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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Julian and I had been married for two years. I was on maternity leave with our newborn daughter, Maya.<\/p>\n
Julian never helped me, spending nearly all his time at work. His \u201clate meetings\u201d had become almost nightly.<\/p>\n
One afternoon, I called to ask if he would be home for dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably not,\u201d he snapped. \u201cCan you stop checking up on me? I\u2019m working.\u201d<\/p>\n
I swallowed the hurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
I laid my phone beside Maya\u2019s bottle, then noticed the call timer was still running.<\/p>\n
I was about to end the call when I heard a strange sound \u2014 a woman\u2019s laugh.<\/p>\n
Then my husband spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s driving me insane. Texting pictures of the baby, asking when I\u2019ll be home\u2026 I just want her to leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
My fingers went numb.<\/p>\n
The woman murmured something.<\/p>\n
Julian laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I hate her. I barely touch her anymore. Just wait. I\u2019ll divorce her, and then I\u2019ll marry you.\u201d<\/p>\n
A kiss sounded through the speaker.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n
With my free hand, I quietly ended the call.<\/p>\n
That evening, Julian arrived with grocery-store flowers and kissed my forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cMissed my girls,\u201d he said, smiling as if he hadn\u2019t torn my life apart hours earlier.<\/p>\n
I smiled back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe missed you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
For six days, I said nothing. I watched Julian take his phone into the shower, change his passcode, and spray cologne before every \u201clate shift.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, I prepared our anniversary gift.<\/p>\n
I had planned to celebrate our anniversary with just the three of us, but at the last minute, I changed my plans.<\/p>\n
So on Sunday, I hosted dinner and invited both families. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie \u2014 a normal, cozy American meal.<\/p>\n
When the plates were cleared, I stood with my water glass.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to give a toast,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Julian stiffened.<\/p>\n
I looked right at him and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dear husband, Julian\u2026\u201d I cleared my throat.<\/p>\n
The dining room went dead silent.<\/p>\n
Twelve pairs of eyes turned toward me. Julian sat at the head of the table, his posture rigid, his fork hovering mid-air over his pumpkin pie. Beside him, his mother, Evelyn, smiled warmly, while my own parents leaned forward, expecting a sweet, sentimental declaration of love for our second anniversary.<\/p>\n