Henry’s Final Words
Lying on his deathbed, Henry could feel the end drawing near. With his last breath, he called out to his wife:
“Martha… soon, I won’t be here anymore. Before I go, there is one thing I need to know. In our fifty years of marriage… have you ever been unfaithful to me?”
A heavy silence settled in the room, thick with a secret long kept.
Martha’s Revelations
After a moment of hesitation and with her eyes lowered, Martha responded in a calm voice:
“Henry… I must be honest with you. Yes, I have been unfaithful to you three times. But always for a reason that I believed was just.”
Henry’s heart tightened, yet he remained composed.
“I never suspected it,” he said. “Can you explain what you mean by ‘just reasons’?”
The First Time: Protecting Our Home
Martha took a deep breath before beginning:
“The first time was shortly after our wedding. We were about to lose our little house because we couldn’t repay the loan. Do you remember? That night, I went to see the banker… and the next day, he told you that the loan would be extended.”
Henry nodded, lost in memories of that challenging time.
“I can forgive you. You saved our home. And the second time?”
The Second Time: Saving Your Life
Martha continued, her eyes filled with tenderness and nostalgia.
“You were seriously ill, Henry. You needed open-heart surgery, but we couldn’t afford it. So one evening, I went to see your doctor. The next day, he agreed to perform the operation for free.”
Henry sighed, moved by the memory.
“I remember. You did everything to save me. Of course, I forgive you. Now, tell me about the third time.”
The Third Time: A Vote That Changed Everything
Martha nodded gently.
“Very well… Do you remember when you wanted to become president of your golf club? You were exactly 73 votes short of winning. Well… let’s just say I made sure you got those votes, one by one.”
