On our third wedding anniversary,

I flew with my husband to Hawaii for a vacation.

As soon as the plane landed—

“David Carter, over here, bro!”

David and I turned toward the voice.

It was his so-called “sis,” Sophia Miller, jogging toward us.

She wore a revealing black dress, her curvy figure drawing stares from everyone around.

The moment she reached him, the two hugged tightly in front of me.

“I’ve been waiting forever.”

“Our flight was delayed.”

“You made my legs go numb from standing so long.”

“Here, let me massage them for you.”

Without a hint of hesitation, David crouched down and lifted Sophia’s leg onto his lap.

“That tickles… are you massaging or just feeling me up?”

“Don’t mind me, sis. My legs just went numb. I’ll borrow your husband for a bit. Once the feeling comes back, I’ll give him back to you.”

My face darkened as I watched David tending to her so intimately.

“This was supposed to be our anniversary trip. Why is she even here?”

…

When we arrived at the hotel, I kicked my suitcase over in anger. From the next room came Sophia’s cheerful laughter, stabbing into me like a knife.

From the airport to the hotel, David had carried her luggage, handed her water, even held an umbrella for her. The two of them acted like husband and wife. I was the outsider.

Even at the hotel, the first thing David did was deliver Sophia’s bags to her room.

Ten minutes later, he came into our room, finding me sitting silently on the bed. He acted as though nothing was wrong.

“Emily, why are you just sitting there? Unpack—we should go get some dinner soon.”

“You still haven’t answered me. We came to Hawaii for our anniversary, so why is your ‘sis’ also here?”

“Oh, Sophia? She had a business trip. Just happened to land one flight earlier than us.”

“Really? We come to Hawaii, and she just happens to have a business trip here?”

“Emily, you’re overthinking. It’s just a coincidence.”

David crouched in front of me, took my hand, kissed my cheek, and smiled.

“You know, Sophia and I are childhood friends. We grew up together, and what we have is the purest kind of friendship in the world. Nothing will ever happen between us—I swear to God! If anything ever did…”

I pressed my hand over his mouth. “I believe you.”

“Thank you, babe. I love only you in this lifetime.”

He leaned in again to kiss me, but I shoved him away.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Where did that lipstick stain on your collar come from?”

“Lipstick stain? Oh… right, that must’ve been when Sophia was joking around earlier. She smudged it on me by accident.”

His explanation froze half my heart.

“Did she kiss you, or did you kiss her?”

“Babe, she was just fooling around. Let me call her to explain.”

Soon after, David called Sophia, ordering her in a harsh tone to come over immediately.

Moments later, she arrived.

“What’d you drag me here for? To be the third wheel?”

“You tell my wife where this lipstick came from.”

David pointed at his collar.

“Don’t misunderstand, sis. I got a little dizzy, nearly fainted, and David caught me. I must’ve accidentally smudged my lipstick on him. If you’re mad at him, then be mad at me instead. I love giving this son of mine a good beating.”

Before I could speak, Sophia slipped off a sandal and chased David around the room, swinging it at him. He laughed and ran, the two of them teasing and playing like a couple.

My anger boiled over.

“Enough!” I shouted, shaking with rage.

The two froze.

“Babe, you…”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Shouldn’t you be comforting your wife right now? Can’t you see she’s upset?” Sophia chimed in, pretending to scold him. “Sorry, sis. I didn’t think you’d be this petty. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have done it.”

I glared at them coldly, then grabbed my phone and booked an immediate return flight.

“Emily, we just got here—why are you booking tickets back already?”

“I won’t intrude on your honeymoon.”

“My God, what are you even saying?”

“Am I wrong?”

I turned to Sophia. “This is my room. Get out.”

Her eyes reddened instantly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered, “I’m sorry, sis,” before running out.

David spun on me, furious. “Emily, that was too much. Go apologize to Sophia right now!”

I stared at him in disbelief. He truly didn’t think he was at fault. To him, I was the one being unreasonable.

“Sophia is such a good girl. You shouldn’t have spoken to her that way. Go on, apologize.”

As he stepped toward me, I backed away.

“David, you’ve disappointed me. If she means so much to you, then fine—I’ll step aside!”

I grabbed my suitcase, ready to leave, but David rushed up and hugged me from behind.

“Don’t go, babe.”

“Let go of me!”

My whole body trembled. No one could imagine how much it hurt—to have my own husband take another woman’s side, even demanding that I apologize to her.

“Emily, Sophia and I were just fooling around. We didn’t think you’d take it so seriously.”

I shoved him away with all my strength.

“You two look so happy together. You tie her shoelaces, give her your jacket, remember her cycle, stay by her side when she’s sick. Even your friends gossip behind my back about it.”

“You and that ‘sis’ of yours act more like real husband and wife than we do.”

“David, I’ve had enough of this so-called friendship. I want a divorce!”

I shouted every word I had bottled up inside.

But instead of responding, he simply walked to the door—where a hotel waiter happened to be standing with a dessert cart. David grabbed a strawberry-chocolate sundae, Sophia’s favorite, and carried it straight to her room.

At that moment, my resolve to divorce hardened like stone.

When I stepped out with my suitcase, David came out of Sophia’s room, smiling as if nothing had happened.

“Babe, don’t worry. I just gave her the sundae she loves, and I even apologized on your behalf. She forgave you. She’s generous like that—it’s over now.”

I slapped him across the face, the sharp sound echoing.

“David, are you kidding me? When did I ever worry about her feelings? Who told you to apologize for me?”

“I’ve put up with this ‘sis’ of yours long enough. Step aside before I lose the last shred of my sanity!”

“Emily, can you stop being so unreasonable?”

Those words felt like knives in my chest. He was the one betraying me, yet he painted me as the villain.

“When we married, you knew how close Sophia and I were. Marriage doesn’t make me your slave. Can’t I have friends of my own? Stop acting like this is such a big deal—it’s over now.”

David slung his arm around me and led me back into the room, thinking the matter was settled.

That evening, the three of us went out together. I pretended to act normal, while David and Sophia laughed and teased each other again.

“I’m tired, bro,” she pouted.

“What do you want?”

“Carry me!”

“Alright, alright.”

David glanced at me first. Seeing no reaction, he bent down and carried her on his back.

At dinner, the two fed each other bites of food, completely ignoring me.

“You two eat. I’ll go pick something up,” I muttered, leaving with my purse.

David didn’t even ask where I was going.

The moment I stepped outside, I saw them kissing openly. Rage nearly made me bite through my own lip.

When I returned, they were nowhere to be seen—until they emerged together from the restroom, Sophia’s flushed face betraying everything.

I smirked coldly.

Later, David announced he had rented a yacht for the next day. Sophia dragged him off to help her pick out swimsuits, while I returned to the hotel alone.

The following morning, we boarded the yacht.

“David, come rub some sunscreen on me, bro!”

“Coming.”

On the deck, Sophia stood in a skimpy bikini, flaunting her body while David eagerly hurried over to help her. She shot me a taunting look.