I never thought I’d hear those words come out of my husband’s mouth. We were sitting at the dinner table, the clinking of our forks against the plates filling the silence, when he casually looked up and said, “Have you ever thought about joining the adult film industry?”

I almost choked on my drink. “Excuse me?”

“You have the perfect features for it,” he continued, as if he were suggesting a new hobby. “And let’s be honest, the money is great. We could really use it.”

I set my fork down, trying to gauge whether he was joking. But the look on his face told me otherwise.

“You’re actually serious?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course,” he said. “And don’t worry, I wouldn’t be jealous. I trust you. In fact, I think it could bring us closer.”

Closer? How could sleeping with other men—on camera, no less—make us stronger? I searched his face for any sign of insecurity, any hidden resentment, but all I saw was excitement.

A knot formed in my stomach. Was this some secret fantasy he was finally voicing? Or had our marriage become so transactional that he saw me as a potential investment?

He reached for my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Just think about it,” he said.

I forced a smile, but deep down, I knew. If I said yes, something in our marriage would change forever. And if I said no… maybe it already had.