Ethan and Sarah stood in the nursery, surrounded by pastel colors and baby toys. She could already picture their baby sleeping peacefully in the crib. “I can’t believe we’re finally doing this,” Sarah said, unable to contain her excitement. “Just imagine those first few weeks with our baby, both of us here, supporting each other.”

Ethan smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, it’ll be amazing,” he said half-heartedly. Sarah frowned. “Is everything okay? Did you talk to your boss about paternity leave?” she asked. He sighed and looked down at his hands. “I did. He wasn’t very supportive.”

“What do you mean?” she asked. “He wants me to go to another city for an important project. He hinted that if I refuse, I might lose my job.” Sarah felt like the air had been knocked out of her. “Lose your job? But we need your income, especially now.” Ethan nodded. “I know. We can’t afford for me to get fired.”

Sarah took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. “So, what are we going to do?” He shrugged. “I don’t see any other option. I’ll have to go.” She wanted to cry. They had been so excited about this plan, and now it felt like everything was falling apart. But she couldn’t let Ethan see how much this hurt her. He had enough to worry about.

“Maybe,” she said, trying to sound hopeful, “we can figure out a way to make the most of the time we do have together.” Ethan reached over and squeezed her hand. “We’ll make it work, Sarah. We always do.” She forced a smile. “Yeah, we will.”

But deep down, Sarah felt a pang of disappointment. This wasn’t how she imagined starting their new life as a family. She had pictured Ethan and herself sharing every moment, every first with their baby. Now, it felt like those precious moments would be overshadowed by worry and stress. Still, she knew they had to push through. She had to be strong for Ethan and for their baby.

A few days after Ethan broke the news about his paternity leave, Sarah found herself at the grocery store, trying to focus on picking up essentials. She couldn’t shake off the worry, though. Her mind kept wandering back to their conversation. “Sarah! Is that you?” A familiar voice called out.

She turned to see Amanda, Ethan’s boss’s wife, pushing a cart down the aisle. They had known each other since university, and Amanda always had a bright, cheerful demeanor. “Hi, Amanda,” Sarah greeted her, managing a smile.

“How are you? And how’s the baby?” Amanda asked. “I’m alright,” Sarah replied, feeling a twinge of frustration. “The baby’s doing well. Actually, I’m a bit stressed. Ethan’s paternity leave got denied.”

Amanda’s smile faltered. “What? Denied? That doesn’t make sense.” Sarah looked at her, confused. “Ethan said his boss wanted him to go to another city for a project. He hinted at firing him if he refused.” Amanda shook her head, looking genuinely perplexed. “That’s strange, Sarah. I know for a fact Ethan’s paternity leave was approved without any issues.”

Her words hit Sarah like a ton of bricks. “Are you sure?” she gasped. “Absolutely,” Amanda said firmly. “I remember my husband mentioning it. He thought it was a great idea for Ethan to take time off and be with you and the baby.”

Sarah’s mind started racing. Why would Ethan lie about this? She could feel suspicion and fear growing inside her. “Thanks, Amanda,” she said quickly. “I need to get going.” She rushed through the rest of her shopping, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion.

As soon as she got home, Sarah put the groceries away and sat down, trying to make sense of what she had just learned. If Ethan’s leave was approved, why would he say otherwise?

Back home, her mind was still racing from what Amanda had said. She needed answers. She found Ethan in the shower, his phone left on the table. Guilt gnawed at her, but her intuition told her something was wrong. Taking a deep breath, she picked up his phone and opened his family chat. Her heart pounded as she scrolled through the messages. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the truth hit her harder than she anticipated.

The messages from Ethan’s parents made her heart sink. Ethan’s Mom: “Ethan, you don’t need to take paternity leave. Sarah’s mom can help her with the baby. We really need you here to help with the house renovations.” His Dad: “Yes, Ethan. You know how much we need to get these renovations done. It’s not like you’ll be far away.”

Ethan’s reply came next, and it was like a punch to the gut. “I understand. I’ll take the paid leave and come over to help. Sarah will manage with her mom.”

Sarah felt a wave of betrayal wash over her. How could he do this to her, to them? They had planned for this time together, and he was willing to throw it away to help his parents with renovations? She felt like her world was crashing down.

Thinking back, it was hard to believe how they met and fell in love. They had met at a mutual friend’s party five years ago. Sarah had just moved to the city, and Ethan was already established in his job. She remembered being instantly drawn to his warm smile and the way he made everyone around him feel comfortable. They spent the entire evening talking and laughing, and by the end of the night, Sarah knew there was something special about him.

They shared a love for hiking, and weekends were often spent exploring trails and discovering new places together. Ethan’s kindness and sense of humor were infectious, and Sarah found herself falling deeper in love with him every day. When he proposed to her on a beautiful mountaintop, surrounded by the vibrant colors of autumn, she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

Quickly, Sarah took pictures of the messages, needing proof of what she had seen. Her hands were shaking, and tears threatened to spill. She felt so alone in that moment, heartbroken by the man she thought she could trust completely.

She couldn’t face Ethan right then. She needed time to process everything. Quietly, she put his phone back and went to bed. Lying there, she stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. How could he lie to her like this? How could he prioritize his parents’ house over their family?

As the night wore on, Sarah tried to calm her racing thoughts. Ethan didn’t need to lie to her. If he was lying just to avoid the responsibilities of being a father, then he didn’t deserve to become one. Ethan had made his choice, and it wasn’t them.

The next evening, Ethan came home from work looking devastated. “I got fired,” he announced to the empty house, his voice shaking. Sarah could imagine the shock and confusion on his face as he realized the house was eerily silent. He probably noticed her absence immediately. Then, his eyes would’ve fallen on the envelope she left on the kitchen table, addressed to him in her handwriting.

With trembling hands, he would have opened the letter and read: “Ethan, I found the messages from your parents. You lied to me about the paternity leave. If you can lie about something so important, how can I trust you with our future? I need honesty, especially now. I’m leaving because I deserve better, and so does our baby. I’ve sent the pictures of your messages to your boss, and that’s why you were fired. I cannot stay with someone who would betray me like this, especially at a time when we should be united. I’m going to file for divorce. Goodbye. Sarah.”

That morning, while Ethan was away, Sarah packed her things. Then, she sat down at the kitchen table and wrote a letter to Ethan. Finally, she left for her parents’ house. “You did the right thing, Sarah,” her mom said gently, distracting her from her thoughts. “You need to think about what’s best for you and the baby now.”

Sarah nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “I just never thought it would come to this,” she said. “After all, I did love him.” Her dad reached over and squeezed her hand. “We’re here for you, sweetheart. You’ll get through this, and you’ll come out stronger.”

As Sarah sat in her parents’ living room, holding her growing belly, she realized that the future she had imagined with Ethan was gone. But she also knew that she had to be strong for her baby and for herself. It was time to start a new chapter, one built on truth and integrity. What would you have done?