For almost 20 years, I was married to a chronic cheater who decided his current mistress was “the one” and a divorce had to happen. It was something I already knew. I was sick of the lying, the games, manipulation, all of it. He was so anxious for this to happen, he said he’d pay all legal fees. It took more than a year and 40K in fees. From the day we split, he paraded his next wife all over town, took her to family functions (both mine and his) and never missed a chance to tell myself and others how much happier he was with her, blah, blah, blah.

Fast forward a year and he’s now married to this woman. I had heard several times he wasn’t faithful to her either and frankly, I didn’t care. Meanwhile, I’ve changed and grown into a person the he doesn’t know anymore. The new me doesn’t accept behavior he once got away with. And I don’t negotiate. Also, I’ve never looked or felt better, I’m back in school, my life is full and I’m happier than I’ve been in a years.

I started noticing that whenever we met to drop the kids off or ran into each other at school functions, more and more he was lingering and being a bit friendlier. I figured this was good. We had children and should at least be civil.

And then one day, at a celebration for one of the kids, I realized I had it all wrong. I’m in the kitchen by myself and as I’m bending over to get something out of the oven, I feel a hand on my ass and it’s his. And I was PISSED. I stood up, looked at him and calmly said, “The only married man I’ll do is the one I’m married to and you’re not it. Does your wife approve of you grabbing my ass? Let’s find out. She has a say in this, given her position.” She was standing right around the corner and heard every word.

BAM! went the front door and she was gone. This is a man who’s arrogant, entitled and extremely image conscious. And I no longer gave a damn. He was FURIOUS and I simply stood there and smiled.

He quickly made his excuses and said good bye and flew out of the house. As he’s getting into his car I said, “Thanks for being here! Have a wonderful evening!” And I just kept smiling.

Yeah, there was fallout. But it was his, not mine. What a sleaze….