{"id":6162,"date":"2024-11-28T01:22:28","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T01:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/?p=6162"},"modified":"2024-11-28T01:22:28","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T01:22:28","slug":"my-wife-excluded-me-from-her-birthday-party-i-was-shocked-to-find-out-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/my-wife-excluded-me-from-her-birthday-party-i-was-shocked-to-find-out-why\/","title":{"rendered":"My Wife Excluded Me from Her Birthday Party \u2013 I Was Shocked to Find Out Why"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A sad man | Source: Shutterstock\n\n\n\n</p><p>I thought my wife, Jenna, and I shared everything, including our deepest secrets. But when she excluded me from her birthday party, I realized I\u2019d been left out of more than just one celebration. What hurt the most was discovering why.<br>\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>It wasn\u2019t just the party that stung. It was what it revealed about my wife and our marriage.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I\u2019d spent a year saving for her dream gift, only to find out that I wasn\u2019t enough for her. Looking back, the signs had always been there. I guess I just never wanted to see them.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/4a02040b5b8a99fef731663c5b650a9cccd7d42f4e36f93e297e1538dbfd753d.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man looking straight ahead source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Jenna and I were introduced by our families eight years ago. They thought we\u2019d be a great match, and they were right. At least in the beginning.\n\n\n\n</p><p>She was warm, outgoing, and had this infectious energy that made everyone gravitate toward her. I was quieter and more practical, but I found her enthusiasm refreshing. We went on a few dates, and soon enough, I was hooked.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>Of course, she wasn\u2019t perfect. No one is.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I noticed early on that she had a bit of a materialistic streak.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/1e81d3f1aa72f57f7675b32c4c737260d3fd3c242b296fc4240e1ba9a45b3319.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman sitting in her house source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman sitting in her house | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>She loved fancy dinners, designer handbags, and the kind of vacations that made Instagram feeds look like travel brochures.\n\n\n\n</p><p>At the time, I chalked it up to her appreciating the finer things in life. Besides, I wasn\u2019t exactly living extravagantly, but I wasn\u2019t struggling either.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I thought we could balance each other out.\n\n\n\n</p><p>We got married five years ago, and for a while, everything seemed great. I loved how Jenna lit up a room and could talk to anyone and make them feel like the most important person in the world.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/ad09328e427e93217e0949a58cd8c4c032ff4a5e645381712affbaaa2d4a7424.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' close-up shot of a woman source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A close-up shot of a woman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>I worked a steady job as a financial consultant, and while I wasn\u2019t raking in millions, I took pride in providing a stable life for us.\n\n\n\n</p><p>But there were moments, small, nagging moments, that hinted things weren\u2019t as perfect as they seemed.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I remember one time I gave her a custom photo album for our anniversary, filled with pictures of our favorite memories. She smiled and thanked me, but later, I overheard her on the phone with a friend, saying, \u201cYeah, it\u2019s sweet, but I was kind of hoping for a spa weekend or something.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/a8fe6d8a71c95f79a96042493a664fbae9914dfda74ab1276f73296b850be341.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman using her phone source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>It hurt, but I convinced myself it didn\u2019t mean anything. Jenna had always been expressive, and I figured she was just venting.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Still, the little incidents piled up.\n\n\n\n</p><p>She\u2019d casually mention how her friend\u2019s husband surprised her with diamond earrings \u201cjust because\u201d or how another friend\u2019s partner whisked her away for a luxury retreat.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cCan you believe how lucky they are?\u201d she\u2019d say, with a wistful look I tried not to take personally.\n\n\n\n</p><p>But deep down, I started to feel like I was falling short.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/fdc60361cf463887701c9e494d45846281875ed97df959ecbe4b67a5f1e45f55.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man talking to his wife source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>I didn\u2019t have the kind of job that allowed for extravagant gifts or surprise getaways, but I made up for it with thoughtfulness. At least, I thought I did.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>I\u2019d spend hours planning little surprises for her, like cooking her favorite meals after a long day or leaving sweet notes in her work bag.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I hoped those gestures meant more than a price tag.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Then came the conversations that left me questioning myself.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/0f98ca79cdb74300e7ae3f842ccab82f975d2b4fbe6f0112039e4e56d2034557.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man standing in the dark source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man standing in the dark | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Once, when her friends came over, I overheard them talking.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cSo, what did Lucas spoil you with this time?\u201d one of her friends asked.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I heard Jenna laugh sheepishly.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cOh, you know Lucas,\u201d she began. \u201cHe\u2019s more about sentiment than splurging.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her tone wasn\u2019t outright dismissive, but it wasn\u2019t exactly proud either.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/2607b2345a386cdd4a1796b23efce04b0d94f1e7615c90e7d2db3018b82825a7.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman sitting in the dark source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman sitting in the dark | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Looking back, I should\u2019ve seen it coming. I should\u2019ve realized that Jenna\u2019s world was one where appearances mattered. A world where being \u201cjust enough\u201d was never going to cut it.\n\n\n\n</p><p>But I loved her, and I believed that love was enough to bridge the gap between our differences.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I was wrong.\n\n\n\n</p><p>So wrong.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/217cdc0fd487b0fb51a03e7b007b86974ea7484b5434d4b9e6d463a0e3b5179f.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man standing in his house source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>A few weeks ago, Jenna surprised me with an announcement that caught me off guard.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019m not celebrating my birthday this year,\u201d she said over dinner. \u201cI\u2019m getting older, and honestly, what\u2019s there to celebrate?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I paused mid-bite and stared at her. Jenna loved birthdays. She\u2019d always meticulously plan a theme, coordinate outfits, and ensure the guest list was perfect. The idea of her skipping the occasion altogether felt off.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cAre you sure?\u201d I asked, keeping my tone light. \u201cYou\u2019ve always loved celebrating.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-17 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/690a3628375fe27a8304166a6b08b45ddf3bf8676a74c03cc49ab7c80b122de9.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man talking to his wife source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>She shrugged. \u201cI just don\u2019t feel like it this year. Maybe next time.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her response didn\u2019t sit well with me, but I didn\u2019t push. Everyone has their moments, and I figured turning 35 left her feeling reflective or even self-conscious.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Still, I wanted to do something special for her.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Jenna loved jewelry but rarely bought any for herself, always saying it was too indulgent. So, for the past year, I\u2019d been quietly saving up for a pair of diamond earrings I knew she\u2019d adore.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-19 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/1fc0b09e770db89e94ca15818a7b00d94c55c4d8f4edc9daef85197feb9c0ffb.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' pair of earrings source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A pair of earrings | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>Honestly, saving up hadn\u2019t been easy. I\u2019d skipped lunches out, passed on new clothes, and even took on extra work during the holidays.\n\n\n\n</p><p>The earrings I\u2019d bought were beautiful and I couldn\u2019t wait to surprise her. I imagined giving them to her during a quiet dinner at home. I thought it would be perfect.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>But everything changed a few days before her birthday.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I was at the grocery store picking up some last-minute essentials when I ran into Mark, one of Jenna\u2019s coworkers.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-21 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/6ff67a4c48737e5a62bd1dace2c9cfaed5cab20bb48964ec87b328cd449bd8fc.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"Shopping' carts at a supermarket source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Shopping carts at a supermarket | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>We exchanged pleasantries and talked about the usual stuff until he casually mentioned something that made my heart drop.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cOkay, see ya at Jenna\u2019s birthday party on Friday!\u201d he said with a grin.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cParty?\u201d I asked. I had no idea what he was talking about.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cYeah, her birthday party. You know about it, right?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cOh, yeah, the party!\u201d I chuckled. \u201cSame place as last time, right? I keep mixing things up.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cNo, it\u2019s at that new restaurant,\u201d Mark said. \u201cLe Bijou, downtown. Friday at 7. All friends and family are coming!\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-23 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/2532ae8b82ad0fbac3cbbf4d317953fa1e243a59201ebc56f460e45082d1c979.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' man in a supermarket source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man in a supermarket | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>I forced a laugh, playing it off. \u201cOh, right, of course. Just slipped my mind for a second. Been swamped with work lately.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Mark nodded. \u201cWell, it should be fun. Jenna always throws a great party.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I managed a smile and a quick goodbye before turning the cart down the next aisle.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Le Bijou was a new upscale restaurant downtown. It required booking weeks in advance and a price tag to match.\n\n\n\n</p><p>What bothered me the most was that my wife hadn\u2019t mentioned a word about that party.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-25 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/4c176d541dd32963c9028ff5d0ad074dfb60725be77246fbebeee263bf6ff31c.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman standing in her house source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>For the next two days, I tried to rationalize what Mark had said. Maybe he was mistaken. Maybe it was a surprise party, and Jenna didn\u2019t want me to find out.\n\n\n\n</p><p>But deep down, I knew the truth. She\u2019d excluded me on purpose.\n\n\n\n</p><p><em>Why wouldn\u2019t she want me there?&nbsp;I thought.&nbsp;<em>Was she embarrassed? Angry? Or had I done something to make her feel like I didn\u2019t belong by her side?\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-27 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/6a91f183ebd8d0a47edb77e8992226ecde2e42b2d22667eb601e6f7b083357e1.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man looking straight ahead source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>The questions ate away at me, but I couldn\u2019t bring myself to ask Jenna outright.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Instead, I decided to find out. I told myself I wasn\u2019t going to cause a scene and that I just needed answers. I decided to go to the party to see why she didn\u2019t want me there.\n\n\n\n</p><p>On the day of her birthday, she seemed quite calm.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019m just going out with some friends for dinner tonight,\u201d she said over breakfast, sipping her coffee. \u201cNothing fancy, just a small gathering.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-29 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/2d28f50bed5156454109112b8d8136989bef2260f4f4ac521016de35d6345c0f.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman smiling at the breakfast table source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman smiling at the breakfast table | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cOh, really? I thought we\u2019d have dinner at home together,\u201d I said. \u201cI was planning to bake your favorite cookies.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cThat\u2019s so sweet of you, Lucas,\u201d she smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s just that Alex suggested we should go out for dinner, and I didn\u2019t want to say no. We\u2019ll have dinner together tomorrow, okay? I promise.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cAlright,\u201d I said, trying to hide the disappointment.\n\n\n\n</p><p>She didn\u2019t mention Le Bijou or anything remotely like the extravagant affair Mark had described. A quiet dinner with friends was nothing to raise suspicion over. At least not until I arrived at the restaurant.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-31 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/ac1ad4df2e6a14509caeb48a1990b79cd326ea99a60b93a4120a26ba98ae867b.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' table in a restaurant source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A table in a restaurant | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>When I walked into Le Bijou, it was as if I\u2019d stepped into a different world. The room glittered with wealth. Sparkling gowns, tailored suits, and the unmistakable hum of privilege.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>In the center of it all was Jenna. Her smile was as dazzling as the chandelier above her, but it faded the moment she saw me.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I could see panic written all over her face as she excused herself and walked toward me.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d she asked in a low, hurried whisper.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-33 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/9e9a8252c633b6e54902cf4f32df77575b51a4f56844c094182aab34e54be7a5.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman talking to her husband source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI came to celebrate your birthday,\u201d I replied. \u201cBut it looks like you\u2019re having a ball with your friends. You said you didn\u2019t want to celebrate your birthday this year, but\u2026\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her face flushed as she looked around. \u201cLucas, it\u2019s not like that. This is just a casual dinner. I\u2014\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cMark called it a birthday party when I met him a few days ago,\u201d I said. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t look like a casual dinner.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her shoulders sagged slightly, and she glanced back at the table where her friends were watching us with open curiosity.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-35 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/36ecf0ad15760a1493ceca42bad83625052c21a5830af98c8d60c1ea171e46a2.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman looking away while talking to her husband source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman looking away while talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cLook,\u201d she said, lowering her voice even further. \u201cI excluded you from the party because\u2026 well, it\u2019s complicated.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cComplicated how?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cIt\u2019s just that all my friends\u2019 husbands always get them these extravagant gifts, and you\u2026 well, you don\u2019t. I didn\u2019t want them to compare. I didn\u2019t want them to know that I never get any expensive gifts.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I stared at her with wide eyes.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cSo, you\u2019re embarrassed of me?\u201d I asked. \u201cYou\u2019re embarrassed your husband doesn\u2019t earn enough to spoil you with presents?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her silence was answer enough.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Taking a deep breath, I pulled the small box from my pocket and handed it to her.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cOpen it,\u201d I said.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-37 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/99a4756097272ea441ebec7696eafc4243e1379abc412d086ea0157a6de247fe.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman holding a gift box source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman holding a gift box | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her eyes widened slightly as she unwrapped it, revealing the diamond earrings inside. For a moment, I saw the Jenna I fell in love with. The one who lit up over little surprises and thoughtful gestures.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cOh my God, Lucas,\u201d she gasped, holding the earrings up for her friends to admire. \u201cThese are beautiful!\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>She called her friends over, basking in their admiration as if the entire evening had suddenly transformed into a celebration of us.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cLucas, you have to stay,\u201d she said, grabbing my hand. \u201cCome on, have a drink, let me get you some food.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-39 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/768a26506f213a701d79f2852623fa2e86d3fbf7dd9081fd8683027c03a43948.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman looking back source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman looking back | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>But I couldn\u2019t. Something inside me had cracked, and no amount of praise or attention from her friends could fix it.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI can\u2019t stay,\u201d I said. \u201cThe second part of your gift is waiting for you at home.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>Her eyes lit up with excitement. \u201cWhat is it? Tell me!\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cYou\u2019ll see,\u201d I said, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before walking away. I didn\u2019t look back.\n\n\n\n</p><p>When Jenna returned home later that night, she found the house dark and eerily quiet.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-41 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/5e587317ae4aaebae430fabf5e8f3ef4a1cb33a8b068f2a90d2350717e4a3552.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman in a hallway source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman in a hallway | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>The only light came from the kitchen, where a single envelope sat on the table. I\u2019d left a letter for her.\n\n\n\n</p><p><em>Dear Jenna,\n\n\n\n<p><em>I spent a year saving for those earrings because I wanted you to feel loved, cherished, and appreciated. You always said you loved jewelry but never treated yourself, so I wanted to give you something special. Something to show you how much you mean to me.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-43 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/796b8a99da81f0537fd5e40cfb011ce507d0f5e263bcfd945d43515bcc8c8bdc.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman reading a letter source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman reading a letter | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p><em>But tonight, I realized that no matter how much I give, it will never be enough. Hearing you say you were embarrassed of me, of us, broke something inside me. I\u2019ve always believed love was about more than material things, but you\u2019ve made it clear that appearances and comparisons matter more.\n\n\n\n<p><em>So, here\u2019s the second part of your gift: FREEDOM. For both of us.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-45 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/c3f6497fe0cff09d0b4ccf6938cda5c2bc0e28e569aacfbd9dd92472e006b566.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' close-up shot of a handwritten note source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A close-up shot of a handwritten note | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p><em>I\u2019m filing for divorce. I deserve someone who values me for who I am, not for what I can buy. And you deserve someone who can give you the lifestyle you clearly want.\n\n\n\n<p><em>Please don\u2019t contact me. This is goodbye.\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2014Lucas\n\n\n\n<p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>Over the next few days, Jenna called me repeatedly, leaving tearful messages begging for forgiveness. She said she\u2019d made a mistake, that she didn\u2019t mean what she said, and that she wanted to fix things.\n\n\n\n</p><p>But I was done. I sent her one final text.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-47 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/b96847bf7c54e10e40e8b2fca4ba290f2e269900a42cf8e552a06ae59b082e89.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' man using his phone source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man using his phone | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p><em>Don\u2019t contact me again. It\u2019s over.\n\n\n\n<p>Then I blocked her number and moved forward with the divorce.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Now, months later, I feel lighter, as if a weight I didn\u2019t even know I was carrying has been lifted. Losing Jenna was painful, but knowing I\u2019ll never have to endure her constant comparisons or unspoken disappointment again?\n\n\n\n</p><p>Advertisement\n\n\n\n</p><p>That\u2019s a relief I can\u2019t put into words.\n\n\n\n</p><p>If you enjoyed reading this story, here\u2019s&nbsp;<a href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/amomama.com%5C/441905-i-hid-behind-the-curtain-to-surprise-my.html%5C%22"><u>another one&nbsp;you might like: I never imagined that hiding behind our bedroom curtain to surprise my husband on his birthday would lead to me filming him somewhere unexpected just hours later. The romantic scavenger hunt I\u2019d planned turned into evidence that we needed a divorce.\n\n\n\n</u><p><em>This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.\n\n\n\n<p><em>The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided \u201cas is,\u201d and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class='\"mh-excerpt\"'><p>A sad man | Source: Shutterstock I thought my wife, Jenna, and I shared everything, including our deepest secrets. But when she excluded me from <a class='\"mh-excerpt-more\"' href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/sciencesandnatures.com%5C/my-wife-excluded-me-from-her-birthday-party-i-was-shocked-to-find-out-why%5C/%5C%22" title='\"My' wife excluded me from her birthday party i was shocked to find out why>[&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6162"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6162"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6163,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6162\/revisions\/6163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</a></p></div></em></p></em></p></a></p></em></p></figure></figure></p></em></p></em></p></em></p></figure></figure></em></p></em></p></figure></figure></em></p></em></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></em></em></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p>