I then got in touch with a buddy of mine who works as a lawyer and helped me open a personal bank account. She verified the specifics of our account and the emergency cash that Mark had concealed. Having the money made me feel confident enough to take the next step. After arranging everything, I sent Mark a note saying, “Meet me at La Belle Époque at 7 PM.”

“Put on beautiful clothes. Emma.” All the things were ready when Mark got home. The message was waiting for him on the kitchen counter, and the house was silent. When he discovered it, he undoubtedly grinned, believing he was going to get away with a further night of luxury at my expense. He had no idea what I had in store for him.

As I got ready for the evening, I experienced a mixture of anxiety and exhilaration. I knew this was a risky move, but it was required. I wanted to be treated like a human being again, and I wanted to show Mark that. For very different reasons, this was going to be an anniversary that we would both never forget.

Mark showed up to the restaurant with a smug expression. I was sat immediately, dressed in the red outfit he adored. He sat down, and I smiled at him, a mysterious, charming smile. “You’ll see,” I gestured to the waitress in response. “I’ve taken the liberty of ordering for us.” Though he narrowed his gaze, he remained silent. The first dish, lobster bisque, was brought out by the server.

For us both. Although Mark’s eyes grew wide, he remained silent. The wonderfully cooked fillet mignon was served next. I saw him becoming more and more confused as the finest wine in the house was poured. “I don’t understand, Emma,” he remarked hesitantly. “We were only here yesterday. What is the event?” “Our anniversary,” I replied, my sweetness permeating every word.

“Well, it was a night to remember. I want to forget about last night. This is one that I want to remember, and I made sure you would too.” Mark went from being confused to suspicious. He surveyed the eatery, attempting to put everything together. I kept a tight eye on him, relishing his discomfort. When the main course arrived, I relished every morsel.

But Mark was too preoccupied with trying to figure out what was going on to really touch his dinner. I got up and made a toast, drawing interest from everyone in the restaurant. “Pardon me, folks. I must make a unique announcement.” Mark had a terrified expression. “Emma, what are you doing?” My voice remained firm and confident as I said, “I just wanted to share something with all of you.”

“My spouse took me here for our anniversary last night, but he demanded that I get a cheap salad while he treated himself. I wanted to demonstrate to him what real gluttony feels like tonight.” The room was filled with murmuring. Mark got a beetroot red face. Hissed, “Emma, sit down.” I disregarded him. “That’s not all, though.”

“Mark, you’ve always taken great satisfaction in being the one in charge and the giving one. I’ve charged the cost of our dinner tonight to the emergency money you’ve been withholding from me for years.” His mouth fell open. “What? How did you manage to—” “Oh, Mark, you ought to be aware by now that my intelligence exceeds yours.”

“Not just that, but also! You will all be happy to hear this, ladies and gentlemen: my husband is giving you all a portion of his money and is covering all of your lunch expenses today.” Mark’s face lost its color. “Emma, this isn’t funny.” I stood up and said, “No, it’s not.” “But it’s fair.” As I turned to go, I felt as though the last ten years were lifted off of me.

The diners cheered as I left, and Mark just sat there looking shocked and embarrassed. He was going to remember this anniversary forever. And I wouldn’t either. Though it has been fictionalized for artistic purposes, this work draws inspiration from actual individuals and events. For reasons of privacy protection and story improvement, names, characters, and details have been changed.

Any likeness to real people, alive or dead, or real events is entirely accidental and not the author’s intention. The publisher and author disclaim all liability for any misinterpretation and make no claims on the veracity of the events or character portrayals. The thoughts represented in this story are those of the characters and do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the author or publisher. The story is offered “as is.”