The Anniversary Night That Changed Everything
Marriage was good for me. Not perfect—nothing ever is—but with Thomas, I felt loved, safe, and happy. Our first year together had been full of cozy nights, whispered secrets, and laughter over his terrible attempts at making pancakes.
So, of course, I wanted our first anniversary to be unforgettable.
I spent two whole weeks planning it.
Two. Weeks.
I hunted down the perfect duck à l’orange recipe, practiced it twice (the first time was a disaster), and set the table with our best china. Candles flickered, soft music played, and I stood there in my favorite dress—the one Thomas always said made my eyes sparkle.
Then, my phone rang.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Thomas said, his voice way too casual. “I’m already on my way to the airport.”
I froze. “What airport?”
“Emergency meeting. Clients, you know how it is…”
I closed my eyes, counted to three. Breathe.
“Thomas. It’s our anniversary.”
“And I haven’t forgotten!” he insisted. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear. The second I’m back.”
Make it up to me.
I stared at the beautiful table, the candles, the food I’d spent hours preparing. All for nothing.
“Right,” I said flatly. “Safe flight.”
“Love you.”
I hung up, fighting the urge to scream. Instead, I decided to salvage the night with a long, hot bath. Maybe a glass of wine.
Just as I sank into the bubbles, the doorbell rang.
Seriously?
Wrapped in a towel, I yanked the door open. A delivery guy stood there, holding a fancy white box tied with a red ribbon.
“Anna?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Special delivery,” he said, handing it over.
“Who’s it from?”
“Anonymous order. Enjoy!”
I shut the door, staring at the box.
My heart fluttered.
Did Thomas actually plan a surprise?
I carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside was a cake.
Not just any cake—a beautiful one, with smooth buttercream and elegant golden lettering.
But the message?
“It’s time to get divorced!”
I blinked. What the—?
A joke? A mistake?
Then I spotted a small card tucked under the cake.
“Hope you take this as well as he did. XOXO.”
My stomach dropped.
Mistress?
Before I could process it, my phone rang again.
Gloria. My mother-in-law.
I answered, forcing a smile.
“Anna, darling! Happy anniversary!”
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“How do you like the ring?” she gushed. “Thomas said it was exquisite!”
My blood turned to ice.
Because I hadn’t gotten a ring.
Thomas always gave me gifts in the morning. Always.
But today? Nothing.
“Oh… yeah, it’s beautiful,” I lied.
“Such a shame Thomas had to leave,” Gloria sighed. “But what a perfect chance for a surprise!”
“A surprise?”
“Of course! He told me he’s staying at—” She giggled. “The same hotel you two stayed at last year! How romantic! You’re so spontaneous, Anna. Buy a ticket and surprise him!”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
The cake. The note. The ring I never got.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
Is Thomas cheating on me?
I forced a sweet laugh. “That’s a great idea, Gloria. I’ll book a flight right now.”
“Oh, how exciting! Tell me everything later!”
I hung up, staring at the cake.
Then, without another thought, I grabbed my purse and booked the next flight out.
The Confrontation
I barely made it to the gate, sprinting through the airport like a woman possessed. The whole flight, my mind raced.
What if I’m wrong? What if I’m about to destroy everything?
But when I landed, I didn’t hesitate. I marched straight to the front desk.
“Room 614, please,” I said, flashing a photo of Thomas. “I’m his wife. Surprise visit.”
The receptionist hesitated but gave me the key.
My hands shook as I stood outside the door.
Deep breath.
I knocked.
The door swung open.
A stunning brunette stood there, wearing a silk dress that probably cost more than my rent.
Behind her, on the bed—Thomas’s clothes.
My heart stopped.
She leaned against the doorframe, smirking.
“Thomas is in the shower,” she purred. “I’ll let him know you stopped by.”
I clenched my fists.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Oh? Don’t want to disturb him?”
“Something like that,” I said, shifting the cake box in my hands.
She tilted her head, amused. “You look tense. Maybe you should get a massage.”
I smiled sweetly. “Oh, I brought my own stress relief.”
And then—
SMACK.
I shoved the cake straight into her smug face.
Buttercream exploded everywhere.
She SCREAMED, stumbling back, icing dripping from her hair.
“WHAT THE—?! YOU CRAZY BITCH!”
I stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind me.
“Psycho!” she shrieked, grabbing a pillow and hurling it at me.
I dodged.
“Was aiming for your dignity,” I said. “But turns out you don’t have any.”
She lunged at me—
And slipped on the frosting, crashing to the floor in a glorious mess.
I stepped over her, storming toward the bathroom—
And froze.
Because standing there, in a plush robe, sipping champagne like she owned the place, was Gloria.
My mother-in-law.
She raised her glass in a mocking toast.
“Oh,” she said lazily. “You weren’t supposed to burst in like that. That’s not very… you, honey.”
I stared. “What?“
“You’re always so… quiet. I wasn’t expecting this side of you.” Her eyes flicked over my wild hair, my frosting-covered hands. “Almost impressive for a little mouse like you.”
My voice was ice. “Where’s Thomas?”
She sighed like I was exhausting her.
“Oh, he’s at another hotel. What kind of man leaves his wife on their anniversary? I saw an opportunity and took it.”
My fingers curled into fists.
“Opportunity for what?”
“To get rid of you, sweetheart.”
I looked at the cake smeared all over the floor.
“You—”
She laughed. “Oh, I baked it myself! Did you like it?”
My pulse pounded. “Why?”
“Because you were never right for my son. But Alicia—” She gestured to the frosting-covered disaster still flailing on the floor. “Now, she’s perfect. A model. Beautiful. Connected. You’ve met now—how delightful!”
I stepped closer. “Thomas loves me. You won’t break us.”
Gloria smirked. “Oh, it’ll be harder now. But don’t worry—I play the long game.”
I pulled out my phone.
“And how do you plan to stop me, dear?”
I tapped the screen.
“Funny thing,” I said. “I called Thomas the second I walked in here. And when I realized the suit on the bed wasn’t his? I left the line open.”
For the first time, Gloria’s smirk faltered.
I hit speakerphone.
Thomas’s voice boomed through the room.
“Mom, I can’t believe you! How could you?! We’ll talk later—Anna, I’m ten minutes away. Wait in the lobby.”
Gloria’s face went pale.
Her perfect plan? Ruined.
I smiled. “Enjoy your evening.”
Then I turned to Alicia, still covered in cake.
“Oh, and Gloria?” I called over my shoulder. “Thanks for the cake. It looks amazing on her.”
And with that, I walked out like I owned the place.
The Aftermath
I stood in the lobby, a mess of smudged makeup and frosting, but I’d never felt more powerful.
The elevator dinged.
Thomas rushed out, breathless.
“I don’t even know what to say,” he admitted.
“Try ‘my mother is insane.’“
He ran a hand through his hair. “Anna, I had no idea—”
“Later,” I said. “Right now? I’m starving.”
He exhaled, nodding, and wrapped an arm around me as we walked out.
Dinner was quiet. But when dessert came, Thomas reached into his pocket—
And pulled out a velvet box.
I froze.
“Is this… from Gloria?”
He laughed. “No. This is from me.”
Inside was a stunning ring.
“My real gift is at home,” he said.
I smirked. “Is it another cake?”
He grinned. “No. But if I ever miss our anniversary again? Then yes—and it won’t have frosting.”
I laughed, slipping the ring on.
That night, we celebrated. It wasn’t perfect.
But it was ours.
And Gloria?
She’d severely underestimated me.
Because now?
I wasn’t playing nice anymore.