### The Anniversary Surprise

Maya Johnson stood in front of the bedroom mirror, adjusting her light sea-green summer dress. Sun rays filtered through the sheer curtains, washing the room in golden hues. Today was a special day—her and Elias’s third wedding anniversary. She had decided to surprise her husband by visiting him at work with his favorite cream puffs from the Sugarmill Bakery.

Elias Hayes, her husband, was the director of a large construction firm, Apex Global Construction (AGC). He usually came home late, exhausted, but he always found time to listen to her stories of the day. Maya worked as a child psychologist at a private development center, and her workday finished earlier. She decided to use this extra time to cheer up her beloved. Checking the clock, she saw it was 3:30. Maya grabbed her purse and the box of pastries. The trip to the office usually took about twenty minutes. She imagined how surprised Elias would be.

The AGC corporate office was a modern seven-story complex of glass and concrete. Maya had been there several times for corporate events and knew the way to her husband’s office. However, a security guard stopped her at the entrance—a heavy-set man in his 50s. His badge read “Harrison.”

“Hold up,” he said, raising his hand. “Entry is prohibited to unauthorized personnel. Do you have an access pass or an appointment?”

Maya was surprised. He was probably new. “I’m Elias Hayes’s wife, the director of the firm. I wanted to give my husband a surprise.”

The guard looked at her intently, but no recognition registered in his eyes. “My apologies, ma’am, but I see the director’s wife practically every day, and you are definitely not her. In fact, here she comes now.”

Maya turned and saw a tall, slender woman walking toward the exit, her dark hair pulled back in an elegant bun. She wore an expensive business suit and carried a designer handbag. The woman looked poised and familiar. Maya’s heart leaped. She recognized her. It was Olivia Price, Elias’s ex-wife, whom he had divorced five years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

“Miss Olivia,” the guard called out. “I’ll see you at the usual time tomorrow.”

“Of course, Mr. Harrison,” she replied in a melodious voice. “Tell Mr. Hayes that I had to leave for a business matter. I’ll see him tomorrow afternoon.”

Olivia passed Maya without a glance and headed toward the parking lot. Maya almost choked. Her thoughts spun in a whirlwind. *See you at the usual time tomorrow?* Why was his ex-wife at her husband’s office every day? And why did the guard know her so well?

Making a quick decision, Maya decided to play along. “Excuse me, I must have the wrong building.”

The guard, satisfied that he had unmasked an impostor, politely explained how to get to another department. Maya went up to the third floor, but instead of heading to human resources, she took the elevator to the fifth floor where Elias’s office was located.

She cautiously peeked around the corner. Elias’s office was at the end of the long hallway, his door slightly ajar. She could see him sitting at his massive desk, focused on reviewing some documents. Just then, the associate director, Mark Dixon, a man with a kind face, entered the office.

“Elias, how are things going with the Parkside Boulevard project? Miss Olivia submitted all the necessary paperwork.”

Maya’s heart began to beat faster. So Olivia really *was* involved with work.

“Yes, everything is in order,” Elias replied. “She’ll bring the final calculations tomorrow. We wouldn’t have been able to handle this project without her.”

“It’s a good thing you two were able to maintain a working relationship,” Dixon commented. “Although I understand why you’re keeping this collaboration quiet.”

“Olivia is a professional,” Elias responded briefly. “And as for Maya, I simply don’t want to give her unnecessary reasons to worry. She can be too sensitive about these things sometimes.”

Maya felt everything contract inside her. It turned out that Elias was not only maintaining a relationship with his ex-wife but was also working with her and consciously hiding it, considering her “too sensitive.”

She quickly left the building. Olivia was already driving away, but Maya memorized her license plate.

—
### Seeds of Doubt

The entire bus ride home, Maya was lost in thought. Why was Elias hiding this? What was the Parkside Boulevard project? And could she trust a husband who considered her so immature?

At home, she mechanically placed the pastries on the kitchen counter and waited. He was delayed until 9:30.

“Hey, sweetie,” he said, kissing her tiredly on the cheek. “Sorry I’m late. So much work. I was delayed with important negotiations.”

“What negotiations?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“The Parkside Boulevard project,” he said, surprised by her interest. “Complex technical matters. What’s going on? You seem a little strange.”

Maya wanted to ask about Olivia but stopped herself. “I bought your favorite cream puffs. I wanted to bring them to the office, but I changed my mind.”

“Thanks,” Elias smiled. “Why to the office? It’s cozier at home. Besides, we’re in such a tense situation with the project right now. Constant meetings.”

This definitively convinced Maya that her husband was hiding something. If everything were honest, he would have been happy about her desire to visit.

The next morning, Maya decided to use her free afternoon to find out what was going on. Her conscience tormented her, but the desire for truth was stronger. She arrived at the AGC office building and sat on a bench across the street. Olivia’s silver Honda was already in the parking lot.

At 3:30, Olivia left the building and walked to a small cafe, Benny’s Corner Bistro. Through the window, Maya saw her sit down. Soon, an older woman joined her with a child—a boy about five or six years old. He hugged Olivia, and she stroked his head and kissed him. Then the three of them walked to a nearby playground.

Maya froze. Her throat went dry. *Was it possible? Did Elias have a child from his first marriage that he had never told her about?*

She watched them on the playground, scrutinizing the boy’s features. Dark hair like Elias’s. The shape of his eyes. The chin—exactly like Elias’s. With trembling hands, Maya took several photos on her phone. Her heart was beating so loudly it felt like the whole street could hear it. How could he have lied to her all this time?

When Elias came home, Maya studied his face, trying to find signs of guilt.

“Sweetie, you’re acting strange again,” he noted. “Did something happen?”

Maya almost cracked but held back. “I’m just tired,” she lied. “A lot of work at the center.”

“How about we go somewhere this weekend?” he suggested. “Just you and me.”

For some reason, this statement didn’t reassure her. It made her even more uneasy. What if he did have plans involving Olivia and the boy, and he was lying again?

—
### The Investigation

On Friday, Maya decided to act more decisively. After work, she went to the AGC parking lot. Olivia’s silver Honda was in its usual spot. Maya cautiously peered inside. In the back seat was a child’s backpack decorated with superheroes. Her heart pounded.

At 3:30, Olivia left the building, got into her car, and drove away. Maya called a ride-share and asked the driver to follow the silver Honda. “Following someone, huh?” the driver smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Something like that,” Maya replied.

Olivia drove to a residential neighborhood and stopped at an apartment building on Riverview Street. Maya followed her into the lobby and scanned the tenant list. Price, Celeste, apartment 43. *Price* was Olivia’s maiden name. This must be her sister.

Maya went up to the fourth floor. From the slightly ajar door of apartment 43, she could hear a woman’s voice and a child’s voice.

“Auntie Olivia, are we going to the park today?” the boy asked.

“Of course, Maxi. First, we’ll eat and give Mommy her medicine.”

“And when will Mommy be all better?”

“Soon, little man. The doctor said in about a week she can pick you up from daycare herself.”

Maya stood motionless. *Mommy is sick.* So that’s why Olivia was picking up the child. But this didn’t explain the main thing: whose child was he?

Half an hour later, Olivia and the boy, Max, came out of the building and drove downtown, stopping at a children’s clinic. Maya followed them inside and stood in line at the reception, observing.

“Next! Wells, Marcus Y.!” the nurse called out.

Maya listened attentively. *Wells.* The last name was different. The middle initial “Y” didn’t match Elias. The relief was so powerful that Maya almost burst into tears. But the joy quickly shifted to new questions. If the boy wasn’t Elias’s son, then who was he? And why did he resemble her husband so much?

After the clinic, Olivia and Max went to the park, where a pale and unwell young woman joined them—Olivia’s sister. Maya moved closer, pretending to photograph ducks, and managed to overhear their conversation.

“How are you feeling, Celeste?” Olivia asked.

“Better. Thank you so much for watching Max.”

“It’s nothing. He’s my nephew. And does Mr. Hayes object to you spending so much time on us?”

Maya tensed.

“Elias understands,” Olivia said. “He knows our situation. He even loaned me money for the treatment when I reached out. I’ll have to pay him back.”

Maya felt as if she had been struck by lightning. The boy’s resemblance to Elias was a coincidence.

—

 

 

 

 

### The Unraveling Truth

That evening, Maya felt relieved, but the secrecy still tormented her. Why didn’t he tell her he was helping his ex-wife? Did he trust her so little?

On Saturday, the tension was palpable. Elias’s phone rang twice, and both times he moved to another room to answer.

“Elias,” she finally said that evening. “I feel like something hasn’t been right between us lately. You’ve become distant.”

He paused. “There is a situation, but I don’t want to burden you with it.”

“Tell me,” she insisted. “We are husband and wife.”

Elias was silent for a long moment. “Celeste, Olivia’s sister, was recently in the hospital. Serious surgery. Olivia asked for help with her nephew.”

“And you’re helping?” she asked cautiously.

“Well, yes. Olivia sometimes works with us as an outside consultant, and now there’s this situation. I had to loan her money for the treatment.”

Maya noticed he was still not telling the whole truth. He presented the collaboration as “rare consultations,” not daily work.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I was afraid you would misunderstand,” he said, looking at her with guilt. “The ex-wife at work every day… any woman in your place wouldn’t be happy.”

“And what is there to misunderstand?” Maya felt both relief and offense. “You’re helping a sick woman and a child. That’s wonderful.”

“You’re not jealous?” he asked uncertainly.

“Of a sick woman and a child? Elias, you know I’m not like that.” But inside, the offense churned. Why was he so worried about her reaction? Did he consider her that jealous and petty?

—
### A New Beginning

On Monday, Maya decided to visit the AGC office one last time. At the entrance, she was again greeted by the guard, Harrison.

“Trying to get to the director again?” he smiled.

“Perhaps you’re mistaken,” Maya suggested. “Maybe that woman is just an employee.”

Harrison laughed. “What employee? Ms. Olivia has been working here for several months. She comes every day. The director takes her everywhere with him—to meetings, to construction sites. And just recently, he brought her flowers to her office. The vase is still right there.”

Maya’s heart dropped. *Flowers?*

Just then, Elias and Olivia entered the building, talking seriously. Maya made up her mind. She stepped out and walked straight toward them. “Elias,” she called out.

Her husband turned and froze. “Maya, what are you doing here?”

“I decided to bring you lunch,” she lied, holding up a bag from a cafe.

“Olivia, let me introduce you. This is my wife, Maya,” Elias said, tension in his voice. “Maya, this is Olivia Price, the architect.”

“Nice to meet you,” Olivia extended her hand. “Elias has told me so much about you.”

An uncomfortable silence followed. Finally, Olivia excused herself.

“Why did you come here?” Elias asked once they were alone.

“I wanted to meet her. You suggested it yourself.”

 

 

 

 

 

In his office, Maya’s eyes went straight to a beautiful vase of white roses on the windowsill. “Who gave them to you?”

Elias blushed slightly. “It’s a work gift from the team.”

Maya knew he was lying. Among the papers on his desk, she noticed a photograph of Elias and Olivia in hard hats, smiling. Olivia was leaning slightly toward him, almost touching his shoulder.

“Elias,” she said, “I think you’re still hiding something.”

Elias sighed heavily and sank into his chair. “Yes, she works here. She’s a top-level specialist. When we launched the Parkside Boulevard project, I offered her a permanent collaboration.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you would worry! The ex-wife at work every day!”

“Elias, I’m not any woman. I’m your wife, and I want the truth.”

He told her everything—about saving his marriage from office gossip, about the guard’s misunderstanding, and about the friendship he and Olivia had maintained.

That evening, when Elias was in the shower, Maya picked up his phone. The messages confirmed it. The correspondence was about work and about Olivia’s sister, Celeste. There was even a message from Olivia: *I understand, but maybe you should tell her. She’s not an outsider.* Elias had replied: *Eventually. I’m not ready for that conversation yet.*

When Elias came out, Maya confessed. “Please forgive me. I checked your phone.”

He froze. “Why?”

 

 

 

 

 

“I wanted to make sure you were telling the truth.”

“Maya, if there’s no trust between us, then there’s no marriage,” he said, sitting next to her.

“Why couldn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“Because I was afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid that you would misunderstand. That you would think I still felt something for Olivia, when all I feel is friendship.”

“Elias,” she said, taking his hand. “I’m ready for the whole truth. Tell me everything.”

He told her about Olivia’s sister, Celeste, raising her son Max alone after her husband died. He told her about the surgery, the loan, and how he had grown attached to the little boy who looked so much like him.

“And why didn’t you tell me any of this?” Maya asked, her heart aching.

“Because I was afraid of your reaction. Imagine: your husband works with his ex-wife, gives her money, and helps with her kid. How does that look?”

“It looks like the act of a good person,” she said softly. “And I thought it looked like a betrayal.”

“Forgive me,” he said, embracing her. “No more secrets.”

“I promise,” she whispered.

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, Maya received an unexpected call from Olivia, asking to meet. They met at the same cafe where Maya had first seen her with Max.

“I know what you think of me,” Olivia began. “But things aren’t what they seem. Elias and I are just friends. I asked him not to publicize our communication because I had a bad experience before and didn’t want to cause problems in his new family.”

Maya felt increasingly foolish. “I’m so embarrassed by my behavior.”

“Don’t be,” Olivia said with a kind smile. “Any woman in your place would have worried. The main thing is that everything is clear now.”

That evening, Maya confessed everything to Elias—the surveillance, the suspicions, the meeting with Olivia. He listened in silence.

“You thought I had a son?” he finally asked.

“Yes. And that you were hiding him.”

“Maya, if I had a son, I would only talk about him. From the first day we met.”

“I was scared,” she admitted. “Scared to hear the truth.”

“Silly girl,” he said, hugging her. “I hid everything precisely because I love you.”

—

A week later, Elias came home with an unexpected proposal. “How about we invite Olivia and her family over for lunch on Sunday?”

Maya loved the idea.

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, Olivia arrived with her sister, Celeste, and the energetic Max. The afternoon was filled with laughter and stories. Celeste was a strong, kind woman, and Max was a sweetheart.

“Uncle Elias is going to be my new daddy!” Max announced during a quiet moment.

An awkward silence fell. Elias knelt beside the boy. “Max, I have my wife, Auntie Maya, and you have your mom, but we can be friends. Want to?”

“I want to!” Max cheered. “And Auntie Maya will be my friend, too!”

Maya’s heart filled with warmth. “Of course, I will.”

Instead of a threat to her marriage, Maya saw people trying to put their lives back together. She even offered Celeste a job at her development center, which she happily accepted. Her fears and suspicions turned out to be baseless. Elias loved her. He was a faithful husband, and his kindness, which had once scared her, now only strengthened her love for him.

“Maybe we should think about having children, too,” Elias proposed cautiously later that day.

Maya looked at him and smiled. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

A year passed. Celeste married the center’s program coordinator. Olivia moved in with her new love, Dominic. And Elias and Maya welcomed their daughter, Eva. Their group of friends, which they jokingly called “the great company,” continued to grow, filled with new joys and new love.

 

 

 

 

Maya often thought about the trials that had brought them all together. They had made their unconventional family stronger and more united. She had learned that true love is not afraid of the truth but is only strengthened by it.