When my husband Jack came home one day with a woman named Claire and announced she would be his second wife, I thought it was a joke. But when I realized he was serious, I agreed—on one condition he never saw coming.
It all started a few months earlier when Jack began acting strangely. He talked about “alternative lifestyles” and spent an unusual amount of time on his phone, often smiling or chuckling to himself. I assumed it was just another one of his passing fads, like when he obsessed over woodworking or wanted to start a food truck.
Then came the hints. One evening, he said it would be nice to have extra help around the house. When I joked about hiring a cleaning service, he didn’t answer. His tone was serious, and I felt uneasy but didn’t press.
Fast forward to last week: Jack walked in with Claire trailing behind him. Calmly, he introduced her and declared she would be his second wife. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Jack said it was a practical arrangement—