The Anniversary Dinner

Chapter 5: The Anniversary Dinner

The picture that was sent to her kept popping up in her mind…

She had stared at it until her eyes became blurry with tears.

She finally locked her phone and placed it facedown on the bed.

Maybe there was an explanation…..

there had to be.

But the message from the unknown number kept coming to her head.

“You deserve to know what your husband has been hiding from you”.

Amelia looked toward the bathroom door,Ethan was still inside.

For three years, she had trusted him.

Maybe she had been foolish.

The bathroom door opened.

Ethan stepped out, his expression unchanged.

He stopped when he noticed her sitting on the bed.

"You should sleep."

Amelia looked at him.

"Who sent me this?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.

 “Sent what”???

She picked up her phone and handed it over to him..

He didn't take it.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

 This! Ethan!!!

Amelia shoved the picture to his face…

For the first time that night, something shifted in Ethan's expression.

His jaw tightened.

"Where did you get that?"

"Someone sent it to me."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Ethan stared at the screen for several seconds.

Then he looked away.

"Delete it."

Amelia's heart sank.

"That's all you have to say?”

"Is it true?"

He remained silent.

She stood.

"Were you with Sophia tonight?"

"I was dealing with work."

"That's not what I asked."

His eyes met hers.

"Not everything is what you think."

A bitter laugh escaped her.

"Then tell me what it is."

Ethan said nothing…..again…….That silence, that was very familiar.

Amelia felt something inside her crack.

"You know what hurts the most?"

He watched her quietly.

"I've spent three years making excuses for you."

Her voice trembled.

"When you didn't come home, I told myself you were busy. When you forgot important dates, I told myself you had too much on your mind. When people talked about Sophia, I convinced myself they were lying."

She wiped a tear from her cheek.

"But tonight, I saw the way she looked at you."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Amelia."

" No!!!!!, don't Amelia me Ethan!!!!

She shook her head.

"Just tell me the truth."

The room fell silent.

Ethan looked away.

That was answer enough.

Amelia's chest tightened.

She walked toward the window.

Outside, the city lights shimmered against the darkness.

Three years ago, she had believed patience could make him love her.

Tonight, she wasn't sure she wanted to keep waiting.

The following morning, Amelia woke up before Ethan.

For the first time in years, she didn't wait for him to wake beside her.

She dressed quietly and went downstairs.

The dining room still carried traces of the previous night's dinner.

The untouched plates.

The half-empty wine bottle.

The flowers she'd arranged so carefully the previous day,She stared at the table.

Then she began clearing everything away.

One plate,then another,she removed the roses, pain filled in her chest.,..

She blew out the last candle.

There was no reason to keep pretending.

A few minutes later, Ethan appeared at the entrance.

He watched her silently.

"You're awake early."

Amelia didn't turn, she didn't move, neither did she say anything….

He stepped closer.

"About last night…."

"Don't." she said bluntly 

She finally looked at him.

Her eyes were tired, but there was something different in them.

Something Ethan couldn't quite recognize.

"I don't want another explanation from you Ethan.., I just want the truth”

He stared at her. He was about saying something then his phone rang….

Ethan glanced at the screen.

Caller ID “ Sophia”

Amelia noticed.

He declined the call.

Seconds later, the phone rang again.

This time, Ethan walked away to answer it.

Amelia stood frozen.

She didn't follow him,she didn't argue,She simply watched him disappear into the hallway.

Then her own phone vibrated.

Another message from the same Unknown number that sent the picture the previous night.

Her fingers trembled as she opened it.

“If you really want to know what Ethan has been hiding, meet me today”.

A location appeared beneath the message.

Amelia stared at it.

Then another message popped in.

“Come alone”.

Her heart began pounding.

She looked toward the hallway where Ethan had disappeared.

For three years, she had been afraid of discovering the truth.

Now...

She was more afraid of what would happen if she didn't.

Amelia grabbed her bag.

She quietly walked toward the front door.

And just before she stepped outside, her phone buzzed one final time.

“You have no idea who your husband really is”.

Amelia stopped.

Her hand tightened around the phone.

Then she walked out.

Without telling Ethan where she was going.

Without knowing that the person waiting for her already knew far more about her marriage than she did.