Charlie and his girlfriend Nora celebrated their third anniversary at an upscale restaurant. After the waiter accidentally served a glass with a ring, Nora overreacted by refusing it. Confused by his girlfriend’s refusal, Charlie unveils the secret behind her strange behavior.

My name is Charlie, and my girlfriend Nora and I celebrated our third anniversary. I invited her to an expensive restaurant. Nora always paid close attention to the place I chose, making sure it was upscale and that the patrons looked well-dressed.

This time was no different. Nora carefully surveyed the restaurant and its patrons before browsing the menu, searching for the most expensive dishes.

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“It could be better, of course, but it’s not bad…” Nora remarked, summarizing her impression of the place.

“This is a very prestigious restaurant. I had to book a table a month in advance. I hoped you would like it.”

“Uh-huh,” Nora replied calmly.

Eventually, the waiter approached us and took our orders. Nora ordered the most expensive dish on the menu and a bottle of champagne. It was hard for me to afford such a dinner, but I loved Nora and was willing to do anything for her.

I forgot to order bread for our table, so I raised my hand to call the waiter, who oddly winked at me in response.

A minute later, he brought two glasses of champagne, and something sparkled at the bottom of Nora’s glass.

“Oh no… Charlie, don’t do this to me! No!” Nora reacted strangely to the glass. I was puzzled.

“What are you talking about, dear?”

“This!” Nora pulled a ring from the glass. “You know I’m not ready for this!”

“I didn’t put it there; this must be a mistake… Waiter?”

Just then, another waiter rushed over, apologizing, and explained that their new colleague had mixed up the tables. He had placed the ring in our glass, although it was meant for another man who had prepared a proposal for his girlfriend.

After the waiter apologized profusely and left, Nora smiled and began eating as if nothing had happened.

“Why did you react like that? Don’t you want to marry me?” I asked, confused and hurt.

“I didn’t say that… Why are you asking? It was just a mistake,” Nora replied calmly, smiling.

Yes, they mixed it up, but your reaction… What was that about? We’ve been together for three years. I do everything you want. I hoped to marry you someday, and your reaction really surprised me.”

“You’re overreacting. Why are we talking about this now, darling? Let’s enjoy our dinner.”

We continued our dinner, with Nora talking about her day and other trivial matters, but her reaction stayed in my head. Why did she react that way? I felt sad and hurt but kept my emotions in check.

The next day, my brother Simon visited me. We sat down to talk in the living room, and suddenly, he started advising me not to marry Nora. “You should wait,” he said, leaning forward with a serious look.

“I don’t think you’re ready for it.” His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I was even more surprised. How did he know about this? Had Nora told him, and if so, why was he discouraging me?

I tried to process his words, feeling a mix of confusion and disbelief. “Simon, why do you think that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “I just think you should take more time to think about it. Marriage is a big step, and I don’t want you to rush into it and regret it later.”

After half an hour of talking, I agreed with Simon and thanked him for his advice, but something felt off. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his sudden concern.

He had never interfered in my relationships before, so why now? He came over just then and started telling me not to pursue my relationship with Nora.

After seeing Simon out, I began recalling that he and Nora had spent a lot of time together recently. He even drove her home a few times, saying he just decided to give her a ride from work.

These thoughts gnawed at me, planting seeds of doubt and suspicion.

I tried to push these thoughts out of my head. After all, he was my brother. I couldn’t suspect him of trying to take my girlfriend.

That was too much. I forbade myself from thinking that way. But I needed to know so I decided to follow Simon.

I quickly got into my car and discreetly followed my brother. I kept a safe distance, my heart pounding with each turn he took. What was I expecting to find? Part of me hoped I was wrong, but another part feared what I might discover.

I followed Simon to a hotel, which struck me as very strange. He lived with our parents nearby, so why would he need a hotel room? My curiosity piqued, I went up to the receptionist and, with a friendly smile, asked which room Simon was in.

She hesitated for a moment, but my casual demeanor seemed to reassure her, and she told me the room number.

As I approached the door, I wrestled with my conscience. Should I just knock and ask him directly? It felt wrong to follow him like this. He was my brother, and I loved him. But something didn’t sit right with me, and I needed to know the truth.

Just as I was about to knock, I heard a woman’s laughter from inside the room. It was unmistakably Nora’s voice. My heart sank, and I pressed my ear closer to the door.

“And what did he say? That he’d keep spending all his money on me?” Nora laughed, a sound that now felt like a dagger to my heart.

Simon’s voice followed, dripping with mockery. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe he fell for it, but yeah… He said, ‘You’re right, brother, I won’t rush it. Marriage is a big step.’”

Nora’s reply was laced with affection. “Simon, darling. Come here, my love.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I walked away from the door, my mind racing. I wanted to burst into the room and confront them both, but I knew it wouldn’t help. I needed to act smarter. I waited in my car near the hotel to make some photos as a proof.

The betrayal was like a heavy weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe. My brother and my girlfriend—the two people I trusted most—were deceiving me. I felt a mix of anger, sadness, and disbelief as I drove home, my thoughts a chaotic swirl.

Why would they do this to me? What had I done to deserve such a betrayal? I replayed every moment with Simon and Nora in my mind, searching for clues I might have missed. But nothing made sense.

Back at home, I sat in silence, trying to gather my thoughts. I knew I needed to confront them, but I also knew I had to do it in a way that wouldn’t give them a chance to twist the truth. I needed a plan.

That evening, I took Nora to my parents’ house for dinner. I knew where she had been earlier but didn’t ask. I wanted to keep my knowledge a secret, as the element of surprise was crucial for what I planned.

My parents, my brother Simon, and Nora were all there, sitting around the table. The room was filled with the aroma of my mom’s cooking and the sound of clinking cutlery.

As the meal progressed, I couldn’t help but notice how Simon and Nora exchanged glances. They seemed nervous, and I could sense their anxiety building up. I tapped my fork against my glass and asked for a moment of attention.

“I’d like to make a toast,” I said, standing up. “As you all know, yesterday marked three years of my relationship with Nora.”

Everyone smiled, listening attentively. My parents beamed with pride, but I could see confusion in Simon and Nora’s eyes. They exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of where this was going.

“Today,” I continued, “I think it’s time for our relationship to move to the next stage. Right, darling?” I looked directly at Nora, who was now looking at me with wide, panicked eyes, shaking her head slightly.

“My dear parents, my beloved brother, I want to tell you…” Everyone held their breath, listening in silence. “…that my girlfriend is cheating on me with my brother Simon.”

With that, I threw the photos I had taken outside the hotel onto the table. The images clearly show Nora kissing Simon as they say goodbye at the entrance.

The room went dead silent for a moment, and then an explosion of reactions followed.

My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. My father’s face turned red with anger. Simon and Nora sat frozen, shock and fear etched on their faces.

“Is this true?” my father demanded, looking directly at Simon.

Simon stammered, “Dad, I can explain…”

“Explain what?” my mother interjected, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disappointment. “How you betrayed your own brother?”

Nora tried to speak, “Charlie, please, let me explain—”

I cut her off, my voice cold and firm. “There’s nothing to explain. I trusted you, Nora. I trusted both of you. And this is how you repay me?”

My parents immediately kicked both Simon and Nora out of the house. My father’s stern voice echoed through the room. “Simon, you need to find another place to live. We won’t keep someone like you in our home. We’re ashamed of how we raised you.”

Nora, tears streaming down her face, tried to plead with me. “Charlie, please, it’s not what you think. We can talk about this.”

But I was done. “It’s exactly what I think. You made your choice, and now you’ll live with it. I’ve already blocked the card you use, and I won’t be paying for your car or phone anymore. Let your new boyfriend, Simon, take care of you. Keeping someone like you isn’t easy.”

With that, Simon and Nora left, their heads hanging low. My parents were still in shock, trying to process what had just happened. The betrayal stung, but I felt a strange sense of relief. The truth was out, and I could begin to move on.

After they left, my parents tried to console me. My mom hugged me tightly, tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Charlie. I never thought Simon could do something like this.”

My dad put a hand on my shoulder. “You deserve better, son. We’re here for you.”

I nodded, appreciating their support. The evening had been painful, but it was necessary. I knew I had to face the betrayal head-on to move forward.

And so, life went on. I continued to work hard, surrounded by the love and support of my parents. The road to healing was long, but with each step, I felt more hopeful about the future.

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