Ihad everything planned for our first anniversary. The perfect surprise, a romantic dinner at the restaurant where we first met. But as I was busy getting everything ready, my husband’s phone lit up with a “baby” message. What was he hiding from me?
I’ve often thought about how lucky I am to be married. It’s only been a year, but we’ve been together for five, and I’ve always worried that marriage would change us. But instead, it’s brought us closer together.
We cared more about each other, we loved each other more, and it was perfect. For the first time, I had a real family. My father had left when I was young, and my mother was more focused on her life than mine.
My sister and I grew apart after she got married, and we haven’t spoken since. I never knew what it was like to truly belong to a family, but with Adam, I finally did.
At the time, our first wedding anniversary was approaching and I had planned a surprise.
A romantic dinner at the same restaurant where we had our first date six years ago. I wanted it to be special, to celebrate how far we’ve come together.
However, as the days went by, my husband’s behavior began to change. Adam became distant, began leaving the room to take calls, and his phone was always nearby.
At first, I tried to ignore it, but the secret felt like an ever-increasing weight. Our relationship had always been open. Why was he acting like this?
One evening, after another strange phone call, I couldn’t take it anymore.
When Adam came back, I asked, “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you cheating on me?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
“Why do you think that?”
I listed everything—the phone, the secrecy, the distance. “Something has changed.”
“Well, I have a feeling you’re hiding something too.”
I was amazed. “I’m preparing a surprise!”
“Yeah, well, you’re not the only one who knows how to surprise people,” he muttered, visibly annoyed, and walked out of the room.
I stood there, stunned. Was he angry because I’d caught him in something? Was I overreacting?
A little later, he came back and apologized.
“Let’s forget all that,” he said.
I nodded, trying to smile, but inside, anxiety was rising. Something was wrong, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was about to discover something I wasn’t ready to hear.
The day before our anniversary, I was carefully wrapping Adam’s present when I heard the front door open. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly hid the half-wrapped gift under the couch.
Adam was at home.
I heard him come into the room.
“Hey, baby,” he called, dropping his bag on the bed. “How was your day?”
” GOOD. “
Adam placed his phone on the nightstand, there for everyone to see. He’d never done that. His phone always stayed with him, as if it were glued to his hand.
He grabbed his towel and went into the bathroom without another word. I stood there, my hands shaking. Something didn’t seem right. I told myself not to look, that I had to trust him.
But at that moment, the name “Baby” appeared on the screen.
Iread the message:
You’ll be here tomorrow, won’t you? You promised.
“No, no, no…” I muttered under my breath.
Is this really possible? Was Adam cheating on me? Was everything I trusted just an illusion?
Iquickly put the phone back on the nightstand, trying to steady my breathing. I didn’t know what to do.
I took the gift and quickly finished wrapping it, pushing thoughts of ‘Baby’ out of my mind, at least for the moment.
When Adam came out of the bathroom, he didn’t seem to notice my agitation. He kissed me on the cheek, but I barely responded.
“I’m feeling a little tired tonight,” I mumbled. “I think I’ll stop early.”
Adam raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay? You look a little out of it.”
“I’m just… I don’t know. Maybe I just need some space to think.”
“Okay. I’ll be here if you need me.”
***
The next morning was our first wedding anniversary. Adam left early without saying a word. I decided to follow him to see what he was really up to.
So I immediately grabbed my keys and followed him out of the house. He didn’t head to the office like usual.
Instead, he took a different route and stopped in front of a house I didn’t recognize. He got out of the car, looking around quickly as if to make sure no one was watching him.
Iparked a few streets away, my eyes never leaving his. He opened the trunk of his car and took out two bags of groceries.
That’s when it happened. The door opened, and someone I didn’t expect to see came out. A woman I recognized all too well. She smiled at him, and Adam smiled back.
They hugged. It wasn’t a quick embrace. It was long, warm, the kind of hug that made them feel like they’d missed each other.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I sank back into my seat. I couldn’t breathe. My husband, the man I thought I knew, was standing there with her.
I sat in the car for what seemed like hours, trying to take it all in.
Why? Why her? And why on our anniversary?
I thought, ” At least now I know. ” It was painful, more painful than anything I could have imagined, but I was relieved to know the truth.
Iwiped away my tears, took a deep breath, and turned back. I had learned the truth, and now I had a decision to make.
That evening, I was already dressed, ready for our anniversary dinner. I wanted everything to be perfect, so I put on my favorite dress, curled my hair, and carefully applied my makeup, hoping to look my most beautiful.
I wanted to feel beautiful, to be confident, but all I could think about was the cold knot in my stomach.
Adam walked in just as I was finishing my makeup. He smiled when he saw me, his eyes lit up.
“Wow, you look great.”
” THANKS. “
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” I said.
We called a taxi, and as we drove to the restaurant, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was wrong.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Adam started laughing. “I knew it! I knew you’d bring me here. In fact, I made a reservation here too… although mine is an hour later than yours.”
Really? I guess we’re both full of surprises.”
We sat down at our table, and Adam leaned over to whisper something to the waiter. A few moments later, the waiter returned with a large bouquet of flowers.
“Happy birthday,” Adam said, beaming, as he handed me the flowers.
I smiled weakly, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to overflow.
” THANKS. “
When I handed my gift to Adam, he opened it with a smile.
“Wow, that’s perfect. Thanks, Nat.”
But before I could say anything, the waiter returned with a cake, which he placed in front of Adam. I looked at the cake and saw the words written in the frosting: “Unfaithful . “
“What is it?” Adam asked.
I couldn’t hold back any longer. “I know what’s going on. I know you’re cheating on me.”
“What? No, that’s not true,” he said quickly. “That’s crazy, Nat.”
“I saw the message. The one from ‘Baby’. I followed you yesterday. I saw you with her. I saw everything.”
“It’s not what you think. You’re jumping to conclusions.”
But I couldn’t let him explain. I couldn’t listen to any more lies.
“Of all the women you could have cheated on me with… You chose MY SISTER!”
The whole restaurant fell silent. All eyes were on us.
Adam sighed. “Come on, let’s go.”
” Or ? “
“To show you the truth.”
He called a taxi, and within minutes we were on our way to the house where I had seen him earlier.
When we arrived, I felt my heart race again. We got out of the car, and before I could ask anything, the door opened. It was Lily, my sister. She looked shocked to see us standing there.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Adam looked at me before turning to her. “I tried to keep it a secret, but I’m not going to lie anymore, not when it affects my marriage.”
Itook a step forward. “What’s going on, Lily? You lived in another state for years, and now you’re here, sleeping with my husband.”
Lily hesitated. “That’s not true. I… I moved here. I didn’t think I had a choice. Nat, you don’t understand…”
“Yes, you’re right, I really don’t understand what’s going on here.”
“I thought you would never forgive me.”
“Forgive you for what? For sleeping with my husband?”
“No! I would never have hurt you.”
Adam intervened. “Her husband… he was abusive. She needed to get away.”
“Violent?” I repeated. “I warned you, Lily. I told you he wasn’t good for you. I begged you to leave him. But instead, you decided to leave me.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you,” she yelled. “Because I knew how you’d react! I didn’t want you to be ashamed of me!”
I stood there in silence, trying to take it all in. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a little boy walking towards us. He was about four years old.
I turned to Adam, confused. “Who is it?”
“That’s the ‘baby’ you saw in the message,” Adam said. “That’s Lily’s son.”
“Do you have a child?” I asked, looking at my sister.
Lily nodded. “Yes. I didn’t know how to explain everything. But… I didn’t know where to go.”
“You should have told me, Lily. We’re sisters. Why didn’t you trust me?”
“I was afraid you would judge me.”
“I’ll help you, Lily,” I said, looking at both of them, Adam and her. “But you both have to promise me there will be no more secrets. Don’t keep anything from me anymore. We’re family, and I can’t take any more lies.”
“I promise. No more secrets.”
Adam squeezed my hand. “We’re in this together now. All of us.”
“Let’s go,” Adam said softly, his hand still holding mine. “We still have our anniversary to celebrate, don’t we?”
I didn’t answer right away. I looked at Adam, and in his eyes, I saw something I hadn’t seen in a long time: sincerity.
Maybe everything hadn’t been perfect, but I was willing to believe it wasn’t too late. At least, I hoped so.
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