My husband booked dinner with his lover, I booked the table right next to him and invited someone who made him feel ashamed for the rest of his life…

I answered for him:

“I invited him. Since you planned a special dinner, I thought I deserved one too.”

The young woman’s face paled, her eyes darting between us. The silence around that table grew suffocating.

Mark lowered his head, clutching his napkin. I, on the other hand, cut into my steak leisurely, as though it were just another evening out.

Daniel leaned toward me and asked gently:

“Do you want to say anything to him?”

I studied Mark for a long moment, then shook my head.

“No need. His choices already said it all—the place, the woman, and the fact that I chose to sit right here.”

I set down my utensils, dabbed my lips, and rose to leave.

“Daniel, thank you for coming. I think dinner is over for tonight.”

Daniel stood, courteously pulling out my chair. Before leaving, he cast Mark a look that mixed pity with disappointment.

Mark couldn’t utter a single word. I walked away, heels clicking against the marble floor. Behind me, a glass clinked sharply against a plate—I didn’t know if it slipped from his hand or if he simply broke under the pressure.