Our Labrador puppy, Max, filled our home with joy. But when my husband, Mark, developed a mysterious allergy, keeping Max became a battle. Just as I was about to give up, our four-year-old daughter, Lily, stumbled upon a clue that exposed a shocking truth about Mark.

I am Rose, mother to Lily and wife to Mark. Recently, we brought Max home, delighting Lily and me. But Mark began complaining about fur and developed rashes, claiming an allergy to dogs. Tensions rose as Mark gave me an ultimatum: him or Max.

One afternoon, Lily found a lipstick tube in Mark’s drawer. Suspicious, I discovered Mark had been faking his rashes with the lipstick. Unopened allergy meds confirmed my suspicions. Confronting Mark, he lied, claiming it was his sister’s. I pretended to believe him, determined to find the truth.

Two days later, I followed Mark to a woman’s house. Realizing she was the one allergic to dogs, not Mark, I returned home and packed his belongings. When Mark came back, I confronted him. “We’re done, Mark. I know you chose her over us.”

Mark tried to apologize, but it was too late. I asked him to leave. Holding Lily and Max, I felt a sense of peace despite the tears.

As Mark left, I knew we’d be fine. Lily and I, with Max, would face whatever came next, stronger together. We moved forward, embracing our new life with love and resilience, ready for the future.