Chapter 1: The Call That Changed Everything
My husband forgot to hang up, believing the call had ended — the moment I heard what he truly thought of me, I planned a little surprise he would never forget.
Elon and I had been married for two years.
I was on maternity leave with our newborn daughter, Sophie.
Elon never helped me, spending nearly all his time at work.
His "late meetings" had become almost nightly.
One afternoon, I called to ask if he would be home for dinner.
"Probably not," he snapped.
"Can you stop checking up on me?
I'm working."
I swallowed the hurt.
"Okay.
Love you."
He didn't answer.
I laid my phone beside Sophie's bottle, then noticed the call timer was still running.
I was about to end the call when I heard a strange sound — a woman's laugh.
Then my husband spoke.
"She's driving me insane.
Texting pictures of the baby, asking when I'll be home…
I just want her to leave me alone."
My fingers went numb.
The woman murmured something.
Elon laughed.
"Of course I hate her.
I barely touch her anymore.
Just wait.
I'll divorce her, and then I'll marry you."
A kiss sounded through the speaker.
I couldn't move.
With my free hand, I quietly ended the call.
That evening, Elon arrived with grocery-store flowers and kissed my forehead.
"Missed my girls," he said, smiling as if he hadn't torn my world apart hours earlier.
I smiled back.
"We missed you, too."
For six days, I said nothing.
I watched Elon take his phone into the shower, change his passcode, and spray cologne before every "late shift."
Meanwhile, I prepared our anniversary gift.
I had planned to celebrate our anniversary with just the three of us, but at the last minute, I changed my plans.
So on Sunday, I hosted dinner and invited both families.
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie — a warm, cozy American meal.
When the plates were cleared, I stood with my water glass.
"I want to give a toast," I said.
Elon stiffened.
May you like
I looked right at him and smiled.
"My dear husband, Elon…" I cleared my throat.
