‘I’ve met someone else,’ he announced coldly. ‘And we want to be together. I knew that wasn’t possible in a small place like this where everyone knows everyone else’s business. I didn’t want people gossiping about me – about us finishing—’

Very noble, Bella thought gritting her teeth in an attempt to stem the tears falling down her face.

‘So I’m moving out. To Witchbury.’

‘With her?’ Bella asked. Whoever her was. ‘Are you moving in with her?’ He didn’t say anything but nodded. ‘Who is she?’

‘Her name’s Pepper.’

‘Pepper? What kind of a name is that?’ Evan didn’t answer. ‘I mean, Pepper? Really? Who names their child after a vegetable? Or maybe technically it’s a fruit, but still.’ It was a stupid name. Evan scowled at her reply but unable to stop herself she carried on talking. ‘Only a couple of weeks ago you were taking the mickey out of Pepper Potts when we watched The Avengers. You said she had a stupid name and we laughed about calling our kids Swede or Parsnip. Was that all just a sham to keep me off the scent?’ Finally, the hardness fell away from his eyes and he looked embarrassed. She shook her head as it swirled with anger and hurt. ‘I can’t believe it. Had you planned to leave me then?’

‘Bella, its complicated.’

She couldn’t believe they were having this discussion. The coldness of the house bit into her bones and her teeth chattered. Was she in shock? Probably. She’d never seen this coming. Never had any idea he was seeing someone else, let alone that he’d planned to leave her.

Bella knew other couples broke up. It happened all the time. It had happened to her before she and Evan had got together; it had happened to her friends. It even happened to families like Nick Cowley and sweet little Freddie next door. But most of the time there were signs. People saw it coming and said things like: ‘That’s been on the cards for ages’. You’d only had to see Nick and his wife Paige together to know the relationship was strained. Even in public when they were trying to put on a good show, everyone could see it. Like at parents’ evenings and the summer fair. Cracks were visible in the stilted touches and fake smiles they’d presented to the world, but things hadn’t been like that between her and Evan. They’d been happy, loved-up, two peas in a pod. Their life together had been good. Perfect.

Well not good enough, clearly, she thought bitterly. Had he really been working late these past months? Had there even been a new project? She didn’t always enquire about the details of his workload because she never understood his incessant use of IT terminology. Perhaps she should have done. Maybe then she’d have seen a sign.