Your marriage with Lando had been steady and strong for two years. It wasn’t always perfect — what marriage ever is? — but it had been yours. Full of love, laughter, and small, tender moments that bound you together. At least, that was until this week. Something had shifted. Lando had come back for the two-week break, and it felt as if he’d brought a stranger home with him. His once warm gaze now avoided yours, and the silences between you grew louder with each passing day.

The gala that evening was supposed to be for charity. At least, that’s what he told you. You’d spent hours perfecting your look, choosing a gown that hugged your curves in all the right places, styling your hair to frame your face just the way he liked. You wanted to remind him of who you were, what you were to him. But as you walked into the grand venue, your hand lightly brushing his arm, his distant demeanor remained. He barely looked at you, and every attempt at conversation fell flat.

The room was alive with energy. Music played softly in the background, the clinking of glasses blending with bursts of laughter. You stood by Lando, plastering on a polite smile as he navigated the crowd with practiced ease. The place was packed, and your gaze flicked over the sea of younger, radiant faces. They twirled on the dance floor, their laughter light and carefree, their dresses shimmering under the chandelier lights. They looked effortlessly perfect, and you couldn’t help but feel a twinge of insecurity creeping in.

Then you saw it. The smile. Not just any smile — the smile he used to reserve for you, the one that used to light up your world. But it wasn’t for you tonight. Lando was across the room, his attention caught by one of the young women laughing with her group of friends. She turned toward him, and he smiled at her, his eyes crinkling in a way that made your stomach drop.