Coming home from work, I stepped into a scene from a romance movie. My husband, Simon, who wasn’t big on gestures, had created magic in our living room. A candlelit table, soft music, and a delicious-looking meal awaited me. It wasn’t our anniversary, so I was floored. “What’s this for?” I asked, delighted but curious. Simon smiled, but his eyes held a strange tension. “Just felt like spoiling you,” he said, his voice uneven. I let it go, excited by the surprise, and we sat down to eat. The food was perfect, and I thanked him, feeling loved.
Simon seemed nervous, though, his smiles forced. He even cleaned up afterward, washing dishes by hand—a rare move. Over wine, I joked, “What’s the catch?” His pause made my heart race. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?” I asked, worry replacing joy. After a heavy silence, he spoke. “I made a mistake,” he said, his voice low. “What kind?” I asked, bracing myself. “I’ve been with someone from work,” he confessed. My world tilted. “And she might be pregnant with twins,” he added. The romantic dinner turned sour, a mask for his guilt.
“How could you?” I cried, pain and fury mixing. “It wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said, but his words were hollow. Then he dropped the worst blow. “You need to know who,” he said, making a call. The door opened, and my sister walked in. Shock overwhelmed me, and I fainted. When I woke, she was fanning me, Simon hovering with water, but their faces only deepened my hurt. “You?” I gasped at my sister. “We didn’t mean it,” she whispered, but her guilt offered no relief. Betrayed by the two I loved most, I felt broken. “Leave!” I screamed. They slipped out, leaving me in silence.
I sobbed that night, wishing it was a dream, but reality stayed. My sister’s messages and my mother-in-law’s calls couldn’t ease the pain. Alone, I struggle to process this double betrayal. My trust is gone, my future unclear. This isn’t just a story of hurt—it’s a warning about how those closest to us can wound us deepest, leaving us to rebuild from the ashes of love and loyalty.
