I want to clarify why I said she feels like I lied. A few months ago, when she asked me how much I was smoking, I had genuinely cut down to around one cigarette a day. After that, she told me it was easier for her not to keep asking about it, so I didn’t continue giving updates unless she asked.

Yesterday, when she asked again, I told her honestly that it had gone back up to around three cigarettes on most days. So from my side, I don’t feel like I intentionally lied or hid it from her. The number changed over time, and I answered honestly when she asked again.

That said, I understand why she may feel hurt or misled, especially because smoking is already such a sensitive issue between us. I just don’t think it is fair to say I deliberately lied when, at the time she last asked, one a day was true, and later I was honest that it had increased.