MY HUSBAND CHEATED WITH MY BEST FRIEND

Lucy Marshall* experienced the ultimate betrayal

- SUSANNA GALTON

It's nearly midnight and my husband, Leo* is not in the bed beside me. Sighing, I put my book down, heading downstairs knowing exactly where he'll be - passed out in front of the blaring television. There’s an empty bottle of red and a drained whisky tumbler.

Leo is sprawled out, barely conscious. In his palm is his mobile phone, the messages still open on the screen. My eye is drawn to one he can only have written in the last two minutes. 'Would you be prepared to leave your husband?' it reads. Then beneath is a second text bubble: 'Well, what's the point, if you're never prepared to leave Lucy?'

The reply, clear and bold with no attempt to disguise her name, is from Jilly*, a friend of 30 years. I am totally stunned. I blink. There’s no room for ambiguity: my husband of 35 years and a woman I’ve known for three decades are having an affair. A serious one. Right under my nose.

And that night, back in the dreg ends of 2018, was when my whole life was turned upside down.

A NEW LIFE ABROAD

I'd been married to Leo since I was 24, meeting at university where we'd both studied accountancy. He was witty, charming, self-assured and sporty too, as I was.

Then in my early 30s, I had my son, who's now 32, and my daughter, now 30. By then Leo had been offered a more senior position working abroad, which seemed a great chance to relocate.

For three years we lived the high life socialising with other expats. One of the English couples we met were Jilly and Henry*.

By the time we returned to the UK in 2005, Leo’s career was flying high. We were lucky enough to afford a lovely Berkshire family home, with a pool and large garden for the children (then nearly teens) and dogs to run around.

Naturally, Leo had to earn his City salary, and while he spent long days working in London (or so I thought at the time) I busied myself retraining as an interior designer.