12/13/2025
I found out my wife was seeing my cousin behind my back — I didn't fight. I invited him over for dinner the next day. My wife, Nora, and I have been together for ten years. Stable, ordinary, predictable — the kind of marriage people assume is unshakeable. We have a six-year-old daughter. That Friday, I came home earlier than usual because my afternoon meeting got canceled. Nora didn't hear me walk in — she was in the backyard, laughing. Her voice, and another one. A male voice. I moved closer to the sliding door. It was Jason. My cousin. My childhood best friend, practically a brother. I stayed hidden. Nora laughed and said, "He doesn't even notice anything anymore. He's so busy being 'responsible.'" Jason replied with a low chuckle, "Well, I notice you. I always have." Then came the sound — unmistakable soft kissing. It felt like someone had punched me, but instead of reacting, everything inside me went still. Ice-cold clarity. I stepped back, opened the front door loudly, and walked inside as if I'd just arrived. By the time I entered the backyard, they were standing apart, smiling too widely. Jason waved casually. "Hey man! Just helping Nora fix the garden hose." Sure. The next morning, I made breakfast, helped my daughter get ready for school, kissed Nora on the forehead like nothing had happened. When she left to run errands, I texted Jason. "Hey, can you come over for dinner tomorrow? I want to talk to you about something important. Family stuff." He replied instantly: "Of course. What time?" "Seven," I wrote. He had absolutely no idea what kind of "family conversation" he was walking into. "Perfect," I typed back, smiling for the first time since yesterday. ⬇️