Mandy and Jack’s carefree, childless marriage seemed perfect. They shared adventures and frequently socialized with Jack’s childhood friends.

But three months ago, things changed. Jack started making excuses to leave Mandy out of events, claiming they were “just for the guys.”

Though Mandy initially accepted his reasoning, a chance encounter with Marcia, the wife of Jack’s friend Kevin, revealed a shocking lie.

Marcia believed Mandy was undergoing IVF treatments, information she got from Jack. Mandy, bewildered, decided to investigate further.

At home, Mandy found an invite for a dinner event that Jack hadn’t mentioned. She RSVP’d for both of them, intending to confront whatever Jack was hiding. On the night of the dinner, she surprised Jack, leading him to the event without revealing the destination. His confusion turned to shock as they arrived and faced an uneasy silence from their friends. The reason for Jack’s secrecy sat among them: Sasha, Jack’s ex-girlfriend, newly married to one of Jack’s closest friends.

Dinner was strained, with Sasha frequently directing conversation towards Jack. Mandy’s mind raced, suspecting an affair. On the drive home, Jack explained that Sasha had insisted on Mandy’s absence from the events due to past pettiness, which Mandy remembered all too well. Jack admitted he was wrong to hide Sasha’s involvement but denied any romantic connection with her.

At home, Jack made tea and apologized again. Mandy then confronted him about the IVF lie. Jack sheepishly admitted he made it up when pressured by his friends, not wanting to explain their child-free lifestyle. They laughed at the absurdity of it, reaffirming their shared decision not to have children, and planned to communicate better in the future. Despite the turmoil, their commitment to each other remained strong.