The Disrespected Wife

The weekend gathering was held at the villa of Adam Green's childhood friend. The air was filled with the scent of grilled meat, and light pop music played from the speakers. I sat in the corner of the sofa, watching Adam Green and his friends fooling around. Kathy Zimmerman walked over carrying two cups of juice and casually sat down on the single sofa beside Adam Green. She was one of Adam Green's "female friends", someone who had been by his side since university. I hadn't really paid much attention before; I always thought it was fine as long as friends got along naturally. But when someone suggested playing Truth or Dare, the atmosphere suddenly changed. The wine bottle spun three times and finally came to rest pointing steadily at Kathy Zimmerman. "Truth or dare?" The questioner's tone was teasing. Kathy smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping over me before finally settling on Adam Green. "Truth," she said. Her voice was soft but loud enough for everyone present to hear. "Then I'll ask," the questioner paused, "have you ever thought about what you'll do if you're still unmarried by thirty?" The living room suddenly fell silent, all eyes fixed on Kathy Zimmerman. I tightened my grip on the cup, feeling a strange unease inside. Kathy Zimmerman put down her juice cup, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Adam Green with a seriousness I had never seen before. "If I'm still not married by thirty," she said word by word, "I'll have a child with Adam Green." Her words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing an uproar. Some whistled; others joined in the jeering. I could feel my cheeks flush instantly—not from shyness, but from embarrassment. Adam Green sat there silently, only scratching his head and smiling as he said, "Don't be ridiculous." But that smile had no hint of seriousness; it was more like she was going along with Kathy Zimmerman's joke. The hand on my knee clenched into a fist, my nails digging into my palm. This isn't a joke, at least not to me. I am Adam Green's wife, and we have just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Kathy obviously knows, yet she said those words in front of so many people. I looked up at Kathy, and she met my gaze, her eyes carrying a faint but unmistakable challenge. The atmosphere became tense; the teasing gradually quieted as everyone silently observed my reaction. Adam Green seemed oblivious to my unease, still laughing and chatting with the people beside him, as if what Kathy Zimmerman just said was merely an ordinary joke. I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger that welled up inside me. I didn't want to cause a scene at the party—after all, they were all Adam's friends. But that feeling of being offended was like a thorn in my heart, impossible to remove.