My Husband Left Me in Economy with Our Twins — He Didn’t Expect What Came Next

I expected turbulence in the air, not in my marriage. Our first family trip to Florida with our 18-month-old twins, Ava and Mason, was supposed to be memorable. Instead, Eric pulled a stunt I’ll never forget. At the gate, he “checked something” at the counter, then turned to me with a grin: “Babe, I snagged an upgrade. You’ll be fine with the kids, right?” Before I could react, he vanished into business class.

The flight was a nightmare. Ava spilled juice down my jeans, Mason screamed nonstop, and even the guy next to me begged to switch seats. Meanwhile, Eric texted updates about champagne and warm towels while I wiped spit-up with a used baby wipe. When we landed, I was exhausted and stained, while Eric strolled off refreshed.

At baggage claim, my father-in-law hugged the twins, praised me as a “champion,” and gave Eric a look that could freeze lava. That night, I overheard him quietly telling Eric his behavior was unacceptable.

The next evening at dinner, the real payback began. When the waiter asked for drinks, my father-in-law ordered Eric a glass of milk — “since he clearly can’t handle being an adult.” The table erupted in laughter; Eric’s face went crimson.

Two days later, my father-in-law pulled me aside. He had set up a trust fund for the twins and me, reducing Eric’s inheritance until he proved he could put family first. Suddenly, Eric became the most helpful man alive, grabbing bags, strollers, and car seats without complaint.

On the way home, the gate agent handed Eric his boarding pass with a smile: “You’ve been upgraded again, sir.” He froze. Inside the sleeve was a note in bold handwriting: “Business class. One-way. You’ll explain it to your wife.” His father had arranged a solo stay at a hotel for him to “reflect.”

As I headed to economy with the twins, Eric trailed behind and whispered, “Any chance I can earn my way back to economy?”