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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
My wife, Rachel, and I had just returned from our honeymoon when her best friend let slip that our relationship began as a pity date. Devastated, I fled to a motel, but when I returned home seeking answers, I discovered Rachel had been hiding an even darker secret.Just yesterday, I thought I was the luckiest man in the world. I\u2019d just returned from an amazing honeymoon with the woman of my dreams, and we were settling down to start the rest of our lives together.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
A happy newlywed couple | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
Our closest friends, Dan and Emily, had come over for a \u201cwelcome home from your honeymoon\u201d dinner. Everything was going great until Emily started slurring her words.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s always when the truth comes out, isn\u2019t it? Tongues get loose when the wine flows a little too freely and people say things they shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Rachel had outdone herself with dinner, as usual. The remains of her famous lasagna sat cooling on the coffee table, and the scent of garlic bread still lingered in the air.<\/p>\n
She always went the extra mile when we hosted, even for casual get-togethers like this. It was one of the countless things I loved about her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, these pictures are gorgeous,\u201d Emily gushed, swiping through photos on Rachel\u2019s phone. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the third (or was it the fourth?) glass of cabernet. \u201cThe Maldives must\u2019ve cost a fortune though.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed, catching Dan\u2019s eye. \u201cDon\u2019t remind me. Between the wedding expenses and the honeymoon, I\u2019ll be eating ramen for months. I still can\u2019t believe the flowers cost $3,500!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nA man joking during dinner | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
Dan whistled. \u201cRemind me not to use your florist when Emily and I tie the knot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel tensed beside me, so slightly I almost missed it. Almost. Looking back now, I should have noticed how she\u2019d been flinching just a little whenever money came up.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre your Dad\u2019s treatments going any better?\u201d Dan asked Rachel, reaching for his wine glass. \u201cLast time you mentioned they were trying something new?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel\u2019s smile faltered for just a moment. \u201cHe has good days and bad days. Mom\u2019s keeping me updated\u2026 she sounded hopeful the last time we spoke.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nA serious-looking woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
I leaned over and rubbed her arm. Rachel\u2019s father had been sick for a while and it was hard for her since her parents lived on the opposite end of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s great to hear!\u201d Dan grinned. \u201cIt\u2019s a pity he couldn\u2019t make it to your wedding, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, I was just thinking,\u201d Emily butted in dreamily, her wine glass dangerously close to spilling, \u201cyou two have come so far. Remember when I first suggested you give Alex a chance, Rach?\u201d<\/p>\n
The room suddenly felt too warm, too small. Rachel\u2019s hand found mine, squeezing tight enough to hurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cEm, maybe we should\u2014\u201d Dan started, but Emily was already barreling forward, oblivious to the growing tension.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook how happy you are today! And I feel some sense of pride looking at you two.\u201d Emily\u2019s words were starting to run together, her filter completely dissolved by alcohol. \u201cYou didn\u2019t even want to give this guy a chance and only agreed when I pestered you to go on a pity date with him. Your plan was to let him down easy after, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
The silence that followed was deafening. My hand went slack in Rachel\u2019s grip and the lasagna in my stomach turned to lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a pity date?\u201d I turned to Rachel.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlex,\u201d Rachel whispered, her voice trembling. \u201cIt\u2019s not like that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcept it is, apparently.\u201d The words felt like glass in my throat. \u201cAnd our whole relationship is built on a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My wife, Rachel, and I had just returned from our honeymoon when her best friend let slip that our relationship began as a pity date. Devastated, I… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n