**Diary Entry**
Olivia and James were having supper when the front door burst open, and his motherMargaretstormed in.
“Son! You need to hear the truth about your wife!” she blurted out from the doorway.
“Mum, sit down, calm yourself. Youre all flushedyour blood pressure must be through the roof,” James fretted.
“Can you blame me?” Margaret huffed, spinning sharply toward Olivia. “I bumped into Emilyyour colleaguetoday, and she told me everything!”
“What exactly?” Olivia asked evenly, meeting her gaze.
“That you got a promotion a year agonow you earn twice as much as James! And he had no idea! You kept it from him!” Margaret was nearly breathless with indignation.
“Whats the issue? We dont ask you for moneywe manage fine. What do you want?”
“Last spring, when I asked for help fixing the cottage, you claimed you were skint. Now we find out theres money! Wheres it going? Saving up to leave him, are you?” Margaret snapped.
Olivia stood and looked at James.
“James, fetch the green folder from the bedside drawer, please.”
Silently, he obeyed.
“Whats this?” he asked, flipping it open. “Savings?”
“Yes. For Sophie and Henry. Every month, I set aside part of my salaryfor their future. When I realised your family saw me as an outsider, I had to think of the children first.”
“What outsider?” James interrupted.
“Did you forget how we handled the flatthe one bought with the money from selling your old place in Kensington? Only in your name. Just in case. You never said a word. I was pregnant, and you stayed silent. You think I didnt notice?”
James exhaled heavily. Margaret tried to cut in:
“It was insurance!”
“Against what? The mother of your children?” Olivias voice trembled. “Then you wonder why Im distant?”
“Wheres the money, Olivia?” Margaret pressed. “If not for the family, youre stashing it to leave!”
“James, please see your mother out. Weve nothing left to say,” Olivia murmured.
“Fine, Ill go! But mark my wordsyoure the one tearing this family apart!” Margaret shot back, though she added at the door, “Then again you two were never really suited.”
When the door shut, James was quiet for a long moment.
“Did you really think I was planning an exit strategy?” he finally asked.
“I didnt know. You never spoke. Silence is an answer too.”
“I dont want a divorce. I love you. And the kids.”
“Then prove it. Show me Im not just temporary.”
“Alright. Ill transfer the flat into Sophies name. And Ill start putting money aside for themlittle by little, but regularly. Trust takes two.”
Olivia gave a small nod.
“And we dont say divorce again,” James added.
“Agreed.”
For the first time in ages, they spoke not as strangers, but as partners.
A family isnt held together by moneybut by honesty. Silence breaks; truth binds.
