Cora Morales woke up on Valentine’s morning with a heart full of joy. For once, the heaviness of daily chores and sleepless nights didn’t weigh her down. Instead, she was glowing with happiness as she wrote little notes on her to-do list, blushing each time she thought about the surprise she had prepared for her husband, Eric.
She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face. He’ll be so happy, she thought as her cheeks turned red.
Cora and Eric’s love story had started years ago in Texas, at a business conference. They were strangers at first, but one conversation changed everything. Both of them revealed they were orphans raised in foster care, and both shared the same dream—to create the big, happy family they never had.
It didn’t take long for that dream to begin. After only a few dates, they tied the knot. Two years later, their lives got busier and louder when they welcomed triplets into the world.
But life after kids wasn’t easy. Cora gave up her work to care for their three babies, while Eric became the only breadwinner. Pressure weighed heavily on him, and no matter how hard he worked, the money never seemed enough. He was exhausted, bitter, and felt guilty that he couldn’t give his family the luxury he thought they deserved.
Vacations? Dining at fancy restaurants? They hadn’t done that in years. Eric guarded every penny, while Cora quietly accepted it. She never wasted money, and she learned to make magic out of what little they had.
That Valentine’s Day, she pulled out a dress Eric had given her years ago for their first anniversary. It was old-fashioned now, but to her, it was priceless. She slipped it on, smiled at the mirror, and whispered, “This will be enough.”
By evening, she had set the table with love: a heart-shaped red velvet cheesecake, Eric’s favorite; a bottle of wine; dishes she had cooked with care. A small gift box sat beside his plate—the one thing she was most excited for him to open. She lit candles, spread rose petals across the floor, and flicked on fairy lights.
“Perfect,” she whispered, stepping back to admire the glow.
The doorbell rang. Her heart raced.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” she greeted warmly, kissing Eric on the cheek and guiding him inside.
But instead of smiling, Eric froze. His eyes darted from the rose petals to the glowing candles to the food-filled table. His brows furrowed.
“What on Earth have you done, Cora? Are we some stupid teenagers?” His voice rose like a whip.
Cora’s smile faltered. “Honey… what’s wrong? Did something happen at work?”
“Are you serious right now?” he snapped. “Is this why I work my ass off? So you can waste our money on this kind of crap?!”
“Oh, Eric, relax,” she said softly, trying to soothe him. “I didn’t spend much. The ingredients cost a little extra, but it wasn’t too bad. Please, sit down. Try the food. I worked so hard on it.”
But Eric’s anger was boiling over. He shoved into a chair, took a bite of her pasta, and spat it right onto the table.
“What the hell is wrong with this spaghetti? The sauce tastes like garbage!” he shouted, loud enough to wake the triplets.
From down the hall came their cries.
“Eric!” Cora gasped. “You woke them up! I just put them to bed.”
“So what? That’s my fault too?” he barked. “You’re at home all day, Cora, and this is what you do? And what the hell is this?” He grabbed the gift box and shook it. “A gift?” With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it to the floor. “Do I look like a kid to you? You can’t even keep the damn kitchen clean, and you waste time and money on this nonsense!”
Tears stung her eyes. “You’re impossible, Eric! I can’t believe you’re the same man I married!”
The triplets cried louder. Exhausted and furious, Cora finally snapped. “They’re crying because we’re out of diapers! I told you already—we have nothing left. I’m going to get some. You stay here and look after them!”
She grabbed her coat. “The store’s a bit far, so it’ll take some time!” With that, she slammed the door behind her.
Eric grumbled, pacing the living room. “Yeah, perfect housewife, huh? You can’t even do one thing right.” He stomped toward the kids’ room, muttering curses.
Minutes dragged into an hour. The babies kept wailing, and Cora didn’t return. Frustrated, Eric picked up his phone. “Unbelievable… How long does it take to buy diapers?”
Ding-dong. The doorbell. Relief washed over him. “Finally! Cora, what took you so—” He froze.
A police officer stood at the door.
“Does Cora Morales live here?” the officer asked.
“Yes,” Eric said cautiously. “I’m her husband.”
The cop shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, I’m… I’m sorry. Your wife was in a car accident. She didn’t make it. We need you to come with us to identify the body.”
The words hit Eric like a sledgehammer. His knees buckled, his lips trembled. “No… no, no, no…”
The officer glanced inside and saw the decorated table, the glowing candles. His chest tightened at the cruel twist of fate.
Eric stumbled through the next hours in a daze. He called Mrs. Nelson, their elderly neighbor, to care for the triplets, then followed the police to the mortuary.
When he saw Cora’s lifeless body, pale and still, his heart shattered. He dropped to his knees, sobbing.
The next day, at her funeral, he couldn’t look anyone in the eye. He locked himself at home afterward, unable to eat, unable to speak. The table Cora had set was still waiting for them—candles melted down, food cold.
That’s when he remembered the gift.
“The gift…” His voice cracked. “I didn’t even open it.”
He searched the floor until he found the crushed box. His hands shook as he unwrapped it. Inside was a letter and two plane tickets to Hawaii.
He opened the note.
To the love of my life, Eric,
Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Guess what? I got a job this month! I saw how tired you were working alone, so I started applying secretly. Yesterday, they called—I got hired! Mrs. Nelson agreed to help with the babies while I work. And look… tickets for us! A vacation in Hawaii, just the two of us. I’ve got more surprises planned, but you’ll find out later, hehe!
Love you forever, Cora.
Eric’s sobs shook the room. “Oh, Cora… I’m so sorry…” He clutched the tickets to his chest, but it was too late. She was gone.
From that day on, he was never the same. He worked hard for his children, raised them with all the love he could muster, but he never opened his heart to another woman again.
And every Valentine’s Day, without fail, Eric walked to Cora’s grave. He would sit for hours, talking to her about everything—about the kids, about his regrets, about how much he wished he could ask for her forgiveness.
Lesson:
- Don’t jump to conclusions. Eric believed Cora was lazy, but she was secretly working hard to ease his burden.
- Anger makes us blind. Eric’s rage robbed him of a chance to see her gift of love.
