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My Husband’s Secret Anniversary Wish
NovelMaster
Hoàn thành
I was scrolling through a post, and the description felt like a mirror image of my life. "He works late until ten every night, smells like a strange perfume, and changed his phone password." The com...
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第1章
I was scrolling through a post, and the description felt like a mirror image of my life.
"He works late until ten every night, smells like a strange perfume, and changed his phone password."
The comment section was filled with people telling the author to run.
With trembling hands, I kept scrolling.
Until I saw the latest update from the author: "Thank you for the concern, everyone. Today is our third anniversary, and he has a surprise ready for me."
Meanwhile, my husband was currently in the kitchen, cooking our anniversary dinner.
A sudden chill crawled up my spine.
The light from my phone screen cast a ghostly glow on my face in the dimly lit living room.
My thumb swiped mindlessly until a title caught my eye: *Three Years of Marriage, and He’s Changed.*
Impulsively, I tapped on it. The very first line made my heart skip a beat.
"He works late until ten every night. When he comes home, he carries a sweet, unfamiliar perfume scent that makes my head spin. He even changed his phone password. It's no longer our anniversary."
My blood rushed to my head, then drained just as quickly, leaving behind a cold, numb sensation.
I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white.
Lately, Liam had indeed been saying his company projects were keeping him busy. And when he came home, he often carried a sweet, floral-fruity scent... a perfume I never used.
I had thought I was just being paranoid.
Holding my breath, my trembling fingers scrolled down. The comment section was lively, filled with unanimous warnings:
"Girl, run! This is a classic textbook case!"
"Don't hesitate. Start gathering evidence!"
"I feel so bad for you. Dump him!"
"Perfume smell + password change = he's cheating. Period."
Every single comment felt like a block of ice slamming onto my heart.
Yes, with such obvious signs, how could I... how could I still hold onto such ridiculous hope?
My throat tightened. Almost self-destructively, I kept pulling the screen down, desperate to reach the end of the post.
And then, I saw the author’s latest reply from just a few minutes ago:
"Thanks for the concern, everyone. But maybe I’m just being too sensitive. Today is our third wedding anniversary. He just mysteriously told me he’s cooking dinner tonight to give me a surprise."
Our third wedding anniversary.
Those words felt like a poisoned dagger stabbing straight into my eyes.
Today was also my third wedding anniversary with Liam.
Almost at the same moment, a soft clatter came from the kitchen—the sound of a spatula hitting the pan.
Then came Liam’s cheerful voice, slightly muffled through the sliding glass door: "Chloe, just a little longer! It's almost ready! I'm going to show off my chef skills tonight!"
I turned my head stiffly.
Through the glass, I could see his tall, familiar figure busy at work.
The rich aroma of steak seared in butter drifted through the air—my absolute favorite.
Yet, the palm gripping my phone was slick with cold sweat.
No... something was wrong.
I whipped my head back and stared intensely at the author's username on the screen.
It was just a random string of letters and numbers, completely unremarkable.
But in the corner of the profile picture, there was a tiny, uncropped hint of a light-blue wavy border. It struck my brain like a bolt of lightning.
I was the one who helped her set up that specific border.
She had laughed and said back then, "This color is our little secret. Only you and I know it."
This account... belonged to Vanessa.
Vanessa. My one and only best friend.
My heart felt like it was grabbed by an invisible hand and wrung dry. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.
My vision blurred, and a loud buzzing filled my ears. Every sound from the kitchen felt distant and distorted.
Liam was in the kitchen, preparing our third-anniversary dinner.
Vanessa was posting on Whisper, describing a cheating husband, and claiming "he" was preparing a surprise for their third anniversary today.
The late nights, the strange perfume, the changed password...
Every single memory flashed before my eyes, perfectly aligning with every word in Vanessa's post.
It wasn't a coincidence.
Absolutely not.
---
### Chapter 2
第2章
"Chloe?"
Liam slid open the kitchen door. "What are you daydreaming about? Are you hungry? It’ll be quick. The soup just needs to simmer a bit longer."
He looked at me, his eyes seemingly filled with nothing but love.
I watched him wipe his hands naturally and walk over. I looked at his slightly open collar—where another sweet scent might have lingered just hours ago.
And on my phone, the post Vanessa made was silently screaming, ripping apart this warm, loving illusion.
I instinctively flipped my phone face down on my lap.
Liam didn't seem to notice my reaction. He bent down close to me. "What’s wrong? You look a bit pale. Are you feeling okay?" His voice was dripping with concern.
I flinched back, dodging his touch.
The movement was too sharp. Liam froze for a second, a flash of confusion crossing his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "Really starving, huh? Hang in there. Your man is making you a feast."
He turned around, humming a tune, and went back into the warm light of the kitchen.
The glass door slid shut, separating his back from me.
I picked up my phone again.
I unlocked it and opened the post once more.
Vanessa's reply, those few words, burned into my eyes like hot iron.
*Third anniversary... surprise...*
I looked up at the kitchen.
Liam had his back to me, focusing on the soup pot. He occasionally tasted it with a spoon, his side profile looking incredibly patient and focused under the light.
What a heartwarming picture. What a perfect surprise.
A deep chill settled into my bones.
My best friend.
My husband of three years.
When did they start?
In the places I couldn’t see, how were they celebrating another anniversary surprise?
My finger hovered over the direct message button on Vanessa's profile.
But I didn't tap it.
I just locked the screen and gripped the phone tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping me from shattering right then and there.
Then, I slowly straightened my back, took a deep breath, and swallowed the bitter taste in my throat.
"Liam," I called out, my voice so calm it surprised even me. "Do you need me to set the table?"
"No, no! You're the queen today. Just sit and relax."
He waved his sauce-stained fingers, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.
"Oh, by the way, that white wine you wanted to try last time? I chilled it. Should I open it now to let it breathe?"
We had passed by that wine in the supermarket last month, and I had casually mentioned it would go well with steak.
He actually remembered.
I recalled him just giving a lazy grunt back then while looking at his phone. I had assumed he wasn't even listening.
A wave of bitterness rushed up my nose.
"Sure," I replied in the same light tone, even forcing a smile. "Whatever you think is best."
He answered happily and turned to grab the wine from the cabinet.
The glass door reflected his humming silhouette.
The clinking of silverware echoed as Liam began to set the dishes on the table.
A perfect anniversary dinner. Every detail showed immense effort.
If I hadn't seen that post ten minutes ago, I would probably have thrown myself into his arms, feeling like the luckiest woman in the world.
But now, every exquisite dish felt like a silent slap to my face.
"Here, take a seat." Liam pulled out a chair for me, his hand naturally brushing my shoulder.
I lowered my eyes, avoiding his gaze, and sat down.
He sat opposite me. He had just lit the candles, and the flickering flames made his handsome face look even more deep and romantic.
He raised his glass, looking at me intensely. "Happy third anniversary, Chloe. Thank you for these three years... I'm so glad to have you."
"This looks amazing. When did you secretly learn how to cook like this?" I asked, cutting my steak, trying to sound casual.
"Oh... just lately. I've been looking up recipes online, wanting to surprise you today."
He smiled, but his eyes seemed to drift for a fraction of a second before he looked down to sip his soup. "I'm glad you like it."
*Lately, looking up recipes.*
My heart sank.
When did Vanessa start posting? It seemed to be... *lately* too.
---
### Chapter 3
第3章
"Is work still that busy? You’ve been staying so late every night." I looked up, staring straight at him.
Liam’s hand cutting the steak hesitated for a barely noticeable second.
"Yeah. A major project is wrapping up, and it’s been a headache."
His tone was perfectly normal, even carrying a hint of playful complaining. "Once this phase is over, I'll take you on a trip. I'll make it up to you."
"Oh." I nodded, acting casual. "By the way, you always have this scent on you lately. Did the office get a new air freshener? It’s pretty unique."
His hand holding the fork went stiff. He looked up at me, a flash of panic crossing his eyes before he quickly covered it up.
"Really? Maybe... it's a colleague's perfume. The office air gets pretty mixed up." He forced a smile, looking a bit strained. "You don't like it? I'll be more careful."
A colleague's perfume. A sweet, fruity scent. Vanessa's absolute favorite style.
I didn't push further. I just ate in silence.
The dinner ended in an almost suffocating quiet.
Suddenly, Liam put down his utensils and stood up. "I almost forgot. I have another surprise."
He walked into the study.
When he came out, he was holding a beautifully wrapped velvet box. He walked over to me and got down on one knee—just like when he proposed three years ago.
He opened the box. Inside was a diamond necklace with a star and moon pendant, sparkling brilliantly under the candlelight. It was gorgeous, and very expensive.
"I saw you dog-eared this page in a magazine last time. I figured you'd like it."
He looked up at me, his eyes full of sweet anticipation. "Do you like it, Chloe?"
I looked at the necklace, then at him.
The dog-eared magazine... right, I did do that, but even I had forgotten about it.
In this moment, a massive wave of absurdity and disgust washed over me.
He remembered a dog-eared magazine, he remembered a casually mentioned wine, he remembered every superficial detail.
But he had given his true passion, and perhaps another "anniversary surprise," to Vanessa.
"It's beautiful," I said dryly, without reaching out to take it.
The excitement on Liam’s face slowly froze, turning into confusion and a hint of anxiety.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Or... do you not like the design?"
I took a deep breath and finally looked him dead in the eye.
"Liam," my voice was quiet but crystal clear. "Is this your only surprise?"
He froze.
I picked up the phone that had been sitting on my lap, unlocked it, and turned the screen toward him.
The Whisper post, specifically Vanessa's latest comment about her "third-anniversary surprise," was displayed clearly in front of his eyes.
Time seemed to stop.
The color drained from Liam's face instantly, leaving him deathly pale.
Watching him react like this, the last shred of my hope withered away.
"This necklace," I said slowly, each word dropping like ice on a stone floor. "Does Vanessa have one too? Or did you get her something even more special for your other 'surprise'?"
---
### Chapter 4
第4章
"Chloe, let me explain..." He suddenly snapped out of it, trying to stand up and grab my hand.
I dodged him.
I stood up and looked down at him.
"Explain what?" A bitter, ugly laugh escaped my lips.
"Explain how you can cook an anniversary dinner for me while spending another 'third anniversary' with my best friend? Explain the perfume, the changed password, and all those nights you 'worked late'?"
I picked up the expensive diamond necklace, put it back in its box, and pushed it across the table to him.
"Liam, both of you make me sick."
"I have nothing going on with her! I didn't betray you!"
Liam almost yelled. He stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"Vanessa... she's just... she's delusional! She made those posts up on purpose to show you! She’s trying to break us up, Chloe, you have to trust me!"
Trust him? With what?
"And the perfume?" My voice was quiet, but it cut right through his shouting.
"That sweet scent she always wears. How did it get on you? Over and over again."
Liam's lips trembled violently. His eyes darted around, avoiding my gaze.
"I... I don't know! Maybe in the elevator, or during meetings! The office is crowded, plenty of people use the same perfume!"
"Why did you change your password?" I pressed on, giving him no room to breathe.
"I... I just felt the old password wasn't secure! I wanted to change it! What's wrong with that? Don't I even have the freedom to change my own phone password?"
"Really?" I looked at him, my heart sinking to the absolute bottom. "Then what is your new password? Our anniversary, or her birthday?"
That question hit him like a sledgehammer.
His face turned from pale to ash-gray. His mouth opened, but not a single word came out.
His sudden rigidity and guilt spoke volumes.
"All those nights you 'worked late' until ten," I continued, my voice growing colder and steadier. "Where were you? Who were you with? Should I call Vanessa over to clear this up? Or should we check your car's dashcam and your credit card history?"
"Chloe!" he snapped, his voice cracking with sheer panic and anger.
"Do you have to be like this?! Do you have to investigate me? Is there no trust left between us?! I work my ass off out there every day for this home, for you! And you don't even trust me?!"
Trust. He actually dared to bring up trust at a time like this.
I watched his flushed, agitated face. He looked like a clown, trying his hardest to perform a monologue full of plot holes.
He didn't offer a single real explanation. He just denied, accused, and tried to guilt-trip me with his "sacrifices for the family."
I saw the anger drain from him like a deflating balloon, leaving only panic. The last tiny spark of warmth in my heart died in this dead silence.
"The password."
"Show me now. Or," I paused, "you pack your bags and get out tonight."
Liam stood there, frozen, as if pinned by my words.
"Chloe... do you really have to push me like this?" His voice sounded like sandpaper. "It's my privacy..."
"Privacy?" I took a step closer, staring into his dodging eyes. "You have two choices. No third option. Right now."
A few seconds of silence felt like an eternity.
Finally, agonizingly slowly, he pulled out his phone.
`[Paywall Node]` He closed his eyes and pressed his thumb hard against the screen.
The phone unlocked, and the screen lit up.