When Ada’s husband’s family stopped having their traditional monthly dinners, she knew something was wrong.
But what she discovered at a local restaurant changed her relationship with her in-laws and revealed a shocking truth about her sister-in-law.
I have been married to Max for three years, and we dated for two years before that.
His family had this wonderful tradition where Max’s parents, his two brothers, and their partners would all get together for dinner once a month.
They had a particular restaurant they loved with warm lighting and cozy but fancy chairs that made every dinner feel special. I loved these gatherings. The warm buzz of conversation, plates clinking, and laughter filling the air made me feel like I truly belonged.
Until I didn’t.
Recently, the monthly dinners stopped and were replaced by Max’s sudden weekly work outings.
“Sorry, honey.
This project is taking longer than I expected. I have another dinner with the partners and my coworkers again,” Max said one evening, adjusting his tie in our bedroom mirror.
I sat on the edge of our bed, watching him. “That’s the third time this week.
Is everything okay at the office?”
“Yeah, yeah. We just need to close this deal, and these people love talking about business while eating, so I can’t skip these,” he clarified but wouldn’t meet my eyes in the mirror.
This had never happened before. While I wasn’t suspicious of him exactly, something felt off.
We’d been having some relationship issues lately, nothing major, just that distance that sometimes creeps in when you both get too busy with life.
Our easy conversations had shortened, and our usually comfortable silences had become awkward.
“Maybe we could have dinner together tomorrow night?” I suggested. “I could cook that pasta you like.”
“I can’t tomorrow. There’s another meeting, and I’m sure it’ll go long.” He kissed my forehead quickly.
“Don’t wait up.”
I let him go without another word because honestly, I knew the project was real. But I was starting to feel… lonely.
One evening, days later, I got tired of sitting alone at home, so I decided to meet my girlfriends at a local café. I was laughing with them and thinking about how long it had been since I felt so lighthearted when I turned to the window.
The restaurant across the street was Max’s family’s favorite spot for monthly dinners.
The food there was incredible. Maybe, for our next girlfriend gathering, I would suggest going there instead.
As I stirred my latte, Sarah, my best friend, was telling a story about her newest dating disaster.
“So then he tells me his pet python is actually in the car and would I like to—” She stopped mid-sentence. “Ada?
Are you okay?”
I wasn’t listening to her. A familiar silhouette had caught my eye, and through the restaurant’s wide front window, I finally noticed my husband sitting. But he wasn’t with colleagues.
He was surrounded by his entire family, laughing and talking like it was a usual dinner… like I wasn’t missed.
My coffee turned bitter in my mouth. “I… I need to go,” I mumbled to Sarah, throwing some cash on the table. I considered confronting them but ultimately decided to go home.
The following week, when Max said he had another work dinner, I waited 30 minutes before getting in my car and following him.
I parked down the street from the restaurant and waited.
Sure enough, I saw them all arrive in their separate cars and go inside. They sat in the corner, right by the window again, as if no one was missing.
I got out of the car and went into the restaurant discreetly for a better view.
Roseanne, my mother-in-law, was passing around a basket of garlic knots. Daniel, Max’s eldest brother, was showing something on his phone that had everyone laughing.
Even Franklin, Max’s other older brother, and his fiancée Karina were there, looking at ease despite their perpetually stalled engagement.
“Can I help you?” the hostess appeared in front of me, making me jump.
“No, I… I just remembered I forgot something in my car,” I stammered, backing away before anyone noticed me.
Outside, I leaned against the brick wall, taking a deep breath. What could I do now?
And then, Karina came out, clutching her phone in her ear. She hadn’t noticed me.
When she finished her call, I approached her.
“Why wasn’t I invited?” I asked. “What happened to the monthly dinners?”
She jumped and turned. As soon as she noticed it was me, her eyes turned cold.
“Sometimes you don’t belong here,” she said, then walked to the door, giving me a parting blow, “Some of us have been part of this family longer than you.”
Her words stung, and I drove home in a daze, barely seeing the road through my tears. But anger replaced hurt because Max clung to the excuse of meeting work colleagues the following Saturday.
When he left, I followed only 15 minutes later, and I burst right inside the restaurant.
“So the family gatherings are just happening without me from now on?” I asked, my voice carrying over their laughter.
They all froze. Max’s face went pale.
Robert stopped mid-bite of his pasta. Olivia, Daniel’s wife, suddenly became very interested in her water glass.
“Ada, I can explain—” Max started, standing up.
“Save it,” I said, lifting my hand. “I thought I was part of this family.
I thought that’s what this ring meant. But I guess I was wrong.”
“Oh, sweetheart, no,” Roseanne said quickly, reaching for her purse. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled out an envelope.
“We weren’t going to show you this yet, but…”
“Mom, wait,” Max protested, running his hand through his hair. “This isn’t how I wanted—”
“It’s time,” she said firmly. “We can’t let her think we don’t want her… here, Ada, dear
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