On Valentine’s Day, a man lost his temper and angrily accused his wife of being a terrible homemaker, even throwing away her gift in a fit of rage. But later that same day, he deeply regretted his actions when an unexpected visitor arrived at their doorstep.
Cora had spent the morning feeling unexpectedly happy. Sitting in the living room, she checked off her evening to-do list, blushing as she imagined how thrilled Eric would be when he saw the Valentine’s surprise she had prepared for him.
Cora and Eric first crossed paths at a business conference in Texas. Both having grown up as orphans in foster care, they dreamed of building a large, loving family. They married quickly after a few dates and were blessed with triplets two years later.
However, tension began to rise when Cora took on the full responsibility of caring for the children, while Eric became the main breadwinner. Eric’s constant pressure to support a family of five led to stress and guilt over not spending enough time with them. He rarely got a break and struggled to save money each month.
As a result, the couple hadn’t enjoyed vacations or fancy dinners in years, not even for special occasions. Eric was determined to save every penny, and Cora respected that, carefully managing their limited finances. On Valentine’s Day, she wore an old red dress Eric had given her on their first anniversary—a bit worn but precious—and didn’t mind the modesty of it.
As Eric’s arrival approached, Cora set a romantic table for two with his favorite heart-shaped red velvet cheesecake, a bottle of wine, several homemade dishes, and a gift box she was excited for him to open. She lit candles and fairy lights to complete the ambiance.
When Eric came home, he was stunned by the scene. Instead of appreciation, anger flared. “What are you doing, Cora? Are we acting like teenagers?” he snapped, turning on the lights and glaring at her.
Cora’s smile disappeared as she asked if something was wrong. Eric exploded, frustrated with his hard work and accusing her of wasting money. He took a bite of the pasta she’d made, spat it out, and yelled about how bad it tasted, waking their sleeping triplets.
Cora begged him to calm down, worried about the babies. But Eric’s frustration grew as he blamed her for the mess and for neglecting the house while preparing the meal. He grabbed the gift box and flung it to the floor, dismissing it and insulting her.
Feeling hurt, Cora walked away toward the children’s room, but the babies kept crying, which only irritated Eric more. He shouted at her to do better as a mother and housewife.
Angered by his words, Cora stormed out of the house to buy diapers, explaining there were none left. She slammed the door behind her, leaving Eric alone with the crying children.
An hour passed with no sign of Cora, and Eric’s frustration grew. When he went to call her, the doorbell rang instead. Expecting Cora, he was shocked to see a police officer at the door.
The officer delivered tragic news: Cora had died in a car accident and Eric needed to come identify her body. The words hit Eric like a blow, and he stood pale and stunned, the romantic setup still glowing faintly behind him.
At the mortuary, Eric couldn’t believe the lifeless woman was Cora. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, he wept for his wife and regretted his harsh words. After the funeral, he shut himself away, unwilling to face the world.
His eyes fell on the untouched gift box on the floor. With trembling hands, he opened it and found a note along with two plane tickets to Hawaii.
The letter read:
“To the love of my life, Eric,
Happy Valentine’s Day! Guess what? I got a job! I saw how tired you’ve been working alone, so I applied and was hired yesterday! Mrs. Nelson will watch the babies while I work. And these tickets? They’re for our vacation to Hawaii—just the two of us! There’s more, but you’ll find out soon. Love you!”
Eric broke down in tears, crushed by the realization that Cora had been planning a fresh start for their family—one he had failed to appreciate.
From that day on, Eric’s life was forever changed. He never loved again, focusing instead on providing for and raising their children. Every Valentine’s Day, he visits Cora’s grave, talking to her for hours, wishing he could ask for forgiveness.
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