends, and it was impacting our time together. When I expressed my concern over this, she explained that she was just trying to help our friend through this tough time. "Honey, he's so broken up over this, I'm afraid he's starting to get depressed, and I just want to help our friend. I'm sorry, and I'll try to be more sensitive to our time together."

Over the next few days our life seemed to go back to normal, but I could tell she was still more involved with Clark's problem than I was comfortable with. I wasn't going to say anything because he was a close friend, and I didn't want to come across like a jerk or a jealous husband. So, I focused on work and gave her space, knowing that a guy as good-looking as Clark would have another lover in no time.

Two weeks after I learned of the friend's breakup, Ellen came home and told me Clark had a problem and that she wanted to help him. Her comment raised a yellow flag and for some stupid reason, I asked how she thought she could help. "Ryder, darling, this is a big ask and I hope you'll be okay with it but Clarks parents are coming into town for a night and Clark needs a plus-one for dinner. You see, his parents don't know that he's gay and his dad would freak out if he knew. He wanted to call you to ask if you'd be okay if he took me to dinner and pretended to be someone he's dating. I know it's deceitful, but his parents are older and he doesn't want them to know about his lifestyle. I told him I'd ask you so, that's where we are. Would you be alright if I went to dinner with him and his mom and dad? He said it's a casual dinner, probably to go to Chili's or a similar restaurant, and I'd be home by 8:00 - 8:30 p. m. as his parents are usually in bed by 9pm, just a quick dinner, meet and greet, and then I'm back home."

I stood there with my mouth open. My wife just asked me if she could go on a date with Clark. I know, it's no big deal, but it felt wrong, and I should have listened to my intuition. But she made it sound like it was a casual dinner and would be only a couple of hours. Understanding Clark's need to maintain his hetero role for his mom and dad, I reluctantly agreed and tried not to think much of it, other than a friend accompanying him to dinner.

"Look, I'll let you go, but this whole thing with Clark is starting to interfere with our marriage. After this, I want you to back off and start paying more attention to us instead of Clark. You know, we've been discussing starting a family, but hearing you ask me if it's okay to go to dinner with another man makes me want to reconsider. I do have one question: if you're going to pretend to be his girlfriend, how will you pull that off with your wedding rings? Will his parents be okay with him dating a married woman?"

She smiled as if she was so smart, "We've already discussed that and have a plan. I would take them off when I arrived at the restaurant, put them in my purse, and put them back on when we left. No harm, no foul," she said, smiling.

Hearing her say those words so casually, along with the fact that she had already discussed that with Clark, pissed me off, "Oh, so you and Clark discussed taking off your wedding rings. Very nice. I'll tell you what, I don't like it, and I refuse to allow you to take them off. If you take them off, I promise there will be consequences. You either stay home and tell him you can't go, or you promise me you will not take them off. To me, that would be a major show of disrespect to me and our marriage."

That shocked her. She never expected that response and quickly reacted. "No, I get it, and I'll keep them on and come up with some story. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, please don't be angry. I love you, and I appreciate you letting me help our friend."

I was angry now, "Ellie, at this point, he's your friend, not mine. I'm not happy about any of this, and if things don't change after this dinner, we will be having some serious conversations. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

She nodded too quickly, "Yes, of course. I'll stop counseling him and let him know it's starting to interfere with us, and I don't want that. You're the only thing that matters to me, I'll make it up to you, I promise. After Friday night, we will be back to normal, and Clark will be on his own."

I just shook my head and went for a walk with my best friend Bruno, my Golden Retriever. At least he loved me unconditionally and made me forget my problems. Dogs are truly man's best friends, and between all the treats I brought with me and the ball throwing, I always made sure Bruno knew that he was the world's best Golden Retriever.

Ellie tried to show me some extra special love that night, but I was still a little upset from our conversation and told her I wasn't in the mood. That was something that almost never happened; her body and beauty always got me rock hard. She was sexy, and she knew I couldn't resist her charms. Her body and sexiness always had me ready for some love, but for some reason, I just told her no. She knew I was still upset and gave me space but did spoon me and hold me tight that night.

But if nothing else, she is persistent, and I woke up to Ellie under the covers with my hardening cock in her mouth. She knew what I liked and slowly licked the head of my cock until I had a raging hard-on. Her tender fingers played with my balls as she started to move her head up and down on my now very hard cock. This was a treat usually reserved for my birthday, but I realized she was trying to let me know that I was still her man and that everything was going to be okay.

She picked up the pace, and I felt myself getting close. I suddenly had the urge to take her pussy and sat up, rolled her on her back, and plunged my large cock deep inside her. I pounded her hard into the mattress for the next six minutes, releasing an intense stream of cum into my beautiful wife's pussy. I went to work with a big smile on my face and a spring in my step. I laughed to myself thinking that Old Clark would never know what it's like to fuck an amazing pussy like Ellie's.

When I came home from work Thursday evening, she had my favorite dinner on the table, along with a bottle of my favorite wine. We had a great time, another fuck session. I carried her tiny body up to our bedroom, ripped off her dress, and took her like a wild man, once again with a vengeance. I knew she would be walking funny for a while after that session, but I knew I satisfied both of us. We slept in each other's arms, on our soaking wet sheets.

I had a busy day at work Friday and forgot it was the night that she was going to dinner with Clark and his parents. At this point, after our great sex and knowing I had nothing to worry about, combined with only a two-hour dinner at some place like Chili's, I didn't give it much thought.

Ellie's plan was to meet Clark at the restaurant and had called an Uber to drive her there, but the Uber was late. She was in the living room waiting for her ride when I came home. She obviously hoped she would be gone before I got home to avoid any problems, but her plan didn't play out as she had hoped.

The shock I got wasn't because she was going to meet Clark and his parents; the shock was the woman I was looking at. Ellie stood there in a very sexy black dress with her highest heels. Her hair looked like she just came from the salon, and her makeup was spectacular. She looked sexy as hell and my cock started getting hard, until I realized why she was dressed up like this, and it wasn't for me. Suddenly I realized this wasn't going as I anticipated.

"Wow, look at you. You're one sexy woman. I thought this was a casual dinner; you look like you're going to a swinger's club." My anger was now coming to the surface. "What the fuck is going on? You never dress like this for me anymore," I said as my anger grew, and just as I was about to explode, we both heard the car pull up in the driveway.

The Uber driver beeped his horn. She stood there defiantly and dismissed me like a child. "Oh, stop it. It's just a dress. Besides, his parents changed restaurants, and we're having dinner at Ola's. Look, just relax. I'll be home by 8:00 or 8:30. "I'll call you if I'm running late. Be ready for me when I come home, and you can enjoy what you see here. I have to go, I'm late." And that was it. She kissed me lightly on the lips, turned, and walked out to her ride. I stood there like an idiot, watching my sexy dressed wife leave to go to dinner with another man. Did she think I'd be OK with this?

To say I was pissed off would have been the understatement of the century. Ola's was a new 5 five-star restaurant and definitely not Chili's, and now I wondered if there were other changes to their plans. Suddenly I regretted my decision to let her do this and needed a few drinks to calm my nerves. I knew she loved me and that I had nothing to worry about and just helping a friend, but just the fact that she wanted this so badly made me start to think differently. And then seeing her dressed like this, and so excited to leave... well, I couldn't describe my feelings. Was I jealous, angry, afraid, or just humiliated? I wasn't sure, and I didn't like it, and I would never let this happen again.

As I sat in my favorite chair with Bruno keeping me company. I started to think about this Clark thing with my wife. How long they've been friends, how close they were, and wondered how his family could not know about his lifestyle. After all, the guy is thirty plus years old; you would think his family might have some idea about his lifestyle choices.

Time seemed to slow down, and every time I checked the clock only ten minutes passed by. I was on edge, knowing that my wife was actually on a date with another man... gay or not, she could call it what she liked, but to me... it was a date. I felt like a schmuck for letting her talk me into this. I was pissed, and she was going to hear about it when she got home.

Finally, the clock chimed, and I realized it was now 8 p. m., but she wasn't home. She said 8:00-8:30 and would call if she was late. At 8:30, I called her phone, no answer. That was it; by 9pm I had her location from the iPhone app, and lo and behold, she was now at the Crystal Lounge. A well-known hotspot in our town, which is less than a mile away from the restaurant. Funny thing, she never mentioned the upscale nightclub. I called her cell two more times, and each time it went straight to voicemail. I felt my head start to pound, and I knew what I had to do. I took action.

I grabbed my keys off the counter and drove to the club. By 9:30, I entered the club to find her and Clark in a candlelit booth, quietly talking. I stood off to the side at the bar, watching and waiting to see what she would do. As they chatted, I called her phone again, but apparently, her phone was either turned off, or she was ignoring my calls.

My head pounded as I felt the blood pulsing through my brain, and after several minutes of spying on them, and to my dismay, they got up to dance. The first two songs were normal fast dances, nothing overt, but the third was a slow love song. I thought they would go back to their booth, but they stayed on the dance floor, and that's when I felt my heart quicken, and my adrenaline started to spike.

I watched in horror as their bodies melded into one. I recognized the progression of their dance, the way they held each other, the way his hands were stroking her back, and I knew the next scene would include a look into each other's eyes and a kiss. I've been there, done that, and seen this action dozens of times. Any red-blooded man understood this sexual dance and how it progressed. Somehow, I had the wits to start the video recorder on my phone while this scene unfolded.

Right on cue, they broke their embrace, and my lovely wife was looking up into his eyes. Then, just as I predicted, the kiss. Yes, I was already on my way to the dance floor as I videoed this on my phone as their lips met. I felt a sharp pain in my heart because this kiss was not friendly and would not pass the wife tests.

Now I knew the truth, and they were more than just friends. This was real, sharing their feelings for each other. It was also the precise moment that I noticed that my wife's ring finger was bare. Ellie did indeed remove her wedding rings, even after our earlier discussion.

Sadly, I was experiencing a level of pain and rage I didn't know existed. I made my way to the lip-locked couple, and about eight seconds into their kiss, placed my phone in my pocket just before I reached them. That's when I grabbed Ellie's shoulder and violently pulled her away, breaking up their little public love scene.

Ellie lost her balance and almost fell, and that's when they both turned to me with shocked expressions and confusion. That's the moment I unloaded a devastating blow to the center of Clark's pretty face. Now, Clark was at least four inches taller than me, muscular from all the gym workouts, and somebody you wouldn't want to get into a scrape with. But the adrenaline flowing through my body allowed me to deliver a massive blow, and I felt the bones in his nose crush under my single punch. It was a Mike Tyson-like punch, and his blood was already flowing, even before he hit the ground. It was a Round One Knockout.

Ellie screamed, "Ryder, what did you do? Why did you hit Clark?" she asked as a crowd was starting to gather around the poor man who was now laid out on the dance floor.

As I walked away, I yelled, "Are you serious? His hands are on your ass, you're kissing him, you're not wearing your wedding rings, and you didn't come home or call me. You lied to me, Ellie. Do Not come home tonight!"

Ellie was pissed, gave me a dirty look, and then made the fatal decision to choose to go back to Clark. Instead of coming over to me and trying to save her marriage, she got down on her knees next to Clark and tried to help him. My brain was in a heightened state processing several not-so-pleasant thoughts simultaneously, like a quantum computer.

As everyone was looking at the unconscious guy on the ground, I calmly walked over to where they were sitting, opened her purse, and found the rings in her side pouch. I removed her wedding and engagement rings and replaced them with my simple gold wedding band. There was no way she was ever going to see these again.

Then there were a commotion and people yelling to call for an ambulance as they tried to stop the bleeding and tend to Clark. Since everyone was so focused on the action on the dance floor, I calmly walked out the front door of the club without being noticed. As I was leaving the club, I heard Ellie calling out to me, but I didn't stop and was gone before she could catch me in the parking lot.

My anger got the best of me as I yelled back at her, "Don't come home tonight, we're done. Go to your parents' or sister's house tonight," I said, leaving her behind, I imagined that she went to help Clark, but at that point, I didn't care. I was done with her.

Fortunately, the roads were clear at that time of night, because I drove home like a madman, and already knew what I was going to do and was being led by blind anger. I moved out that night, grabbed three suitcases, my PC, personal and financial files, and left within thirty minutes, hoping to escape and also avoid the police. I assumed they already had an arrest warrant for me. With Bruno sitting next to me in my truck, I drove to a hotel in the next town to determine my next move and future.

The next morning, I called my Uncle Peter, who was an attorney, and told him what I had done. He checked, and there was a warrant out for my arrest for assault and battery.

"Ryder, listen to me. This isn't good, and we need to address it right away. Tell me where you are and I'll pick you up, and then we will go to the police station, and you will turn yourself in. You'll spend a few hours in custody until the bail is completed, and then I'll take you back to my house. I'll tell your aunt you will be with us for a few days. I'll be there in an hour."

While I waited, I called the credit card companies and told them that the cards had been stolen and to stop any charges. I then opened a new online bank account and transferred all but $1,000, leaving her just enough to survive until I figured my next steps.

The drive to the police station was quiet, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of Peter's police scanner app. I stared out the window and thought about the punch Clarks pretty face, the blood, the chaos, all sinking in. I didn't regret hitting him, not really, but I wasn't looking forward to the consequences.

My Uncle didn't lecture; he just drove, he drove quietly as tried to stay calm. We pulled up to the precinct, a squat, gray building with flickering fluorescent lights visible through the windows. My heart pounded as we stepped out of the car. Uncle Peter led the way as I followed in up the twelve steps to the waiting glass doors.

Police Station

The front desk officer, a burly guy with a buzz cut, looked up from his paperwork. "Can I help you?" he asked, his tone bored but sharp. Peter stepped forward. "My client, Ryder Marshall is here to turn himself in regarding an incident last night at the Crystal Lounge. I'm his attorney, Peter Kingston. We'd like to speak with the officer handling the case."

The officer's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he nodded, picking up a phone to call someone from the back. I stood there, hands shoved in my pockets, trying to keep my face neutral while my insides twisted. The waiting area was cold with only a few plastic chairs, a bulletin board with wanted posters, and a vending machine humming from what looked like 1950. A couple of people sat nearby, one guy in handcuffs muttering to himself, another woman filling out a form with a shaky hand. I felt like I didn't belong here, but I knew I'd brought this on myself. A detective Cason approached "Ryder? I'm Detective Harris. Come with me." He glanced at Peter. "You too, counselor." We followed him through a maze and led us to a small interview room with a metal table and three chairs. The walls were bare except for a one-way mirror, and I wondered who might be watching from the other side.

Peter sat beside me, his briefcase open, pulling out a notepad. "Just tell the truth, Ryder," he whispered. "I'll handle the rest. "Detective Harris sat across from us, flipping open a file. "Alright, Ryder, we've got a report of an assault at the Crystal Lounge last night. Victim's name is Clark Rodgers Broken nose, possible concussion. Witnesses say you threw the punch. Care to explain?"

I took a deep breath, my voice steady but low. "Yeah, I hit him. I walked into the club and saw him kissing my wife, Ellie. His hands were all over her, and she wasn't wearing her wedding rings. I lost it. I'm not proud of it, but that's what happened. "Harris scribbled something down, his face unreadable. "So, you're admitting to the assault?" Peter cut in. "My client acknowledges his actions but acted under extreme emotional distress. He witnessed what he believed was a betrayal by his spouse and her friend. We're prepared to cooperate fully and discuss any reasonable resolution. " Harris nodded, unimpressed. "Alright. We're processing you for assault and battery. You'll be booked, fingerprinted, and held until bail is set. Any questions?" I shook my head, my throat tight. Peter squeezed my arm. "It's routine. You'll be fine."

They took me to a processing area where an officer took my fingerprints, the ink cold against my skin. My mugshot was next, the camera's flash harsh in my eyes as I stared straight ahead, feeling like a criminal in a bad movie. They confiscated my phone, wallet, and belt, handing me a receipt for my belongings. Then, an officer led me to a holding cell, a small, concrete room with a bench and a single toilet in the corner. The door clanged shut behind me, the sound echoing in my skull. The cell was cold, and the bench was hard, but I sat there, staring at the floor, replaying the night before. My wife dancing with him, Clark's face, the blood, Ellie's shocked expression, the missing rings, it all looped in my mind. I wasn't sure how long I sat there, maybe two hours, maybe three.

The door finally opened, "Ryder, we're good. Bail's set at $5,000, and I've got it covered. Let's get you out of here." An officer led the way, and I followed him back to the processing area, where Peter was waiting with a tired smile. "You're out on bail, but you'll need to show up for a hearing in a couple of weeks. I'll handle the details. For now, you're coming home with me." I nodded, too drained to say much.

They returned my belongings, and I signed some paperwork, my hand shaking slightly. As we walked out of the station, the sunlight hit me like a slap, too bright after the dimness inside. Peter's SUV was parked nearby, and I climbed in, happy to be out there and reflected on the last few hours. "You did the right thing turning yourself in," Peter said as we pulled onto the highway. Peter was kind enough not to bring up Ellie or the incident and my only sanctuary at this time. "This'll blow over, but you need to keep your head down. No more fights, no more chasing trouble. You hear me?"

"Yeah," I muttered, staring out the window. "Thanks, Uncle Pete." He grunted, his way of saying he had my back. The drive to his house was quiet again, but this time it felt different, like I'd crossed a line and was stepping into something new, something uncertain. I didn't know what would happen with Ellie, with Clark, or with the charges, but for now, I was out, and I had Peter in my corner. That was enough for the time being.

After I got settled in the guest bedroom I called my boss at home, who I was close with, and told him the situation. I told him I was not coming into work and would be using two weeks of my vacation, or I would take a leave of absence. He said the unplanned vacation time was fine as long as I was able to keep up with the work when I got back. That worked out perfectly.

So, I stayed at my uncle's home that week and tried to figure things out. My aunt and uncle were great to me and helped me during that time. They lived in a gated community, and the two times that Ellie tried to see me, they did not allow her in.

She was even more pissed off, she demanded we talk. I texted her and told her no, and that she really didn't want to speak to a little boy like me. That's when I went dark again, ghosted her and became only a memory. Not out of spite, but out of self-preservation.

A week later

About a week after that I answered her call and told her I had no intention of coming back and doing something stupid again because some asshole tried to ruin my marriage. On that call she told me that Clark agreed not to press charges and feels terrible about taking advantage of our friendship. "He said as long as you cover any hospital charges that his insurance doesn't cover, he won't press charges. Now please just come home."

That was a relief. "Well, that's good news, please thank your lover for me. Dropping the charges is the least he can do for ending my marriage.

That pissed her off as she continued. "He's not my lover and he didn't end our marriage. Just for your information, because of your little act of anger, Clark might need surgery. Stop acting like this and come home, please."

Hearing that made me smile, "Good, I'm glad I messed up pretty boy's face, and just for your information I was arrested and spent the morning in jail getting processed because I was fighting for you, but never again."

"Dammit Ryder, you're nothing but a child, a little boy with a bruised ego. I'm glad you spent the morning in jail, maybe next time you won't be so stupid. You should call Clark and apologize for what you did and thank him for dropping charges."

I could no longer suppress my anger as I spat out, "I'm acting like a child because I was fighting for my marriage? And I should apologize to the asshole that took you from me? Fuck that! I'll apologize when Hell freezes over, and not second sooner."

I took a deep breath and got myself back under control, "Look, the good news for you is that you won't have to put up with my little boy ego anymore. I'll be filing for divorce as soon as possible. Don't contact me ever again, you still have your boyfriend so just leave me alone."

I was about to disconnect when I heard her crying on the other end.

"Oh God, no, you can't. Dammit, Ryder I love you please stop this and nothing happened."

What the hell is wrong with this woman, I thought to myself. "Nothing happened? My wife lied to me, wore a sexy dress, took off her rings, didn't come home or call me or answer my calls, went to a club with that guy, dirty danced with him, let him feel your ass, and kissed him in public. If that's nothing to you, then I'd hate to see what something is! And to top it off... the pièce de résistance  - you took off your wedding rings knowing how I felt about that."

I took another deep breath, trying to regain control. "No, my trust in you is gone. If you can lie to me so easily and do this, then I know you'll do this and more again in the future. There's no way I'll let that happen, or raise a child with someone that would disrespect and humiliate me that way. Listen closely... We Are Done!"

After I disconnected, I placed the phone face down on the table. I was shocked at how things went south so quickly. I decided to send her the video of them kissing, with his hands on her ass along with a message -- 'If this is nothing to you then we were never on the same path and I'm glad I found out now, before we started a family."

The video apparently helped her understand my anger. In fact, I learned later that she didn't realize how far she had fallen and collapsed in her mother's kitchen. Ellie called back at least twenty times a day, dozens of non-stop text messages, and hundreds of emails. Apologizing, she's sorry, she didn't realize how it looked until she saw the video and that we needed to talk.

After seeing the video, she realized I was serious about divorce and not just throwing a temper tantrum. When I didn't reply to her pleas for forgiveness she panicked and that's when the texts became desperate. 'It was a mistake, I didn't realize how it looked, I was just helping a friend,' one cliche after another, all the standard desperate crap a cheating wife says. I never answered the phone or her messages.

Back to Work

I went back to work as my boss wanted to meet with me. I started working out of the office and rented a room at one of my friends' homes until I figured out my living situation.

Sure enough, someone saw me, and the news that I was back got around. Clark tracked me down at my office and seeing his bent nose warmed my heart. I took him into an empty conference room where he apologized. I thanked him for dropping the charges and told him I was still angry at both of them. He said he understood my anger and begged me to take her back. She loved me, and it was a mistake. He said he wouldn't bother her and he'll stay away, but hates to lose our friendship as we were the only real friends he had. He realized that he screwed up, but wanted to stay friends.

I looked at him like he was crazy, "You want to stay friends after breaking up my marriage? Seriously? Clark, you tell me that you're gay, but I know you had feelings for my wife and took advantage of your good looks to seduce her. Neither of you will admit your feelings for each other, which really pisses me off. Because of all that, I don't trust either of you, and sadly, we are no longer friends, and now I've lost the woman I loved. Clark, friends do not betray their friends."

"Ryder, I understand, and I'll abide by your wishes," he said in a defeated voice. "Again, I am sorry for this mess, it's really my fault, and I pray you can forgive her; she's really hurting and needs to see you."

"Well Clark, it's a little late for that. I've filed for divorce, and she will be served next week."

He shook his head, "Ryder, don't do this. It was innocent, nothing really happened."

That got my blood boiling, "Would you like to see the video of nothing happening?" You and my wife seem to share the same values. My wife took off her rings, went out dressed like a hooker, kissed you in public, she let you feel up her ass and humiliated me. Apparently, that's nothing to either of you. You two deserve each other! I keep wondering what would have happened if I hadn't shown up; I believe you two would have had sex that night, and I'd be the stupid idiot husband, home alone while his wife is fucking her friend. For all I know, you already fucked her. Yeah, we're done, Clark. You can tell her she will get the divorce papers at work sometime next week."

He made one last attempt to explain, "Ryder, I've never had feelings for Ellie that way before that night, I swear. Man, I've never been with a woman before, but when we danced something happened, Ellie brought out those feelings. and I was just reacting. Trust me, I was as shocked as you were," he said before leaving and apologizing one more time before I walked him out of the office.

Dads Call

The next day I got a call from her dad, asking to meet me for a drink after work. Of course, I agreed, as Randy and I got along well and even played golf a few times a month. I respected him and enjoyed his company; I'll miss that.

I told him the entire story, how I felt, the lost trust, and not wanting to start a family with a woman that would do that to her husband. I offered to show him the video but he kindly refused. He asked me to hold off on the divorce for a couple of weeks until I had a chance to really think things through, and have a face-to-face conversation with Ellie.

The poor guy was hurting and was reaching out, "Ryder, she loves you and she's angry at herself for messing things up. I know what she did was wrong, and I'm not sure how I would react, but you stopped it before anything else happened. You also did a number on Clark's face; that must give you a little satisfaction."

I smiled, and we shared a laugh. "Okay, I can wait a couple of weeks, but I don't know how I can forgive or trust her again. Think about it, from now on, I'll never know if she wants to be with someone else. Who wants to live like that?"

Randy sighed, "Damn, this really sucks. Yeah, my little girl really screwed the pooch on this one. Her mom and I have been brutal to her, and trust me, she knows how bad she messed up. I'm asking you this as a friend, my only request is that you talk with her and see if you can work things out."

"Maybe, but not yet. I'm still too angry, and nothing good will come from that right now. I'll do this for you, but I need some time."

Randy patted me on the back, "I understand, and thank you. We love you as a son, we know you're hurting, and we're praying for both of you."

I felt bad for the guy. He was looking out for his daughter, and I couldn't blame him, "Thanks Randy, I know, and I love you guys as well. You've always treated me well."

Revenge and Reconciliation

The next few weeks were rough. My anger was replaced with regret and depression. The regret was that I let it go that far and didn't follow my gut instincts. I was depressed because I lost the woman I loved to an asshole predator. Mistake or unintentional, it happened, it was real, and I was hurting.

I hated how I felt. The feelings that overtook me were maddening. Love, anger, hate, and loss all at the same time. Right or wrong, I needed her to feel the same pain I was living through because of her choices. I decided it was time for some payback and started going out after work. I hadn't yet filed the divorce papers, and we were still legally married, so one night I sent her an email and explained that we are now officially separated, and she can go out and be with Clark or anyone she likes, as I will be doing the same. She didn't like my email and immediately sent several text messages, but I ignored her replies and requests to talk.

That vision of her not wearing her wedding rings firmed up my decision. I considered myself separated. Now, I didn't mind the attention from some of the women at work and the gym.

One night, I ran into one of my old buddies who I hadn't seen in years. Jason and I drifted apart after school, and he was now the general manager of an adult men's club. He was always the cool guy and a hustler with the girls. We talked, and I opened up, and over a few too many drinks, told him all about Ellie and our marriage.

I told him the entire story and how both of them betrayed me. For some ungodly reason, she chose that exact moment to call. I put it on speaker and let Jason hear the conversation. "Ryder, you need to stop this and come home. Nothing happened, and you're being childish. I'm sorry I was late coming home, but my god, you're..." I didn't want to listen to her crap and disconnected the call and shut off my phone. I imagine that drove her insane with rage, but I really didn't care.

After that, Jason said, "I have an idea, if you're interested. She says that kissing the guy, letting him feel up her ass, and the fact that she took off her wedding rings is no big deal. Would you like to have her feel the same pain?"

"Fuck yeah, but I can't figure anything out. Now, I just want out."

"Look, here's what we're going to do. I'm going to pick you up on Friday night at 9pm, and you and I are going to the new Club Inferno. The manager owes me a few favors; you see, he likes big-titted blondes, and I always set him up when he comes into my club. You and I are going to have a fun night, and I promise it will be one to remember. I want you in a suit, looking sharp. Trust me and follow my lead on this."

Club Inverno was the hottest club in town; it was a converted Costco store, huge, with over six stages, loud music, and several bars. Everyone who was anybody would be there, and I knew several of her friends would attend. Friday night, his club limo was outside my door at 9pm when my cell rang. "Let's go, buddy, we're waiting."

"We're waiting?" That confused me when I read the text, but I went to the limo, and what I saw made my eyes pop out of my head. When I got to the car, the door opened, and two of the sexiest women I've ever seen welcomed me with a kiss and roaming hands. When I got in, I saw Jason smiling inside the car, sitting between two equally sexy women.

I got in, and Jason did the introductions. "Ryder, this lovely creature is Venus, and the sexy girl with her hand on your dick is Angel. They are your dates for the night. And my girls are Coco and Candy." Angel leaned over and gently closed my mouth, which was wide open with a look of complete surprise.

"They know all about your situation and volunteered to show you a good time tonight. We have everything taken care of, and all you have to do is have fun."

Jason's favor was a little over the top, but just what I needed. He explained that they would get paid for three hours of work, have fun, drink, and party.

"So let me get this straight, you paid for four hot girls to join us for three hours, free drinks,

champagne, and no sexual requirements. Just party, make a scene to attract attention, while treating me like their boyfriend?" I learned later that this favor, along with the champagne, drinks, and transportation, would cost me $1,500. It was the best investment of my life, as it got me out of my funk and depression. Later that night, I told myself that I could get used to that lifestyle and considered getting a job at Jason's club.

Now, dear friends, I have to explain how these women looked. Venus had long, platinum blonde hair and sky-blue eyes, long legs, perfect-sized breasts. She was dressed in, what I learned later, was a pink corset top, which pushed her perfect breasts up and on display. That was matched with the shortest leather skirt I've ever seen, and under that skirt, she wore stockings, and since the skirt was so short, the garters that were attached to the corset were plainly visible, and of course, she had stripper heels, which made her my height of six feet. Angel wore a sheer white blouse that put her unharnessed, huge breasts and pointy nipples on clear display. She wore a micro-mini skirt, no stockings, but her pink thong was clearly visible whenever she moved. Her heels were glitter pink, and she matched Venus and myself at six feet tall. Jason's girls were similarly dressed, tall and sexy.

Of course, the girls knew how sexy they looked and walked with extreme confidence. When we approached the front door of the club, they walked on each side of me with their arms wrapped around me. I had the hardest hard-on I can remember and knew it was going to be an interesting night.

When we entered the club, we were escorted to a private reserved table in front of the main dance floor and DJ. We had VIP seating, all arranged by Jason and the club manager. We didn't have to wait in the long line and were treated like rock stars, getting attention from everyone, wondering who we were.

Every guy in the place was looking at these girls and drooling at our table. The girls at the club were looking at our women with fire in their eyes, jealous and not happy at the competition. The word at the club got out that our table was the place to be, and soon the area and dance floor in front of us was packed. The club manager finally had to put a velvet rope around our area to keep the drunk guys from flirting with the girls.

The waiters brought two bottles of champagne, and after a few glasses, the girls stood up in front of Jason and me and danced for us, sexy, stripper dances, which gained lots of attention. We all ended up on the dance floor. I had never danced with two women at the same time before, let alone women this sexy and beautiful. I felt like a million bucks and had the biggest smile plastered on my face. When a guy tried to cut in and dance with one of my girls, they pushed them away and paid full attention to me. I felt like a rockstar but still wasn't sure how this was going to be any type of revenge on Ellie.

Then I realized what Jason knew. This was the hottest club in town, and he knew that at least one of Ellie's friends would see me, or one of our photos would make it on social media; he would make sure that happened.

Sure enough, Suzanne, one of Ellie's friends, grabbed my arm on the way back to my table, spun me around, and asked what the hell I was doing and tried to remind me that I was a married man. I showed her my hand with the missing ring and told her that we were separated and that Ellie and Clark were now a couple, and I'm going to live a new life without her.

She was shocked and stood there with her mouth open. I noticed her friends were taking photos and videos of all the action at our table. Now, up until then, I had never kissed or touched the girls, so any of the photos would only be somewhat sexy, but nothing overt would be posted. It appeared I was dating two hot women, dancing, drinking, and just having fun. The imagination would fuel Ellie's anger and rage, which I was sure to follow.

I knew the photos and videos would be posted somewhere and that Ellie would see them shortly. I wanted her to understand how I felt by what she did. In my mind, if there was any chance at reconciliation, she had to understand what it means to feel betrayal.

Cathy, another one of her friends confronted me and asked me what I was doing. "No wedding ring, nice. You're still married, and you're out partying with these tramps?" I told her to mind her own business and that we were separated because she cheated. "I'm making up for lost time. Why should she be the only one having fun? We'll be divorced soon, so why should I just sit around? It was time to have fun, just like she did. But don't worry, you can relax because we're leaving soon to another party. If we don't talk again, have a fun night." That was the end of the confrontations that night; everything was going according to Jason's plan.

The two girls with the corset outfit and short skirt came over while I was still talking to Cathy and pulled me out to the dance floor again. The three of us danced in the middle of the floor, as the two girls in ridiculously sexy outfits, stripper heels, and sexy as hell danced with me, attracting looks of jealousy from all the guys and wicked looks from the other women that could not compete with these girls. After two songs, I left the dance floor with a girl on each side back to the table, where one of the other girls gave me a kiss and had me sit next to her. Ellie's friends sat there with their mouths open in complete shock as I raised my champagne glass to them and smiled.

Shocked by my words, she went back to her friends, and I knew Ellie would hear of my partying and actions within the hour. I'm sure the divorce comments will shock her as well, but I wanted her to feel the same pain she caused me. Those hours went by too fast. I wanted to stay there all night and be felt up, probably hurt their enthusiasm, but I didn't care; I was having a blast.

As I expected, when we were leaving, Ellie's girlfriends followed us outside and saw us getting into the stretch limo. I knew this was going to get some results. If Ellie wants me back, she would have to earn it and realize what she gave up. If not, I'll move on and learn to get used to this lifestyle. That's what I call a win-win.

The girls and I left the bar laughing and touching each other all together as her friends watched in horror at the nice guy husband who was now partying with two sexy women. They were shocked, angry, and going to make sure everyone knew I was nothing but a 'cad.'

The next morning, I saw Randy's name on my phone, and I took his call, as we had been close. Her dad started, "Look, Ryder, I heard the whole story. Ellie broke down and told us what she did and is devastated by her stupidity. I also heard how you apparently moved on, but this isn't you, Ryder. I know you're hurting as much as Ellie, and I have a favor to ask. I would appreciate it if you would do this for Carol and me. Would you please consider going to a few couples counseling sessions before you throw everything away? If it doesn't work, then at least we feel like we gave it a shot; otherwise, the two of you are acting like idiots and throwing away something special. I know my daughter messed up, but give her this one thing. Please."

I knew I was going to have to talk to her at some point, and I did respect her dad and agreed to his request. A call from Ellie came in a few minutes later. Unfortunately, she could not control her anger and just started in on me, screaming into the phone, calling me every name in the book.

The Angry phone call:

The next morning, I saw Ellie's name on my phone. I knew my little payback stunt would piss her off and why she would be angry, and this call was not unexpected. She was probably shocked that I answered because up until then I had ignored all her calls. I smiled as she went on yelling into the phone for several minutes, and when it was finally my turn to speak, I spoke, with an eerie calm.

Finally, I replied, "Come on, Ellie, it's exactly like you said. Do you remember what you told me that night? You said nothing happened with you and Clark, and I'm acting like a little boy with a bruised ego. Well, Ellie, nothing happened with Venus and Angel. We're just good friends, just like you and Clark. Why are you so mad? Is your little ego bruised?"

"Dammit, Ryder, you know why I'm mad. How can you go out with women like that and embarrass me like that? Those photos and videos are all over social media. You've humiliated me!"

"Embarrassed you? Really? You mean like when you and Clark embarrassed me, dancing and kissing in public?"

I knew that it hit a nerve, and she answered in a softer voice, "That's different."

That got me angry I said, "Right, sure. Look, Ellie, I finally realized that there are lots of other women out there, just as pretty and sexy as you. In fact, there are thousands of pretty women, and some of them think I have something to offer. You see, I realized that you don't have a magic pussy, and all these girls have the same body parts and are willing to share them with me. So, now I know I don't need you or your righteous attitude."

That obviously struck a nerve. There was silence on her end, and I wasn't even sure if she had disconnected, but I continued, "Ellie, I always knew that you had feelings for Clark; I hoped that would pass, but obviously, it hadn't. So, the good news for you is that now you're free to be with him. The good news for me is that I don't have to compete anymore. Ellie, this time away from you made me realize what's available to me out there. I don't want to be married to someone that lies to me or has feelings for other men. I'm not wired that way. The woman that I marry will be trustworthy, loyal, and committed to our marriage."

I could tell she was crying, "Ryder, I'm sorry for everything, and I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I never wanted Clark that way. Yes, we've been close for years, and I had feelings for him, more as a close friend, I swear. But that night with his parents, the drinks, the music, I just got carried away, and I realize now what I did. But seeing you with those women, laughing and having fun, all the while I'm scared that I'm losing the only man I ever loved. I want to fix this somehow and make you see I only ever wanted you."

Redemption, Rebuilding, and Retribution

As a favor to her dad, I agreed to the counseling sessions, if only to see if there was a way back. I never stopped loving her, but I was still having a problem getting over that kiss and the missing rings.

The first counseling session took place in Dr. Lisa Harper's office. "Ryder, let's start with you," Dr. Harper said, her voice calm but probing. "What brought you here today?"

I opened up, "I'm here because her dad asked me to be. I don't know if this can be fixed. She lied to me, went on a date with another man, kissed him in public. But the worst part? She took off her wedding rings. She planned to take them off, like our marriage was something she could just set aside for a night. That's not just a mistake; that's choosing someone else over me. And Clark? He knew what he was doing, asking her to play his fake girlfriend, taking her to that club. I can't trust her, and I want him to pay for what he did to us. Oh, and I forgot to mention, my darling wife never called me or answered my phone calls, in my mind she didn't want me interfering with her date."

Ellie's breath caught, tears spilling over. "Ryder, I'm so sorry. I know I messed up. I thought I was helping a friend, but I see now how wrong I was. I'm really sorry about the phone, but I shut it off at dinner and forgot to turn it back on, then after three glasses of wine, well you know how ditzy I get. Then the check came and he suggested an after-dinner drink and the next thing I know I was on my fifth glass of wine and not even thinking about calling you, I'm so sorry for that. Drinking is a poor excuse, I know, but I was having a good time and... I lost track of things. Until you stormed us on the dance floor I was only thinking about how much fun I was having. It was selfish, I know. But I'm being honest, it had nothing to do with him, it was just getting a little drunk, good music and well, I got carried away."

"You got carried away? Give me a freaking break, please! You've had feelings for him for years and to this day you still haven't admitted that. You looked very comfortable in his arms, and you didn't look drunk when you went to him after I knocked him out. Instead of coming over to me you went to him. Do you have any idea how that felt? At that point I knew you removed your rings, you were kissing him, and letting him feel you up, right there in public without any thought of your trusting husband, alone at home. Okay, okay, I get the drinks, but the rest of your story doesn't add up. Why can you just admit it that you wanted him."

"Ryder, I do not love him or want him, and the only feelings I had for him were as a friend. I swear he was just a friend. Yeah, he's gorgeous, and every girls dream, but I wasn't thinking about that when we were dancing and we both know he's gay. We were just in the moment, relaxed and free, and that will never happen again, if you give me a chance. I swear, my intentions were good when I thought I was helping a friend, but I see now how wrong I was."

I didn't say a word as she continued, "Ryder, I've cut Clark out completely, blocked his number, deleted his contacts, told him we can't be friends anymore. I swear, I only took the rings off when he asked me before we met his parents, and I did it thinking it would only be for an hour or so, but as you know now, I forgot to put them back on. Baby, I'll do anything to make this right. I didn't understand what taking off my rings meant to you. I swear, I didn't mean to hurt you like that."

She came across extremely believable and I was starting to believe her, "Like I said, I've cut Clark out completely, blocked his number, deleted his contacts, told him we're done. I'll do anything to make this right. I didn't understand what taking off my rings meant to you. Baby, I'll do anything to make this right. I didn't understand what taking off my rings meant to you. I swear, I didn't mean to hurt you like that."

My eyes snapped to hers, my voice sharp. "You didn't understand? Ellie, I told you how I felt about it before that night. Hell, you even discussed it with him. You planned to take off the rings that symbolized our marriage, our life together, and you did it like it was nothing. You stood there, smiling, saying 'no harm, no foul.' How am I supposed to believe you value us when you could do that?"

Dr. Harper leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. "Ellie, can you respond to Ryder's pain about the rings specifically? Not just with an apology, but with why you made that choice and what it meant to you at the time."

Ellie's hands trembled, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I thought it was just part of the act. Clark said his parents would freak out if they saw a wedding ring, that it would ruin the dinner. I told myself it was temporary, just for a couple of hours, to help him. I didn't think about what it would mean to you. I didn't think about how it would feel like I was erasing you, erasing us. I was so caught up in being there for him, in feeling needed, that I didn't see how it would look, how it would hurt. I see it now, and I hate myself for it. I'd give anything to take it back."

My jaw tightened, my eyes glistening. "You erased me, Ellie. Those rings aren't just jewelry. They're a promise. You took them off to pretend you were single. Do you know what that did to me? I felt like I didn't exist, like our marriage was a prop you could toss in your purse. And you did it with him, knowing how it would look, and knowing how I felt about it. Tell me, how do I get past that?"

Dr. Harper's voice was steady. "Ryder, that's a powerful image, feeling erased. Ellie, can you reflect on what Ryder just said? Try to articulate what you think it felt like for him, and what you're willing to do to address that pain."

Ellie wiped her tears, her voice breaking. "I think... I think it felt like I was saying you didn't matter, like our marriage was something I could hide when it suited me. I think it felt like betrayal, like I chose Clark over you, over us. I didn't see it then, but I see it now, and it kills me to know I made you feel that way. I'm willing to do whatever it takes, therapy, transparency, anything, to show you that you're my priority, that our marriage is everything to me. If you give them back to me, I'll never take them off again, not for anyone, not for any reason."

Ellie's head suddenly looked at me with a knowing look, "I get it now. That night you were out with those tramps, the videos and photos were meant to make me understand how you felt. What you did was cruel and I was heartbroken, but I now understand and I guess I deserved it."

My expression softened slightly, but my voice was still raw. "I needed you to feel what I felt, Ellie. I need you to understand how it felt to see you with him, no rings, like I was nothing. And Clark, he doesn't get to walk away like he's the victim. He knew what he was doing, and I want him to know what it's like to lose something that matters."

Dr. Harper nodded. "Ryder, your pain is valid, and so is your anger toward Clark. Let's explore what justice looks like for you, both with Ellie and with Clark, without letting revenge consume your healing process."

Last Session

By the third session, I was done. I didn't see how this was going to solve our issues. I came in with a final proposal. One that I knew would be painful and hard for her to do, but it's the only way I would consider any form of reconciliation.

"Doctor, this will be my last session. I've come to a decision and, believe it or not, a way back to reconciliation."

Ellie sat up straight and was now smiling as the doctor asked, "That's interesting and a big step. Can you share this request with us?"

That's when I turned to Ellie and spoke in a calm but firm voice, "Ellie, I've given this a great deal of thought, and I'm willing to come back and give us another chance. A real chance, where I'll give 110% effort if you can prove your loyalty. I came up with an idea that would prove your commitment to me and your desire to stay in this marriage."

For a moment I remained silent, allowing the tension in the room to rise, "I want you to do this one thing, and then I believe we can heal and move forward. Tomorrow, I want you to open a formal complaint with HR against Clark for coercion and harassment, arguing that Clark manipulated you into participating in the dinner and the club incident under false pretenses, claiming it was just for his parents. Then you will file a police report and civil claim alleging Clark pressured you into actions that harmed your marriage, citing the emotional distress we are now experiencing. I'll support you with the video evidence and my own testimony, framing Clark as predatory in exploiting your friendship."

I knew this was going to be the hardest thing she could ever do because of their close friendship, which is why I wanted her to prove to me that she was done with Clark once and for all. This would also let me know if she had any feelings for him and how important our marriage was to her.

She broke down in tears and looked shocked at my proposal. After she settled down, she spoke, "Ryder, that will hurt him at work; do you really want to hurt him that badly? And you know legally this won't go anywhere; they most likely won't prosecute him for what you're asking. Why would you do that? Is all that really necessary? Isn't the broken nose enough? Can't we just forget all this and move forward, like we were before?"

Keeping myself calm, which was extremely difficult, I replied, "First of all, this is not open for debate. I'm giving you one chance to save our marriage. And to answer your questions, no, the broken nose is not enough. I hope he gets fired from his job. The police report will make things public. I want people to know what type of person he is. Simple as that."

This all happened within the first ten minutes of our session, and they both just stared at me as I abruptly stood up when I finished my diatribe and walked towards the door, "It's been interesting, Doctor, thank you for your time. Ellie, let me know your decision by tomorrow. I'll understand if you don't want to go through with my request, and I'll have you served next week. There will be no hard feelings, and I'll wish you well. If you do what I ask, then we can get together this weekend and start putting back the broken pieces of our relationship. Let me know." They were both sitting there staring at me as I closed the door righteous finality.

Epilogue

Ellie filed the reports the next day, and we moved back in that Saturday. It wasn't a grand reunion. It took us over two months to get close to where we were before. I had to stop her from saying she was sorry every other sentence, and told her that we needed to look forward, not backwards. We did eventually find our way back.

Clark was livid when he was placed on probation at work, his dreams of a promotion and a long-term future with the company shattered. Desperate, he started calling me, unable to reach Ellie, begging for her to withdraw her complaint. He tried to leverage our so-called friendship to manipulate me. It didn't work -- Ellie had already blocked him, cutting all ties, and I wasn't about to play mediator. After his third call, pleading with me to halt the legal actions, I'd had enough.

"Clark," I said sharply, "with friends like you, enemies start looking friendly." I instructed him to contact my attorney and warned him never to reach out to either of us again, threatening a restraining order if he persisted. He got the message and backed off. Unsurprisingly, Clark, with his charm and good looks, landed a new job in a nearby city, moved away, and started over as if nothing had happened.

In the meantime, I was able to get a copy of the police report and posted it all over social media, tagging Clark and making sure his new employer and HR department were aware of his prior misbehavior and legal issues. I continued with my harassment revenge for several months and finally stopped after he had to leave his second job after my bombardment of his behavior and legal issues.

As a final afterthought, I made sure Clark's dad learned about the one thing he didn't want his family to discover -- to know that his son had started dating another man. I know, I'm immature... guilty as charged.

The DA never prosecuted Clark, as we expected, but the grievance and police report were good enough to enact some additional revenge on the broken nose. I learned later that he was going to have surgery to straighten his nose; it wasn't necessary, only cosmetic. That gave me a sliver of satisfaction, knowing that every time he looked in the mirror, he was reminded of my punch and why it happened.

Ellie had taken my good nature for granted in the past, but after that night, saw a side of me she had never seen and understood that she stood at the edge of a cliff of divorce and everything we worked towards. She became more attentive, and we became closer than before. Eighteen months after that night, Ellie gave birth to a seven-pound baby boy, who she wanted named Ryder Jr., after her dad.

Yeah, we came close to the end. I still thought back to that night and wondered what would have happened if I hadn't taken charge and confronted them. She says nothing would have happened, but deep down, I still have my doubts. That's the thing about cheating; the trust and doubt linger forever.

Confucius say- "To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it."

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