At my anniversary, my mother-in-law raised her glass: «To the daughter of a cleaning lady who got married successfully!» My husband was choking with laughter and filming it on his phone. My mother stood up and said three words, after which my mother-in-law turned pale…

But Anna saw her husband changing. He became irritable, stayed late at work, and avoided intimacy. The fertility issues weighed heavily on their relationship, and Margaret skillfully exploited this, driving a wedge between them.

As Anna’s thirtieth birthday approached, she decided to use it as a chance to reset their relationship. Two years of marriage, filled with growing distance and quiet arguments, needed to stay in the past. “I want to throw a real party,” she told Steven over breakfast. “We’ll invite your parents, my friends, colleagues. Maybe at The Riverside, it’s beautiful.” Steven shrugged.

“Whatever you want. Just check with Mom; she might have plans.” For three months, Anna planned her milestone birthday, booking a room at The Riverside restaurant with river views, crafting a menu of favorite dishes, and selecting table decorations with peonies and lisianthus.

“Isn’t it a bit pricey?” Steven asked, seeing the budget. “Why not a diner? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thirtieth.” Anna replied firmly. “I’ll pay for it myself, from my savings.”

She’d been saving for this since January, skipping small luxuries. She wanted a real, vibrant celebration, no compromises. Her first big milestone as a married woman.

At the Ocean Mall, she found a sea-green dress with an open back and delicate embroidery on the bodice. It fit her slim figure perfectly, accentuating her waist and flowing over her hips. “You’re wearing that?” Steven asked when she showed him. “Isn’t it a bit revealing?” “It’s an elegant evening gown,” Anna countered. “Perfect for the occasion.” “If you say so,” he replied, eyes on his phone.

A week before the party, Anna invited her mom for lunch. Ellen Nichols came straight from her shift, tired but with a gift: silver earrings with aquamarine. “Sweetie, you didn’t need such a big event,” she said, looking at photos of the venue. “We could’ve had dinner at home, made chili.” “Mom, I want a real celebration,” Anna said, hugging her. “You deserve a beautiful night as much as I do.”

Ellen sighed. “Will that Margaret be there?” “Of course, she and Steven’s dad are coming. Promise you’ll stay calm, even if she starts her usual games.”

“I’m not worried about me,” Ellen shook her head. “I’m worried about you. I saw how she picked at you last Christmas. High-and-mighty woman.” Anna forced a smile. “It’ll be fine. I’m a grown woman. I can handle it.”

The evening before the party, Anna was reviewing the guest list when Steven dropped news. “By the way, Mom said Dad’s not coming. Blood pressure. She’ll be alone.” Anna’s heart sank.

Margaret without her husband was twice as sharp. No one tempered her barbs. “Okay,” she said, “I hope your dad feels better soon.”

The morning of her birthday, Anna spent at a salon. Hair, makeup, nails. She wanted to look flawless. She chose a polished yet elegant makeup look and pinned her hair in an updo with a few loose strands. At home, Steven greeted her with a bouquet of roses. “Happy birthday,” he said, kissing her cheek. “You look great.”

For a moment, she thought things were turning around, that her birthday might mark a fresh start for their marriage. “Mom called,” Steven added, shattering the moment. “She’s coming straight to the restaurant and asked for a special menu. She’s on a diet.” Anna clenched her jaw but nodded. Margaret always found ways to demand attention, insisting on special treatment.

“I’ll let the manager know,” she said, heading to the closet for her dress. Steven sat on the bed’s edge. “Listen, you’re not going to mention our fertility issues, right? It’d upset Mom if guests found out.”

Anna froze, dress in hand. “Upset your mom? And her implying I’m barren, that’s supposed to be fine with me?” “Come on,” Steven winced. “It’s your day. Let’s not fight.”

She took a deep breath. “Right, it’s my day, and I won’t let anyone ruin it.” “Fine,” she said, smoothing the dress. “It’ll be great. Help me with the zipper.”

It was five o’clock. Two hours until the party. Anna put on the earrings from her mom, spritzed her wrists with her favorite perfume, and checked the mirror one last time. A confident, beautiful thirty-year-old woman looked back. She smiled at her reflection.

“Everything will be perfect,” she promised herself. “This is my day.” Steven waited in the living room, glancing at his watch. “Ready?” he asked. “Taxi’s downstairs.”

Anna nodded, grabbed her clutch, and headed for the door. At the threshold, she paused, struck by a strange premonition. Something big was coming, something irreversible. “Let’s go,” Steven called. She stepped out, toward her birthday, unaware that this night would change her life.

The Riverside restaurant welcomed Anna and Steven with soft lighting and melodic music. The manager, a poised woman in a tailored suit, led them to the reserved room with panoramic windows overlooking the evening river. “Everything’s set as you requested,” she said. “Floral arrangements on the tables, menu confirmed, musicians arriving in half an hour.” Anna surveyed the space. Round tables draped in ivory linens, flickering candles in crystal holders, low vases of flowers so guests could see each other.

Exactly as she’d envisioned. “Perfect,” she smiled. “Thank you so much.”..