Diane would be making big eyes at my man, playing the sympathy card. ‘Don’t leave me, Michael, we’re married. Give us another chance. Please.’

What if she succeeded?

I worked myself into a jealous fury, imagining my territory being invaded by this woman. Diane and Michael had known each other since childhood. She was beautiful and so skinny. Michael liked skinny. And they were still married. What if Michael was too weak to say no? What if they ended up getting back together?

Something snapped and I just lost it.

I stormed down the staircase, tripped and climbed over building materials, and marched through a hallway into a partially built kitchen extension.

Michael and Diane were in the kitchen, sitting on plastic chairs and eating a steak dinner from china plates in the midst of building chaos. There was a rose sticking out of a coffee cup and a bottle of champagne on a workman’s bench. Tealight candles glittered on top of an oven still in its wrapping.

Diane looked stunning, her pale skin gleaming, eyes glittering. Her blouse was a little bit open and I could see the top of a white lace bra.

‘What’s going on, Michael?’ I demanded.

Diane shrieked and leapt out of her seat, plate smashing on the concrete floor.

Michael stayed calm, putting his plate on the floor and standing. ‘How did you get in?’

‘You brought me in. Tell her the truth, Michael.’

‘You shouldn’t be here, love,’ said Michael. ‘This is my home. You need to leave.’ He took my arm, fingers digging, and pulled me out of the kitchen.

‘What are you doing?’ I said, trying and failing to pull my arm free. ‘You’re having dinner with her while I’m upstairs? She wants you back, don’t you realize that? Tell her the truth, Michael. It’s time she knew about us.’

Diane took deep breaths. ‘Who the hell is this, Michael? What is she doing in our house?’

‘It’s okay, Diane,’ said Michael. ‘She’s just a girl from the shows. A fan. Let me get her out of here.’

‘Get me out of here?’ I struggled against his grip. ‘It’s her who shouldn’t be here. She needs to get over you and move on. She’s had her time. It’s my time now.’

Diane’s eyes widened just the right amount to show she thought I was crazy. Then Michael manhandled me through the house and out the front door. I struggled, but Michael always had superhuman strength when he was angry, and I ended up stumbling behind him.

‘What do you think you’re playing at?’ Michael raged, pulling me away from the house and under dark, cold, hostile trees. ‘I told you to stay in your room. Now you’ve started all kinds of trouble. I feel like strangling you, I swear to God.’