This young man caught Emily’s eye the moment she checked into the hotel. He stood beside her at the reception desk, flashing a warm smile that showcased his dazzling white teeth.
Oh, he was a true heartthrob—tall, muscular, with jet-black hair—the dream of every woman. And those eyes! Playful, mischievous, and so deep you could drown in them forever, lost in a whirlpool of passion. Now, lounging comfortably on a beach chair, Emily spotted him again.
The man was frolicking in the warm, gentle waves of the sea. As he emerged from the water, Emily could fully appreciate his stunning physique. A shiver ran through her body; she had never seen such a perfectly sculpted young man, let alone spent time with one.
Yes, Emily had come on this vacation to unwind, and that included seeking a bit of adventure. It didn’t bother her in the least that she had been married for ten years or that her husband, Michael, was slaving away back home to afford her a new fur coat, boots, a ring, and whatever else she fancied. When he bought her this trip to Zanzibar, she already knew she was going there for pleasure. After all, her friends did the same, and there was nothing shameful about it. Didn’t a woman deserve to let loose sometimes?
That’s exactly why Emily chose this enchanting island. She had heard from a friend who had been here before that the beaches were teeming with local heartthrobs catering to every taste, eagerly awaiting lonely women to fulfill their every desire.
But meeting this Adonis turned her world upside down. He instantly outshone every other man she’d ever seen. She desperately wanted to get to know him and start a thrilling connection, but she was sensible enough not to throw herself at him recklessly. Still, she held onto hope that the handsome stranger would notice her and make the first move. After all, she was no ordinary woman. She had spent years at a modeling school, and her photos had graced the covers of several glossy magazines.
Thanks to her husband, she didn’t have to work much anymore. She only popped into a small beauty salon for a couple of hours a day, working as a manicurist more for pleasure than for income. James, lounging a few dozen meters away from Emily, sipped a cool drink while boldly eyeing her. He admired her sculpted figure. He also noticed the hungry glances she occasionally stole in his direction. An experienced charmer like him instantly knew she was up for some fun.
“Well, I’ll give you that chance,” James smirked to himself, heading toward her beach chair.
Approaching her with his most charming smile, he said:
— Good morning! What a coincidence—didn’t we see each other yesterday?
Emily was over the moon—he had finally noticed her. She beamed like a polished penny. Now she wouldn’t let this hunk slip away; she was determined to spend seven glorious days with him.
— Yes, you’re right, I remember you. Are you really vacationing in such a wonderful place all alone? — she replied graciously.
The man laughed heartily and, sitting on the edge of her chair, casually brushed against her leg. A jolt like an electric shock shot through her. For a moment, she was flustered, blushing like a schoolgirl, but she didn’t let it show.
— You know, I always vacation alone. No wife or kids to tie me down, and I earn enough to treat myself to some fun in good company, — he said, giving her a meaningful look. — By the way, I’m James.
— Emily. I’m not as free as you are. I have a husband, but to be honest, I don’t love him at all, and I don’t think he loves me either. We even sleep in separate rooms. And kids? I can’t stand them—those little leeches who drain your energy and money, — she confessed unexpectedly.
“Perfect, darling, you’ve taken the bait. Now I just need to reel you in,” James thought maliciously.
They spent the entire day together. It turned out they were even from the same city. Emily spilled every detail about herself to her new friend, from her workplace to her phone number. They hit it off so well that by evening, they were walking arm in arm, and as night fell, their lips met in a passionate kiss under the sound of the waves and the gentle breeze.
Those were unforgettable vacation days—Emily hadn’t been this happy in ages. James gave her the affection and love her husband never did.
“Let that fool live at his job, but how could he ever compare to a lover like James? And he seems rich too!”
This was Emily’s dream: to find a wealthy, passionate man who made her burn with desire, while Michael remained a formality for her marriage—and occasionally for her heart. After all, where else would she find a devoted husband who listened to her and fulfilled her every whim?
But alas, the sweet honeymoon phase always ends too soon…
The vacation flew by in a flash, and the time for goodbyes arrived. James lived just 20 kilometers from her, but a future together was out of the question. It was a fling, and now it was time to part ways. Before her flight home, they sat in the airport, wrapped in each other’s arms. Emily’s heart was breaking; she didn’t want to let go of those warm hands that had brought her so much pleasure and hope. But Michael would be waiting for her at home, so this would be their final moment together. Emily rested sadly on her lover’s strong chest, saying goodbye forever, while James smiled mysteriously, a wicked glint in his eyes.
He knew the real drama was yet to come…
The magical vacation was over. It was time to return to reality.
A week later, Michael was preparing dinner for his beloved wife in the kitchen. He was thrilled that Emily had enjoyed her trip and returned so happy and content. Meanwhile, Emily was in the bedroom, watching TV and touching up her nails.
Suddenly, her phone rang on the coffee table. When she saw the caller’s number, she froze—it was James. Grabbing the phone, she answered in a hushed voice:
— Hello, darling! Are you insane? Why are you calling me? My husband’s nearby—what if he hears?
— Hey, kitten, I’ve missed you so much! Can we meet up? — came the voice on the other end.
— James, I don’t think that’s a good idea. What we had was just a fling—we talked about this, — she said uncertainly.
But he kept pressing to meet, and after a brief talk, they reached no agreement. Hanging up quickly as she heard her husband’s footsteps, Emily tried to compose herself.
— Sweetheart, were you talking to someone? — Michael asked.
— Oh, just a friend, honey, — she lied. — By the way, could you give me a bit more money? I’ve already spent what you gave me yesterday.
— Sure, but tomorrow—I’ll get my paycheck and give it to you. You know, my love, I can never say no to you!
As Emily drifted off in her cozy, warm bed that night, she thought about James and his call. So, he hadn’t forgotten her. She felt a surge of pride that such a man still remembered her. Days passed, and James began calling multiple times a day. Emily nearly exposed herself to her husband. She begged her lover to stop calling, promising to reach out when she could, but he ignored her pleas. The situation was becoming dangerous—she risked ruining her life and shaming herself before her parents. The thought of them learning what their sweet, modest daughter had done on vacation terrified her even more than Michael finding out.
One day, while Emily was finishing up with her last client at the salon, she was told someone was waiting for her. Stepping into the lobby, she froze—there stood James, as nonchalant as ever.
— Hey, cutie, did you miss me? I keep calling, but are you already over me? — he said loudly.
— Oh my God, quiet down! Why are you shouting? — she whispered, glancing around nervously.
She realized her affair with James had gone too far. It was time to end it. Emily decided she valued her calm, stable life with her husband and no longer wanted these foolish flings. She resolved to have a serious talk with James. Soon, they were sitting on a bench in a secluded park corner, talking.
— Listen, — Emily said angrily, almost nervously, — what happened between us needs to stay in the past. I don’t want to see you anymore. It was a mistake. I love my husband!
James burst out laughing in her face:
— Oh, now you’re singing a different tune! What were you thinking when you dragged me into bed? Why didn’t you love your precious husband then? And what if he finds out about our little escapades?
Emily was stunned by his words. She sat there, crushed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
— You wouldn’t tell him, would you? — she pleaded.
— I’ll think about it. For now, goodbye! — he said, walking away.
James was practically choking with laughter, relishing leaving Emily in uncertainty, tormented by fear for her future. And he was determined to destroy her, just as his own wife had betrayed him years ago. He had loved her madly, but she cheated on him with his best friend while he slaved away at work. He caught them in their marital bed when he came home early one day. From that moment, he vowed to take revenge on all married women who strayed, breaking their hearts and ruining their lives, just as they betrayed their husbands.
Emily was now terrified of her own shadow, jumping at every noise. She saw James everywhere. He kept calling, even after she blocked his number, using new ones instead. She started intercepting the mail before Michael could see it, as James began sending her love letters. She trembled at every sound, petrified of losing her husband and deeply regretting her actions.
Soon, her former lover decided to finish what he started and free Michael from his deceitful wife. Tired of toying with Emily, James resolved to confront her husband.
“She’s had enough. It’s time to end this.”
The men met when Michael returned home with a bag of groceries and flowers for his beloved wife. James was waiting for him in the building’s entrance.
He told Michael the whole truth about what his dear wife had been up to while he worked to provide for her. He even showed a couple of photos as proof. He explained why he was doing this. Surprisingly, Michael didn’t lash out at his wife’s lover. He recalled the saying, “If she doesn’t want it, no man will get it.” All he felt was profound disappointment in Emily. His heart was torn apart by unbearable pain.
— Sorry, Mike. I just wanted to open your eyes to who your wife really is. Once a cheater, always a cheater. It would’ve hurt even more if you caught her in the act, like I did. You won’t hear from me again. It’s up to you what to do next, — James said before walking away.
When Emily came home from work, Michael had a serious talk with her. She confessed to the affair, begging for forgiveness on her knees, swearing it would never happen again. But how could he forgive such a betrayal when he had worked himself to the bone to give his beloved wife everything, only for her to stab him in the back?
— It took so much effort to earn the money for your vacation, and you betrayed all the love I had for you. I loved you so much, and you crushed me, — were Michael’s final words to the deceitful woman before kicking her out.
Emily had to turn to her parents, who took her in but never forgave her. She never remarried or fell in love again—a punishment from above for the pain she caused her loved one, driven by lust. She spent countless nights sobbing into her pillow, realizing what she had lost, but it was too late. The past was gone forever.
Michael, however, found true love. A schoolteacher, visiting her students, mistakenly rang his doorbell one day. They struck up a conversation and realized they were drawn to each other. Their happy marriage soon followed, and his wife gave him the greatest joy—a daughter. Michael was overjoyed, as Emily had never wanted children. James, too, found love with a lonely widow who melted his heart. Only Emily paid dearly for her sins, and rightly so—the greedy, lustful woman got what she deserved.
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