The Night I Thought He’d Propose… He Played a Joke Instead—So I Gave Him One Back

For three years, I loved Ryan with everything I had. I celebrated his wins, stood by him through hard times, and imagined that one day, we’d build a life together.

So when our anniversary rolled around and he told me he’d made reservations at an upscale downtown restaurant and had “a surprise” in store, I didn’t just guess what was coming—I was sure of it.

I curled my hair. Got my nails done. Wore the emerald green dress he always said made my eyes “shine like spring.”

I was ready for a ring.
Instead, I got a reminder of how small he’d made me feel all along.

A Celebration That Wasn’t Meant for Me

We made it through appetizers and wine. Ryan was relaxed, almost giddy, like he was sitting on a secret. I sat there, nerves tangled in my stomach, hands lightly shaking beneath the tablecloth.

Then dessert came.

The waiter placed down a delicate white plate with gold trim, and in chocolate script, it read:

“Congrats on Your Promotion!”

But here’s the thing — I hadn’t gotten a promotion. In fact, I’d just been passed over for one. The job I’d worked toward for over a year had been handed to a man I’d personally mentored. The reason? Office gossip hinted I was probably about to get married and start a family—too distracted to lead, they said.

It was a quiet, cruel kind of sexism. And Ryan knew how much it hurt me.

Yet there he was, grinning across the table, waiting for me to laugh at the “joke.”

“Positive vibes, babe,” he said with a shrug. “Just trying to manifest it.”

The Humiliation That Turned the Tables