Olivia Reeves, a conservation biologist with a specialty in wetland ecosystems, believed her marriage was picture perfect. She and her husband, James, have been together for many years. He was caring, loving, and trustworthy, or at least she thought so.

When she was given a bigger office at the university where she taught — a corner office with windows overlooking the campus pond where her students conducted field studies — it felt like moving into a palace.

While going through her things, trying to put everything in place, she stumbled upon an old recording — a rather outdated model built to withstand mud, rain, and the occasional drop into shallow water.

She hadn’t used that in a long period of time and was curios to check what it contained, believing she would hear her own voice discussing her research.

To her surprise, she heard her husband’s voice.

“How could this be?” she wondered. “I don’t recall James ever borrowing this from me,” she though to herself.

However, besides James’ voice, there was one of a woman. The two discussed their plans of their life together.

At one point, James could be heard saying, “We’ll use the old cabin. Olivia never goes there. What’s more, she almost forgot it ever existed.”

He was talking of the old cabin by the lake Olivia inherited from her grandfather. It was true she never visited it, but it was a place holding all her childhood memories and it meant the world to her, and now her husband was trying to turn it into a love nest with another woman.

Olivia couldn’t believe what she had heard.

The following morning, Olivia called the university and requested a week of personal leave, citing a family emergency. In some way, it really was a family emergency.

She visited the lake cabin, and to her surprise, it looked nothing like she remembered it. The entire place was renovated. There were new closets and they were filled with clothes belonging to a woman who was obviously tall and slim.

The fridge was packed with food and all sorts of wine.

James turned his wife’s cabin into a home for himself and his lover.

Olivia could confront James, but she chose not to. At least not until she gathered more evidence of his betrayal.

The following day, she installed cameras in the bedroom and on the porch. Tiny cameras that were unable to be spotted easily.

In the days to come, James and his coworker, Vanessa, visited the lake cabin.

They had wine on the porch, hugged each other, and shared their love for one another. Olivia’s heart shattered into a million pieces. She couldn’t believe James, whom she loved and trusted unconditionally, was capable of such a thing.

After going through his emails, Olivia discovered a joint investment account she didn’t recognize. He opened five years prior with an initial deposit of $50,000 from their savings. Regular transfers had increased its value to just over $200,000. However, since James only provided his email and contact, Olivia never received any notifications.

This showed Olivia that James and Vanessa had been together for at least five years. He was leading a double life and she never suspected a thing.

Finally, she was able to confront him.

“James, why don’t we visit my grandfather’s cabin this weekend?” she said during dinner time.

James’ face turned pale.

“This weekend? Well, you know I’m busy at the university. Having lectures and stuff. Maybe some other time?” he said, as his hands shook.

Olivia couldn’t stay silent any longer.

“Or maybe you don’t want me to see how you renovated it?” she said.

James was shocked. “But… how do you know that?” he asked.

“I know everything James, and I have solid proof of your affair. By the way, the divorce papers are on the night stand.”

James started saying that he was sorry. He even cried. But it was obvious he was only sorry because he was about to lose the cabin, which was on Olivia’s name. Their house was too.

“You have a day to pack your things, James,” Olivia said.

She never looked back.

As of the lake cabin. She renovated it again, and got rid of everything that reminded her of the man who betrayed her in the worst way possible.