Mark had planned a grand celebration for their tenth wedding anniversary at “La Belle Époque,” the town’s most prestigious restaurant. He had promised Emma a night of luxury and indulgence. But instead of celebrating their milestone, he humiliated her by ordering her a meager salad while he indulged in a lavish meal. Little did Mark know, this night would spark a plan that would make him—and the entire restaurant—regret his cruelty.
The restaurant was the epitome of elegance, with crystal chandeliers casting a soft, golden glow over the rich velvet chairs and impeccably set tables. Emma had dreamed of a night filled with fine food, sparkling wine, and loving toasts. But as they settled into their seats, she noticed something strange—the waitstaff exchanged knowing glances with Mark, as if they were part of a secret.
“Order anything you like, dear,” Mark said with a forced smile. Emma’s heart fluttered with excitement as she scanned the menu, imagining the rich dishes she could choose.
“I’ll start with the lobster bisque and then the filet mignon,” she said, her anticipation bubbling over.
Mark’s smile tightened. “How about you stick to a house salad? Keep it light, you’re trying to lose weight, remember? Maybe next time you’ll fit into that red dress I love.”
His words hit her like a slap. Emma looked around, feeling the room close in on her as embarrassment and hurt washed over her. Was this a cruel joke? The cold look in his eyes told her it was no joke.
“Mark, it’s our anniversary,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“You thought wrong,” he snapped. He waved over the waiter and ordered for both of them—her, a sad little salad; for himself, the most expensive steak on the menu, paired with a bottle of fine wine. The waiter gave Emma a sympathetic look but took the order without a word.
As the evening dragged on, Mark savored every bite of his meal, making a show of how tender the steak was and how exquisite the wine tasted. Emma picked at her salad, feeling anger bubble beneath the surface. When dessert came, Mark enjoyed a rich chocolate soufflé, not bothering to offer her any, simply declaring she was done for the night.
Emma sat in silence, seething with humiliation. But as Mark smugly enjoyed his dessert, Emma made a decision. She would make sure Mark remembered this anniversary for all the wrong reasons.
The next day, while Mark was at work, Emma put her plan into action. She called in favors, including one from a friend who worked at the restaurant. With the restaurant manager’s help, she reserved the same table for the next evening and borrowed the red dress Mark had always admired but criticized her for not fitting into.
Emma also contacted a lawyer friend to finalize some financial arrangements. It turned out Mark had been hiding an emergency fund, a stash of money he thought Emma didn’t know about. But she had found it, and now she had access to it. With everything set, she left a simple note for Mark on the kitchen counter: “Meet me at La Belle Époque at 7 PM. Dress nicely. – Emma.”
When Mark arrived at the restaurant that evening, he was surprised to see Emma already seated, looking stunning in the red dress. He sat down, still smug, thinking he was in for another night of indulgence at her expense. But tonight, Emma was in control.
“I’ve taken the liberty of ordering for us,” Emma said sweetly, signaling the waiter. The first course was lobster bisque, followed by filet mignon, perfectly cooked. Mark’s confusion grew with each lavish dish that arrived.
“Emma, what’s going on?” Mark finally asked, suspicion in his voice.
“Our anniversary,” she replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “A night to remember, just like you wanted.”
As the meal continued, Emma watched Mark squirm in his seat, his confidence fading. After the main course, she stood up and raised her glass to get the attention of the entire restaurant.
“Excuse me, everyone,” Emma began, her voice clear and strong. “Last night, my husband brought me here for our anniversary and ordered me a cheap salad while he indulged himself. Tonight, I wanted to show him what true indulgence feels like.”
The room fell silent, all eyes on Emma. Mark’s face turned a deep shade of red as he realized what was happening.
“Emma, stop this,” he hissed, but she ignored him.
“But that’s not all,” she continued, her voice steady. “Tonight, I paid for our meal using the emergency fund my husband has been hiding from me for years. And to top it off, my generous husband will be paying for everyone’s meal tonight!”
Gasps and murmurs spread through the room as Emma turned to leave. Mark was left sitting alone, stunned and humiliated, as the diners erupted into applause.
Emma walked out of the restaurant with her head held high, feeling a decade’s worth of resentment lift from her shoulders. This was an anniversary neither of them would ever forget—but for very different reasons.
