The Anniversary Gift That Turned My Life Upside Down
Emma studied her reflection in the mirror. She had never looked more striking—her hair perfectly styled, her makeup flawless, every delicate piece of jewellery chosen with care. It had to be perfect. Today was her tenth wedding anniversary with James.
The celebration was in full swing. Guests swarmed around them, offering congratulations and gifts, laughter mingling with music. Emma smiled, but beneath the surface, something gnawed at her—an uneasy certainty that tonight would change everything.
When the time came to exchange presents, she took the microphone.
“Well, darling, it’s our turn now. I hope you like my gift,” she said, her eyes fixed on her husband.
The doors swung open, and a group of men carried in an enormous box draped in shimmering fabric. James rose from his chair, his face alight with curiosity—until the cloth dropped. Then, his expression froze.
Hours before the party, Emma had sat on their bed, reading a message on James’s phone. Each word pierced her like a blade. *”Miss you madly… Counting the hours until I see you again.”*
But it wasn’t the affair that stunned her. It was the woman—older by fifteen years, plump, far from society’s standard of beauty. And yet, James chose her.
At the sound of footsteps, Emma swiftly deleted the messages and placed the phone back. James strode in, whistling. He was in high spirits—a bonus from work, he said, already fantasising about whisking *”his Caroline”* off to the Maldives.
Noticing Emma’s sombre expression, he frowned.
“Something wrong? You seem off.”
“Everything’s fine,” she replied smoothly. “Just thinking about tonight. By the way, I’ll need some money for the venue.”
“Of course, no problem,” he grinned.
She didn’t understand why she felt so calm. Infidelity had once sent her into fits of rage, threats of divorce. Now, she remained silent. Something inside her had shifted.
James stepped onto the balcony to send another love note. Meanwhile, Emma counted the times she’d forgiven him. Her mother-in-law always took his side:
“Men are like cats—if they’re fed and warm, they always come home. Don’t make a fuss, dear. If you lose him, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”
Her father-in-law echoed it:
“Stop complaining! Your James is a good man. Works hard, brings home the bacon. What more do you want?”
But Emma knew better. This *”good man”* cheated at every opportunity. And her father-in-law had been doing the same for decades—just more discreetly.
She remembered growing up in a family where fidelity meant everything, where self-respect came first. James’s family saw affairs as inevitable: *”Endure it, and things will settle.”*
Friends urged her to leave while she still could. But where? With three children and no steady income? Moving back with her parents wasn’t an option—her brother’s family already crowded the house. And despite everything, part of her still loved James—for their school days together, for their first kiss, for their children.
Perhaps her mother-in-law was right. Perhaps he’d tire of this eventually.
But the message—so tender, so meant for another—cut deep. It was time to end the agony.
Emma called an event planner. The agency owner, a man named Daniel, listened quietly as she fought back tears.
“You should live for yourself and your children,” he said softly. “Why suffer for someone who doesn’t value you?”
That was the moment her plan took shape. A plan to end her marriage with a spectacle.
The anniversary party was held at a grand countryside estate. Guests overflowed—family, friends, even Caroline, James’s mistress, grinning like a cat that got the cream.
Emma watched from the sidelines, impeccable in a sleek black dress, stilettos, and diamonds.
When the gift exchange began, she took the microphone again.
“My dearest James,” she announced. “Ten years ago, I chose you. Since then, I’ve learned perfect men exist only in fairy tales. But tonight, I thank you for teaching me one invaluable lesson—what a family *shouldn’t* be.”
The cake was wheeled in—towering, extravagant. The cover was pulled away—and out stepped three women in lingerie: blonde, brunette, redhead.
James gaped. Caroline’s smile vanished.
Emma leaned in. “Enjoy, darling. You always wanted more *variety*, didn’t you?”
Amid gasps and whispers, she took the children’s hands and walked out. Daniel was waiting by the door.
The divorce was ugly. James screamed accusations, called her a traitor. But the court ruled without hesitation.
Emma rented a flat, found work. Daniel helped her rebuild. He became her anchor, then her husband—a father to her children in every way that mattered.
Now, years later, she had no regrets.
Life begins where patience ends. No one has the right to trample your self-worth.
