was her idea, her dream of a life unburdened by family, focused on her career and our love. I loved her

hat future

de to. Not a secret lover's notes, but something colder, more clinical. A trust

harsh overhead lights, making the black ink look like a deep, unhealable wound. When s

ce to the papers. The colo

arted, her voic

y calm. "We had a DINK lifestyle. My choice. For you.

he birth c

at the papers as if they were a fore

re Liam's boys,"

nd from college. The one who

t a question. The mother'

"Ethan, it's

You lied to me for a decade. Your retired parents, who I thought were enjoying their golden years in Florida, have been

I saw in her eyes wasn't guilt

ng. "His mother was dying, and her last wish was to see the fa

kitchen. "Filial piety? For Liam? What about your duty to me? To our marriag

Sarah' s phone. It was her mother. She a

what's wrong? Ethan sounds upset. Don't be too hard on him. He j

amily was in on it. I was the fool, the last

"So the whole family thinks I'm just

e phone. "They'r

nd towards her. My hands were shaking. "This is it, Sarah. You have to make a choice. It's me, o

art of me praying she would choose me. P

dening. There was no conflict in her

, Ethan," she said softl

physical blow. A truth she had hidden

liberately, pulled the simple gold band from my left ring finger. It felt str

I whispered. "The