They argued about how long our dating will last.

Greetings, 'My Family'! Recently, I was puzzled.  It turns out that my acquaintance is upset that I got married for the second time. My husband and I met eight months ago. At first, we communicated over the phone, and then it all took off... and he dragged me into marriage. He had been officially married a long time ago, then he was in an unofficial relationship, but that's not the point. This acquaintance knows not only me but also him - they have crossed paths at different events. There was nothing between them, meaning she had no personal interest. She also has her own man, with whom she has been dating for a long time - I don't know the details, I'm not interested. So, this acquaintance once sharply stated, when we met, commenting on my marriage, that she had never been married personally. Moreover, she repeated it to make sure I remembered this information. I was surprised internally, but let the jab slide. And then we crossed paths again, and she told me that she had bet with mutual acquaintances on how long our marriage would last. I didn't react at all, but I'm still deep...

 But I am still in deep confusion: even if we are not a couple, what does it matter? She doesn't want to get married to her man, but I don't comment on that decision or make sarcastic remarks about it. I suppose it might be jealousy. After all, she mentioned two more acquaintances from our social circle who recently got married in the same conversation. They are also annoying her. Plus, it is aggravated by the fact that my husbands, both current and previous, are not insignificant people in this social group. But to me, a stamp in the passport was not important; I would have lived like that anyway, so I didn't expect such a reaction from anyone. Marriage in our time is not an end in itself, but just one type of relationship.

 Everyone chooses what is convenient for them. I wasn't in a hurry to get married the first time either. I remember when I was 17, a young man I was dating proposed to me. 'What a fool!' – I thought. – 'Who wants to get married right after school?' And I broke up with him immediately. I only got married when I wanted to have children. I decided that I could raise one myself, but I would like to have two; therefore, marriage was necessary for me. After all, it is needed. I didn’t even know that this acquaintance had never been married. She has an adult son, but I thought she had been married. No, I understand, we can gossip – we are all human, but to be irritated, to envy...