Chloe tucked the children into bed and went to the kitchen to enjoy a cup of tea. James was still not home. Lately, he had been swamped with work and was often staying late. Chloe sympathized with her husband and did her best to shield him from household worries. After all, he was the sole breadwinner.
Right after they married, they decided that Chloe would look after the home and future children, and James would provide for the family. One by one, three children were born. James was thrilled with each arrival and always said he wasn’t planning on stopping there.
However, Chloe was exhausted by the endless nappies, feeding, and sleepless nights, and she decided that she needed a break from having kids.
James returned home after midnight, a bit tipsy. When she asked why, he responded, “Chloe, we were so stressed with all the work that we decided to let off some steam.”
“You poor thing!” Chloe smiled. “Come, let me get you something to eat!”
“No need. We had some chicken wings – I’ve lost my appetite. I’ll better head straight to bed.”
As International Women’s Day was approaching, Chloe asked her mother to watch the kids so she could go to the shopping center. She wanted to celebrate the day with a romantic dinner, just the two of them. Her mother agreed to have the children over.
Aside from groceries and gifts, Chloe wanted to buy herself something new. She hadn’t bought herself clothes in ages, feeling guilty about spending money from James on outfits she didn’t have occasions to wear. The last thing she bought was a set of loungewear, but it didn’t suit the evening she had in mind. Chloe made her way to a clothing store, picked out several dresses, and went to the fitting room.
She had just begun trying on the second dress when she heard her husband’s familiar voice coming from the neighboring changing room: “Mmm, I can’t wait to take that off you!” A bright laugh answered him.
“Hold your horses, you cheeky thing! Go pick something for your wife instead!”
“Why bother? She’s buried under the kids. They don’t care what she wears as long as they’re fed, changed, and the toys are tidied up! I’ll get her a bread maker! Or a new mixer – that’ll do!”
Chloe felt as if she had been doused with ice water. Mechanically, she continued trying on dresses while listening to the conversation next door.
“And what if she asks about the money you’ve been spending? A bread maker and mixer aren’t cheap,” the giggling girl quipped.
“Why do I need to explain my spending? I work for it, she stays at home enjoying it! I give her enough for housekeeping, and she should be grateful!” Meeting over, the voices faded.
Peeking out discreetly, Chloe saw her husband standing at the cashier with a blonde woman, paying for some items. After paying, he turned, and, unbothered by the presence of the salesperson, kissed the woman on the lips.
“Excuse me, are you alright?” The salesperson snapped Chloe back. She realized she had been sitting silently on the changing room stool, staring blankly.
“Yes, yes, everything’s fine!” she pulled back the curtain and handed the dresses over. “I’ll take them all.”
Back home, after sending her mother home and putting the children down for their nap, Chloe pondered what to do next. She hadn’t expected such betrayal from her husband. It wasn’t just about him cheating but the way he valued her efforts for the family. He had, in one stroke, dismissed everything she had tried to do for them.
She wanted to file for divorce immediately but forced herself to stop and think it over. “If I divorce him, he’ll go to his blonde, and I’ll be left with the kids without any means. Alimony? That’ll likely be peanuts… How will we live?”
By evening, she made her decision. James didn’t stay late at work as usual. “Got his fill during the day,” Chloe thought indifferently. All feelings she had for him had vanished. He was now a stranger. The only worry was if he wanted intimacy, she wouldn’t be able to stomach it.
But it seemed he had gotten everything he needed from his lover and didn’t approach Chloe.
The next day, Chloe composed a resume and sent it to various companies and agencies. Then, she waited. The days of waiting dragged on, and each day Chloe would start by checking her email. Finally, a long-awaited response came. She was invited for an interview at a company in town—where James worked, coincidentally. Chloe hesitated but ultimately decided to go.
After asking her mom to watch the children, Chloe went for the interview. After nearly two hours with the firm’s management, they offered her a decent position with flexible hours. Initially, the pay wouldn’t be high, but it was enough to support herself and the kids.
Chloe flew home on cloud nine. Her mom, noticing her daughter’s happiness, bombarded her with questions.
“Mum, James is cheating on me!” Chloe declared jubilantly. Her mother, assuming her daughter had lost her mind, took her hand and sat her down.
“Chloe, what are you saying? How could James cheat? He works all day!”
“He’s not working—he’s off with his woman!” And Chloe recounted what she overheard at the store. Her mother asked what Chloe planned to do.
“I’m filing for divorce! And yes, I got a job with flexible hours. I’ll enroll the kids in daycare, and once they’re settled, I’ll work full-time!”
“Well, I’m not going to talk you out of it! Betrayal shouldn’t be forgiven. I think it’s just the beginning. Besides, he doesn’t even value you as a person anymore. I’ll help with the kids!”
“Thank you, Mum.” Chloe hugged her mother gratefully.
On the seventh of March, James returned home long past midnight again. Chloe didn’t bother asking him anything. James, puzzled by his wife’s indifference, started to offer explanations: “Chloe, we got caught up again…” but Chloe cut him off, telling him to go to bed.
The next morning, while Chloe was in the kitchen feeding the kids breakfast, James proudly presented her with a gift—a bread maker.
“Here, my dear, to ease your chores!” He attempted to kiss her, but Chloe pulled away and rose from her chair without glancing at the gift.
“I have a present for you too!”
Surprised, James followed her, gift box in hand. She gestured to two large suitcases in the hallway.
“I’m divorcing you! Now you can stop inventing stories to cover your tracks!”
“How did you find out?” James stammered, shocked.
“In the fitting room, while you were picking out a gift for your blonde. And yes: You can give her the bread maker too—I have no use for it!”
Caught cheating and on the brink of losing his family, James lashed out, “Are you upset that I have another woman? Beautiful, passionate, and well-groomed, unlike you! You’ve forgotten how to even put on makeup! You’ve settled in with the kids, living off me! Just because I buy something, doesn’t mean you have any say! And you’re begrudging where I spend? You’re just a mercenary cow!”
“I’m not bothered,” Chloe calmly replied, “just leave.”
The next day, Chloe filed for divorce and child support. A week later, her mother-in-law showed up on her doorstep. Skipping pleasantries, she yelled, “You greedy wretch! Kicking your husband out and milking him for money! Drop the child support! He doesn’t owe you!”
“He owes child support for the children he wanted!” Chloe retorted. “If he’s short on cash for his girlfriend, that’s his problem! He’s as much a parent as I am!”
“What will you do without his money? You just had kids hoping to live off him! But you won’t manage! He’ll ask his boss to cut his official pay, and you’ll get pennies! You’ll come crawling back!”
“That seems unlikely,” Chloe replied, nodding towards the door. “Leave my house before I call the police!”
Her mother-in-law left, muttering curses.
A few months later, each child was allocated a place at daycare, and a month after the youngest started attending, Chloe was working full-time.
“Hello!” A familiar voice sounded by her desk. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, James, I’m busy,” Chloe replied without looking up.
“Maybe we can have lunch together?” James persisted. Chloe looked up at her ex-husband, noticing how tired and worn he appeared. His blonde, upon discovering half his salary went to child support, had promptly dumped him. But Chloe no longer cared.
“No, James. We’re not having lunch or a chat.”
