“What do you want me to say?” Max shouted. “I fucked up! There, I said it. But you’re no angel. I know about the affair you had when the kids were small.”

That pulled Annie up short. She hadn’t realized he’d known about her revenge affair. She shook herself. She wasn’t going to let him throw that in her face, not after everything he’d put her through.

“Yes! I had an affair to get back at you and I own it, fully and completely,” she said, jutting her chin out defiantly. “But you screwed your way through our entire marriage. How many were there, Max? How many more than the ones I know about?”

For the first time since she’d left, Annie could see the light of resignation in his eyes. Finally, he knew it was over. He was beaten. He straightened himself and held out his hand for his phone. He smiled, a smile that she knew from old, the one that used to fill her stomach with dread. The smile that warned of a quiet yet acidic attack. But there was no dread in her stomach now. Whatever power he used to have over her had dissolved, along with any last vestiges of feeling for him.

“Too many to count,” said Max.

Annie smiled back at him. In one fluid movement, she picked the mop up off the floor, dropped Max’s phone into the bucket of soapy water, and gave it a good bashing with the mop.

“What are you? You stupid . . .”

Max dropped to his knees and thrust his arm into the bucket. Annie pulled the mop out and began to drape the sodden dripping mop head over Max’s head and neck and torso. He cried out in annoyance and shock, but Annie simply dipped the mop into the dirty water again and scrubbed it over his head.

Max stumbled to a stand, his phone retrieved, his hair and clothes dripping with water. He was rubbing at his eyes and spluttering curses at Annie.

Annie leaned in close and said: “You are going to buy me out of the restaurant and give me half of everything I’m owed or I will sue your arse for everything you’ve got. Get a solicitor and get it done.” She picked up the bucket and with one almighty swing hurled the contents over Max. “Now get out of my café!”

Chapter 77