An Anniversary Surprise: My Husband’s Unexpected Change of Plans

My Always-Busy Husband Planned to Take His Lover to a Spa Hotel but Took Me Instead for Our 15th Anniversary & Regretted It
Before I discovered a note intended for someone else, my husband’s surprise anniversary surprise at an opulent spa hotel felt like a dream come true. My life was drastically altered by what I discovered next.

Have you ever found yourself in a scenario so startling that you start to doubt its veracity? After learning my husband’s greatest secret on our fifteenth wedding anniversary, I felt just that way.

While I volunteered at an animal shelter, I got to know Jack. He struck me right first as a humorous man who also had a strong affinity for animals.

Jack was more interested in animals, books, and cooking than most men, who were more interested in video games and sports. That’s precisely what drew me to him.

However, we did not immediately begin dating. It took us over a year to get to know one another.

I recall that we would spend hours conversing at this quaint burger place close to the shelter.

One day he said, “So, why did you and your ex break up?”

“It just didn’t work out,” I said, causing my fingers to twitch. “He had no desire to pursue the matter further. He had no plans to get married.

Jack chuckled and said, “That guy really missed out,” “He missed the opportunity to be with a wonderful woman like you. I would never make such error if I were him.

“Oh, really?” I made fun of it. “And what would you have done if you were him?”

“I’d marry you right away,” Jack declared as he held my hand and met my eyes.

Time seemed to have paused in that instant. His touch and the way I lost myself in his gaze are still vivid in my mind.

We discussed our future aspirations and our shared marital goals that day. Oddly enough, our expectations were exactly the same.

We both decided to live together for a few years to explore how it felt before getting married.

Living together, nevertheless, does not guarantee that you will truly understand what the other person will do in 20 years. It doesn’t promise fidelity or prevent your marriage from disintegrating after a few years.

Living together and living as a married couple are, in my opinion, entirely different, and I discovered this a little too late.

After we were married for a few years, Jack began to work more and more.

He would respond, “The workload is crazy,” when I questioned him about his tardiness. “I had to stay back.”

He would tell me, “I’m working hard for us, babe,” “I want to make sure we have a good life.”

Although he was “working hard,” he failed to observe significant events such as anniversaries and birthdays. On those days, he would leave me alone at home to go on work travels.

Over the last five years, this has increased in frequency, and I was too naïve to realize the true nature of the situation.

Jack, as usual, failed to remember this year’s anniversary. He departed for work as if it were any other day, and I wasn’t shocked. For the past five years, he had consistently forgotten our anniversary, so I had given up on expecting anything.

I pondered whether marrying him had been the correct choice as I sat on the couch after he departed.

I had a lot of questions about our marriage. Did Jack approve of me? What caused him to forget our anniversary? Did we really deserve to get married? Were we indeed the ideal pair that everyone believed us to be?

As I thought back on the five years we had spent together before to getting married, tears began to fall down my cheeks. Jack was the reason I was so joyful and energetic back then. My life was brightened by his presence, and although I always assumed things would remain the same, they changed.

I was startled out of my reverie by a knock on the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and it was about midday.

I was shocked to see Jack standing there holding a bunch of red roses.

“Happy anniversary baby!” he threw his arms around me and cried out. “Bet you thought I forgot, didn’t you?”

At that moment, I was both ecstatic and guilty. I feel bad about doubting my choice to marry him.

“I apologize… I assumed you—”

Jack cut in, “I know, I know,” “Ignore it, sweetie. I am going to give you a surprise.

“Really? “What is it?” I inquired.

“You have 30 minutes to pack your things,” he stated. “We’re going to an SPA hotel!”

I believed I was having a dream. Jack had finally organized a celebration for our anniversary after all these years. I was ecstatic.

I told him, “I’ll be right back,” and then I packed my clothing.

We reached the hotel a short while later and had our couple’s massage. When I left the spa with Jack, I felt like a totally different person since it was so soothing.

“Why don’t you relax in the room before we head for dinner?” asked the man. “I have a few arrangements to make, so I’ll join you in a while.”

I said, “Come soon, honey,” and started to head for our hotel room.

I entered, showered, and began applying my makeup for the meal. I was thrilled to see what the dinner would be like, but my joy was short-lived when I noticed a card affixed to the hotel towel. It was a note addressed to Jack and another individual. It stated:

“Thank you for picking us for five years, Jack and Eloise! Enjoy your fantastic weekend.

I then hurried to the reception area and demanded to know for whom the reservation was made.

The receptionist’s reaction was only “Eloise” to me. I was able to identify this other woman without much thought. It hurt a lot, and it was clear.

My husband, whom I believed to be the ideal partner for me, was most likely having an affair.

What’s the worst? For the past five years, he had been doing it. While I believed Jack’s tales about his work trips, he had been going to this hotel with her.

I had an idea at that moment, so I turned to Brandon, the manager, in the hopes that he would support me.

Saying, “I need your help,” Let’s keep this private. Call Eloise and inform her that Jack has extended an invitation to dinner because of a change in schedule. Are you able to do that?

I informed Brandon all about Jack’s extramarital affair. He consented to phone Eloise and extend the invitation.

Jack and I showed up for our anniversary dinner at the hotel’s upscale restaurant later that night. With everyone watching, Brandon led us to a table in the middle.

My signal came when a server came along and asked for my jacket.

“No need,” I replied. “I won’t be staying.”

“What do you mean?” Jack’s brows were knit as he asked.

I gave him a quick glance, inhaled deeply, and then said loudly enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear.

I remarked, “You see,” to the waitress. “I am merely his spouse. In reality, he’s here tonight for supper with his significant other. There she is.

It was then that I gestured to a table in the corner where a stunning woman with blond hair sat. When she heard that, her face went white, and she appeared to want to vanish.

Eloise was the one.

“What? Do you have a breakdown? Jack objected. “This is not what it appears to be. Listen to me, please.

“More lies, Jack?” I lost my temper.

Jack remarked, “We need to talk about this privately, babe,” as he looked anxiously at the people murmuring about his foolishness.

I heard remarks about how “awful” it was that he brought his lover and wife to the same hotel.

“In private? similar to how you’ve spent the previous five years seeing her in private.” I fired back. “No, Jack, I think it’s time everyone sees who you really are.”

I could see that Eloise was struggling with the napkin at that moment, not knowing how to react to the sudden publicity. All of a sudden, her romantic evening had become a public controversy.

Jack murmured softly, “Listen to me, baby.” Is there any use in making a scene here? We can discuss this.

A
When I got up from my chair, I said, “There’s nothing left to talk about Jack,” “For the past five years, you have been deceiving me by slinking away with your mistress while seeming to be employed. While telling her how much you loved her, you were ‘working hard for us,’ as you had informed me.

“What a shame. A woman at the restaurant remarked, “To do that to his wife.”

“She’s better off without him,” said another. “Good for her for calling him out.”

“I’m finished, Jack. I grinned and said, “You’ll receive the divorce papers shortly.” “Enjoy your dinner.”

I then looked at Eloise.

“You too, Eloise!” I continued before making my way to the door.

As I walked away, I heard whispers and gasps. Jack, meanwhile, merely stood there unable to speak. He was shocked to learn his secret.

With a final “please wait, babe,” Jack called after me. “This is something we can resolve. It’s not what you think, I promise!”

“Jack, fix what? The five years of deception? The lie? No, we’ve left this place.

With my head held high, I left after saying that. Around me, the visitors started to gently applaud; some even nodded. I wasn’t going to turn back now that Jack had been shown for who he really was.

Although it was difficult to live alone after all those years, I felt freed from the burden of an unfaithful husband. I was at last free of the nightmare that Jack had caused me.

If you were in my position, how would you respond?