My Egotistical Husband: Assumption over Facts

The clinking of glasses and soft music filled the private dining room, but Tulip barely tasted her food. She had spent the entire day preparing for this moment. It was their third wedding anniversary, and she wanted to believe that tonight would be different. Maybe Harvey would finally look at her the way he used to. Maybe he would smile again, not the cold, polite one he gave to strangers, but the real one she fell in love with. She looked across the table at him. He was scrolling through his phone, his expression flat, the glow from the screen reflecting on his sharp face. Even now, he was breathtaking. His dark hair was brushed back neatly, his suit perfectly tailored. To the world, Harvey Reed was the kind of man everyone admired. To Tulip, he was the man she loved but no longer recognized. “I made your favorite,” she said softly, trying to start a conversation. “Steak and red wine.” He didn’t look up. “I noticed,” he said, his voice low and cool. “You always know what I like.” The words should have sounded kind, but they didn’t. There was no warmth in them, only distance. Tulip forced a smile. “Then why does it feel like you don’t like me anymore?” That made him swiftly look at her. His eyes were dark and unreadable. “What are you talking about?” “You barely talk to me, Harvey. You come home late. You sleep in the guest room. I don’t even know what’s going on with you anymore.” He leaned back, his jaw tight. “You know exactly what’s going on, Tulip.” Her heart sank. The same argument again. “If this is about Chris, I’ve told you a thousand times, there’s nothing between us. He’s your best friend. He’s mine too. You’re imagining things.” Harvey laughed quietly, but there was no humor in it. “My best friend. Right. Funny how my best friend calls my wife every day, texts her, and somehow you always have something to discuss behind my back.” Tulip’s voice broke. “Because you’re never around, Harvey. You’re always busy with Augusta.” At that name, his expression darkened. “Augusta works for me. She manages my company’s image, not my personal life.” “Then why do people whisper that she’s the reason you don’t come home?” He slammed his hand on the table. The wine glasses rattled. Tulip jumped. “Enough,” he said coldly. “I don’t want to hear another word about Augusta. You should be more worried about your own behavior.” Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “I can’t do this anymore, Harvey. I’ve been patient. I’ve loved you even when you made it hard to. But I can’t keep living like a stranger in my own marriage.” He stared at her for a long time, his expression softening for just a second, then hardening again. “Then maybe you shouldn’t,” he said quietly. “Maybe we both need space.” Tulip’s lips trembled. “You’re saying we should separate?” Harvey stood up, adjusting his suit jacket. “I’m saying you should think about what you really want.” He walked out of the big dining room, leaving her sitting there with her untouched dinner and a heart that felt like it was breaking apart piece by piece. ** Later that night, Tulip sat in their huge bedroom, staring at the photo of their wedding day. Harvey was smiling in it, holding her like she was his whole world. How had they ended up like this? Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Chris. Are you okay? I heard Harvey left the dinner early. Tulip typed back slowly. I’m fine. Just tired. A second later, another message came. He doesn’t deserve you, Tulip. You’re the kindest woman I know. She hesitated. Chris had always been there for her, listening when Harvey wouldn’t. But his words made her uneasy tonight. She put her phone away and wiped her tears. She didn’t want another man’s comfort. She wanted her husband’s love. The door opened suddenly. Harvey stood there, his face unreadable. “We need to talk,” he said. Tulip’s heart skipped. “Now?” “Yes.” He stepped closer, his voice sharp. “Did you enjoy texting Chris after our little dinner fight?” Her stomach dropped. “You went through my phone?” “I had to,” he snapped. “I needed to know how far this has gone.” “It hasn’t gone anywhere,” she said, her voice shaking. “He’s just a friend.” Harvey laughed bitterly. “You really expect me to believe that? I saw the way he looks at you. You think I’m blind?” “Stop twisting things, Harvey,” she said, her voice breaking. “You’re the one spending nights with Augusta, not me.” “That’s enough!” he shouted. The room went silent. For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then Tulip whispered, “Do you even love me anymore?” Harvey’s face softened for just a moment, but he said nothing. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “That’s all I needed to know.” She walked past him and closed the bathroom door, locking it behind her. Inside, she slid to the floor, covering her face with her hands. Harvey stood on the other side of the door, his hand hovering near the knob. His chest ached. He wanted to tell her the truth, that he still loved her, that he was only cold because he was terrified of losing her. But his pride kept him silent. He turned and walked out again. Tulip stayed there for a long time, crying quietly until she was empty. When she finally stepped out, the bedroom was dark. Harvey was gone. Only the scent of his cologne lingered in the air, fading slowly like everything else between them. Her phone buzzed once more. A new message. From Augusta. You might want to ask your husband where he really was tonight. Tulip stared at the message, her heart pounding. She typed back shakily, Who is this? She saw who it was but she couldn't make herself accept it. The reply came almost instantly. The woman he can’t stay away from. The phone slipped from Tulip’s hand. She stood frozen, her heart breaking all over again.