“Enough to know you’ve been considering a divorce.”

My husband lowered his head.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he whispered:

“Yes.”

That single word left me struggling to breathe.

“How long?”

“A few months.”

I swallowed.

“Is it because I can’t see?”

He immediately looked up.

“No. Sutton, no.”

“Then why?”

He looked away.

“And who is Rebecca? Are you involved with her?”

“What? No! Absolutely not.”

“Then explain why you’ve been hiding all of this!”

Ashton covered his face.

“Because I was ashamed.”

“Of me?”

He shook his head.

“Of myself.”

I stared at him.

Finally, he began explaining.

Four months earlier, he’d started seeing Rebecca because he was struggling with exhaustion, frustration, and guilt.

He admitted that adapting to our changed circumstances had been more difficult than he’d expected.

Not because I’d done something wrong.

But because he’d convinced himself that being a good husband meant managing every problem on his own.