“Yes,” Eric stammered, the lingering heat of his anger evaporating instantly, replaced by a sudden, icy dread.
Cora Morales woke up that Valentine’s morning with a smile she couldn’t hide. She hummed as she moved around the house, her heart light with joy. For weeks she had been planning a surprise for her husband Eric, and tonight was finally the night.
She sat on the living room couch, a notebook in her lap, ticking off her to-do list one by one. Everything had to be perfect. She blushed just thinking about Eric’s reaction. He’ll be so happy… he has no idea what I’ve planned for him, she thought.
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Cora first met Eric years ago at a business conference in Texas. Both of them were orphans who had grown up in foster care, and on their very first date, they confessed to each other that they dreamed of building a big, happy family of their own one day. That dream came true sooner than expected—they got married quickly and, two years later, were blessed with triplets.
But life after that hadn’t been easy. Eric worked long hours to support the family of five, while Cora stayed home to care for the babies. The pressure of bills, the exhaustion of parenthood, and the constant stress of money had created cracks between them. Eric felt like he was carrying the whole world on his shoulders. He came home tired, frustrated, and guilty that he never had enough time or money for his family.
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Vacations, fancy dinners, and luxuries had become impossible. Even birthdays and anniversaries were modest. Cora understood all of this, so she tried to save money wherever she could. That’s why, on this Valentine’s Day, she pulled out an old red dress Eric had given her on their first anniversary. It was a little faded, a little outdated, but it was precious to her. He’ll remember it… he’ll smile when he sees it, she thought.
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