That evening was perfect—the ocean, a family dinner with Mark’s parents. I was pleasantly surprised by the day. Nothing could spoil it. How wrong I was! As Mark dozed off in bed, something rustled under the door. It was a note: “Your boyfriend is cheating on you.” That was only the first twist in my story.

Mark and I had arrived at a beautiful vacation spot—his parents’ house by the sea. The house was charming, with white walls, blue shutters, and a wrap-around porch overlooking the ocean. The scent of saltwater and the sound of crashing waves instantly made me feel relaxed and happy.

As we stepped out of the car, Mark’s father, a tall man with a warm smile, came forward to greet us.

“Welcome, Odri! It’s so nice to finally meet you,” he said, giving me a hearty handshake.

Mark’s brothers and sisters followed suit, each offering their friendly greetings.

“Hey, Odri! I’m Kevin,” said Mark’s younger brother, grinning from ear to ear. “And this is Lisa, our youngest sister,” he added, ruffling a petite girl’s hair.

Mark’s mother, who had previously been quite distant, also seemed friendly and kind. She approached me with a warm smile and hugged me gently.

“I’m glad you could join us, Odri. We’ve heard so much about you.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I had been nervous about meeting Mark’s family, especially his mother, who I knew had been a bit reserved about our relationship. But here she was, welcoming me with open arms.

Everyone was preparing for Mark’s birthday. The house buzzed with activity as his siblings hung streamers and blew up balloons, while his father and Kevin set up a barbecue on the patio. The delicious smell of grilling meat wafted through the air, mixing with the salty sea breeze.

“Hey, Dad, can you pass me another balloon?” Lisa called out from the living room.

“Sure thing!” Kevin replied, grabbing a handful of balloons and tossing them over to his sister.

Mark’s father, grilling on the patio, turned to Kevin. “How’s it going in there, son? Need any help?”

“We’re good, Dad! Just trying to get these decorations up before Mark sees everything,” Kevin answered.

I watched them all, smiling at the scene. It was heartwarming to see everyone working together.

As the evening approached, we all gathered in the living room. Mark’s family began sharing funny stories from their past vacations and childhood adventures.

“Remember the time Dad tried to teach us all how to fish?” Kevin laughed.

“Oh, that was a disaster!” Lisa chimed in. “I ended up with more water in my boots than fish in the bucket.”

Their father chuckled from his spot on the couch. “Hey, it was a learning experience!”

Emily turned to me with a smile. “What about you, Odri? Any funny vacation stories?”

I thought for a moment. “Well, there was this one time my family went camping, and a raccoon stole all our snacks. We spent the rest of the trip trying to keep it away from our tent.”

Laughter filled the room, and I felt like I was becoming part of their family. As the night grew late, Mark and I excused ourselves and headed to our bedroom.

“Did you have fun?” Mark asked, slipping his arm around my waist.

“I did,” I replied, leaning into him. “Your family is wonderful.”

“They seem to like you,” he said with a smile. “I’m glad.”

I smiled back, feeling a sense of belonging.

The room was cozy, with a large window that offered a stunning view of the evening ocean. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting.

Mark was already half-asleep when I noticed something unusual. A small piece of paper had been slipped under our bedroom door. My heart skipped a beat as I picked it up and unfolded it.

The note read, “Your boyfriend is cheating on you.”

I stared at the words, feeling a wave of shock and confusion.

Who could have sent this? And why?

Mark seemed so loving and attentive, but this note planted a seed of suspicion that I couldn’t ignore.

Trying to stay calm, I quickly hid the note in my suitcase. I didn’t want Mark to see it.

I decided then and there that I would keep a close eye on him during the vacation. I needed to find out the truth for myself.

“Everything okay?” Mark mumbled sleepily, turning to face me.

“Yeah,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

He reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’m glad you’re here with me,” he said softly before drifting back to sleep.

I lay awake for a while longer, staring at the ceiling. My excitement for the vacation had been tainted by that single note. I knew I had to get to the bottom of this.

The next day, I tried to enjoy the preparations for the party, but I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling from the note.

I watched Mark closely. He seemed affectionate and attentive, always making sure I was comfortable and involved in the plans.

As the day went on, I noticed Mark sneaking away to take phone calls. My suspicion grew stronger.

When he slipped out to the beach for the third time, saying he was going surfing, I decided to follow him. I saw him talking on the phone with someone again.

I found Mark standing near the garage, speaking in a low voice. I hid behind a bush and strained to hear his conversation.

“Yeah, I’ll handle it… No, she doesn’t know… Okay, I’ll see you soon,” Mark said, abruptly ending the call.

My heart raced.

Who was he talking to? Why was he being so secretive?

I decided to confront him. I stepped out from my hiding place and approached him.

“Mark, who were you talking to?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Mark looked surprised. “Odri, it’s just a business call. Nothing to worry about,” he said, taking my hands.

“A business call? It sounded personal,” I pressed.

“Really, Odri, it’s nothing. Just some last-minute details for a project,” Mark insisted, reaching out to touch my arm. “I promise, nothing is going on.”

His reassurances did little to ease my doubts. The unease lingered, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the note was right.

Mark’s birthday arrived, and the whole family gathered to celebrate. The house was filled with decorations, and the sound of laughter echoed through the halls. The table was covered with gifts, and the aroma of cake and delicious food filled the air.

“Happy Birthday, Mark!” everyone cheered as he blew out the candles on his cake. Laughter and applause followed, and Mark grinned from ear to ear.

“This is the best birthday ever!” he exclaimed, hugging his parents and siblings.

The party was in full swing, with music playing and everyone having a great time. I tried to join in the fun, but my mind kept drifting back to the unease I felt. I was determined not to let it ruin Mark’s special day.

Then, the doorbell rang. I glanced over, and my heart sank when I saw who it was. Laura, Mark’s ex-girlfriend, stood there holding a gift.

“Hi, everyone! I hope I’m not too late,” Laura said, her voice overly cheerful.

A murmur of surprise went through the crowd. Mark looked as shocked as I felt.

“Laura, what are you doing here?” he asked, his smile fading.

“I came to wish you a happy birthday, of course,” Laura replied, walking into the room. She handed Mark the gift and smiled sweetly. “I couldn’t miss your big day.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Trying to stay calm, I smiled and excused myself, heading to the balcony for some fresh air. Moments later, Laura joined me.

“Odri, isn’t it?” she said, leaning against the railing.

“Yes,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why are you here, Laura?”

She smirked. “Mark invited me. He sent me an invitation, and said he wanted to rekindle our relationship.”

My heart pounded. “That can’t be true,” I said, shaking my head.

Laura pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. “See for yourself.”

I stared at the invitation, my vision blurring with tears. Without another word, I stormed back into the house, searching for Mark. I found him talking to his father and interrupted.

“Mark, did you invite Laura?” I demanded, my voice trembling.

Mark looked confused. “What? No, I didn’t invite her.”

“Then what is this?” I shouted, holding up the invitation. “She says you sent this to her!”

Gasps and murmurs filled the room as everyone turned to watch. Mark’s face turned pale.

“Odri, I swear, I didn’t send that,” he said, reaching for the paper.

Laura stepped forward, her eyes blazing. “Stop lying, Mark! You know you sent it. Just admit it.”

Mark shook his head. “No, I didn’t! I would never do that.”

Tears streamed down my face. “How could you, Mark? I trusted you!”

Laura threw the invitation at him and stormed out. The room was silent, except for the sound of my sobs.

Mark’s family exchanged shocked glances. His mother covered her mouth, his father looked bewildered, and his siblings whispered among themselves.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and ran out of the house, needing to get away from the chaos and confusion.