I Brought My Husband a Surprise Meal at Work and Found Out He Had Been Dismissed Three Months Earlier

When I surprised my husband with lunch at work, I learned he’d been unemployed for months. This discovery unraveled our 20-year marriage. I packed Jonathan’s favorite lasagna, but the security guard said he was laid off. Confused, I followed him to a café where he met several women. Confronting him, he admitted he quit to direct a play, using $50,000 of our savings. Furious, I demanded he stop or we’d divorce. He chose the play.

We divorced, and I fought to recover my share of the savings. His play flopped, and he begged to reconcile, but I’d moved on. I attended the lackluster premiere and left early. Later, I planned a Europe trip with my sister and considered moving with my kids for a fresh start. Jonathan got a job offer in Chicago, and we agreed on visitation. Though painful, the betrayal led me to a hopeful new beginning.