Gina Heslop
That day started as one of the happiest in my life. My wife, Natalie, and I had just left the doctor’s office, filled with joy after hearing our baby’s heartbeat for the first time. It was a moment we had been waiting for, and we couldn’t have been happier.
As we walked to the car, I was still smiling, thinking about our future as parents. But my happiness was suddenly shattered when I saw something shocking on my car. On the driver’s side door, written in big letters, were the words: “Hope She Was Worth It.”
My heart started pounding. I stood frozen, staring at the message, confused and unsettled. “What the hell?” I muttered. Natalie, standing beside me, looked just as shocked. “What is this? Do you think someone made a mistake and wrote it on the wrong car?” she asked.
I wanted to believe it was some random act of vandalism, but deep down, I felt uneasy. Who would write something like that? And why?
Natalie quickly defended herself, insisting she had no idea what it meant. I didn’t accuse her, but doubt started creeping into my mind. We got into the car and drove home, but the message haunted me. It was all I could think about.
That evening, Natalie went to spend the night at her parents’ house, and I was left alone with my thoughts. Unable to sleep, I went outside and started scrubbing the message off my car. As I worked, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me.
Then, a familiar voice said, “Don’t bother thanking me, you’re welcome.”
I turned around and saw my best friend, Adrian. My stomach tightened. “Adrian, what is going on?” I asked, confused.
Adrian hesitated for a moment before finally revealing the truth. On the night of our engagement party, while I was busy entertaining guests and having a few drinks, Natalie had disappeared for quite some time. My friends had noticed it, exchanging glances, but no one ever said a word to me.
Adrian had been waiting for Natalie to confess, but since she never did, he decided to take matters into his own hands by leaving the message on my car. “I did this because I thought she would finally tell you the truth,” he said.
I felt my chest tighten. I wanted to believe it was all a misunderstanding, but I needed answers. The next day, I confronted Natalie. At first, she insisted it was just a random act of vandalism. But when I asked about the night of our engagement, she broke down in tears.
Through sobs, she admitted that she had been scared. The thought of getting engaged, getting married—it had all been overwhelming for her. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if she was making the right decision. She had stepped away from the party to clear her head, to think about whether she was truly ready for this commitment.
But then, she looked me in the eyes and swore that she had never cheated on me. She had doubts, yes, but in the end, she chose to stay.
I searched her face for any sign of dishonesty, but all I saw was pain and regret. In that moment, I made a choice. I would trust her. I wouldn’t let a moment of doubt from our past ruin the life we were building together.
Adrian didn’t believe our marriage would last, but I knew better. This was my wife, the mother of my child. And I wasn’t going to let one night define the rest of our lives.
