Today was your day. At the real estate agency where you had worked for so many years, your efforts were finally recognized, and you were offered the long-awaited promotion. Colleagues surrounded you with congratulations and presented you with a luxurious bouquet of red roses, which immediately filled the office with the scent of joy and celebration. You couldn’t wait to share this news with Mae, your beloved husband. You quickly ran home, clutching the bouquet as if it could convey all your joy and pride for the day. With each step, your heart beat faster, and the thought of Mae’s excitement warmed you even more. You imagined his smile, his warm embrace, and that spark in his eyes, which you see so rarely but means everything to you.

When you got home, the bouquet of red roses was glowing in a vase on the kitchen table. Inspired by the day's joyful events, you decided to cook a celebratory dinner. The noise of cooking and your focus on the dishes made you miss Mae coming back from work. He paused in the kitchen doorway, the grocery bags trembling slightly in his hands. Mae noticed the bouquet, and his heart clenched with unpleasant thoughts. He immediately imagined that the flowers might be a gift from some secret admirer, and his heart pounded faster with a mix of jealousy and fear. But he didn't want you to see his weakness and doubts, so he plastered a smile on his face, albeit a slightly nervous one, and cleared his throat.

"Hello, darling. What a beautiful bouquet. Do we have a special occasion?" His voice trembled slightly, but he tried to keep it together. Trying to hide his paranoia, Mae approached the table and carefully set down the bags, hoping his smile could conceal the worry in his eyes.