La vida

My Husband Only Ever Thinks of Himself: He Eats Everything in the House and Doesn’t Leave a Single Thing for Our Child – “Adam, where have all the bananas gone?” I ask my husband. – “I ate them, I fancied some.” – “Couldn’t you have left even one for our son’s tea?” – “You’re making a big fuss. You know they sell bananas in shops.” – “So go and buy some.” – “I’ve got a football match—how can I go?” It’s always the same in our house: yogurts, biscuits, apples—nothing’s safe. I have to hide food or my son might go hungry with a dad like this. We’ve been married five years. Our son’s nearly two. We’ve got a mortgage, so money’s tight. My husband thinks he’s the breadwinner since he gave us a home (he only sold his one-bedroom flat for the deposit—my parents helped too). My mum says Adam’s a total egotist, and honestly, I sort of agree with her. One day we were prepping for a birthday party. I was cooking for the guests, and he kept sneaking in for “tastes”—even got into the birthday cake I’d left on the balcony. There I was, ready to slice it up, and all that was left was a chunk of decorated chocolate sponge! You can imagine how embarrassed I was. It’s a constant issue. Sure, he earns, but some basic consideration wouldn’t hurt. His excuse? “Don’t worry, we’ll buy more!” Fine, don’t care about me—but how do you not care about your own child? It’s not like we’re rolling in money; we rely on that food. In a week, he’ll eat a month’s worth. “Why are you having a go at him?” says my mother-in-law. “He’s a working man—let him eat. If you’re that bothered, just cook more.” She’s always on his side. But it doesn’t matter how much I cook—he’ll eat it all. Buying extra food isn’t an option with our bills, mortgage, and everything else. Eventually I told my husband that if he did it again, I’d want a divorce. We’d split the flat and live our own lives. He sulked, ran to his mum—and now my mother-in-law won’t even speak to me. But I’m sure I’m right. What do you think?

My husband thinks only of himself. He devours anything in sight, not even sparing our child.

La vida

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He Left Me Alone at Our Beautifully Laid Anniversary Table to Run Off and Celebrate with His Mates in the Garage – How Ten Years of Marriage Ended Over a Dish of Roast Duck and a Heap of “Garage Camaraderie”

He left me sitting alone at a beautifully set table and ran off to toast his friends in the garage.

La vida

06

The Queue: A Tale of Patience and Perseverance

I remember the night I stepped into the delivery suite at StThomas Hospital, curious to watch the fetal

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Dream On! My Would-Be Romeo Thought He Could Live in My Apartment at My Expense I’ve always been lucky to have a clear sense of purpose. By the age of 25, I’d saved up enough to buy my own flat—no help from Mum or Dad, no handouts from relatives, just my own hard work. When I fell for a guy, I was naive enough to tell him about my place. Still, I made it clear I didn’t plan to move in with him; he’d have to find us a place to rent together, while I’d let mine out and we could save for a car. He agreed, assuring me he’d save up soon and we’d move in together. Six months later, he showed up at my door with a suitcase, saying he’d lost his job and was broke. He asked if he could crash at mine for a while. Good thing he’s got his own parents! No way was I letting that happen. I could see through his excuse—just a ploy to freeload off me. So, I ended the relationship right then and there.

As if! My would-be suitor thought he could move into my flat and live off my hard-earned pennies.

La vida

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Ever Since I Was a Little Girl, My Parents Told Me I Was Useless and No One Needed Me – How I Overcame My Mother’s Negativity, Moved to London, and Built a Happy Life with My Own Family Against All Odds

Ever since I was a young girl, my parents always told me that nobody needed me and that I was good for nothing.

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Two Blokes Living Off My Back

Right, so picture this: Emilys standing bang in the middle of her bedroom, absolutely fuming, hand shaking

La vida

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A Fortune Teller Revealed My Future…

The fortuneteller curses me What now, you scoundrel? the lady of the cosy cottage hurls at me a sharp

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Natalie, You’ve Been Gone Five Years—You Never Cared How I Was or What Became of Me Natalie and Ben had lived together for over five years. Ben never earned a fortune; his wages were modest, as he worked a regular labourer’s job. Natalie always dreamed of a life of luxury—preferably wealth—so she was thrilled whenever she met men more prosperous than her husband. One day, Natalie’s luck seemed to change: she caught the eye of a wealthy businessman who promised her the world. Swayed by his offers, she left her poor husband behind, eager to begin a glamorous new chapter. Ben was shattered by his wife’s betrayal. He pleaded with her desperately, promising to change—he’d earn more money, quit his job, work day and night, do anything to make her happy. But Natalie was unmoved. She dreamed of sailing on white yachts and shopping in London’s most exclusive boutiques—things her poor husband could never provide. No promises or declarations of eternal love could change her mind. Five years later, as Natalie turned thirty-two, her rich suitor lost interest—there were always younger, more enticing women at his side. He told her she was too demanding and argumentative and finally abandoned her. Penniless in the capital, unaccustomed to working or fending for herself, Natalie decided to go back to her ex-husband. She believed that, since he’d sworn eternal love, he must still be waiting for her. Approaching their old flat, Natalie saw the door open to a stranger—a woman holding a small girl. “Sweetheart, we’ve talked about not answering the door alone,” the woman said to the child. “Who are you looking for?” she asked Natalie. Stunned, Natalie hesitated. “I’m looking for Ben. Is he in?” she managed. “Ben, there’s a woman here asking for you! What’s your name?” the stranger called out, then looked at the guest. “Natalie!” Ben exclaimed, surprised, before turning to his wife. “Love, go inside, I need to talk.” “Who was that?” Natalie asked, watching the woman and child go. “That’s my wife, Olivia, and the little one is my daughter, Maisie,” Ben replied. “You remarried? And have a daughter? You promised me everlasting love, said you’d never love anyone like you loved me!” “It’s been years! I was heartbroken at first, but I realised life didn’t end when you left. Then I met Olivia and fell for her completely. She made me happy. She gave me a daughter.” “And what about me?” “Natalie, you’ve been gone for five years and never cared how I was or what became of me. You left for a wealthier man and a lavish life. Maybe we were never rich, but that doesn’t excuse what you did. Now you’re back—did you expect me to just wait here for you all this time? “I was foolish! I love you!” “Natalie, stop this charade. Please go—I don’t want you here. Your rich boyfriend ditched you so now you’re running back to me? It makes me sick. Please just go.” Natalie broke down in tears, hurt that no one wanted her, while Ben felt satisfied that he had finally moved on and found his own happiness at last.

Natalie, its been five years since you left. You never cared about how I was living, or what became of me.

La vida

04

Everything Happens for the Best: The Story of Victoria and Her Daughter Lila—A Perfectionist Mother, a Rebel Daughter, Love, Heartbreak, and a New Beginning with a Chance Encounter on an English Street

Everything Happens for the Best Margaret Wallacemother to Evelynmoulded her daughter in her own image

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Natalie, You’ve Been Gone Five Years—You Never Cared How I Was or What Became of Me Natalie and Ben had lived together for over five years. Ben never earned a fortune; his wages were modest, as he worked a regular labourer’s job. Natalie always dreamed of a life of luxury—preferably wealth—so she was thrilled whenever she met men more prosperous than her husband. One day, Natalie’s luck seemed to change: she caught the eye of a wealthy businessman who promised her the world. Swayed by his offers, she left her poor husband behind, eager to begin a glamorous new chapter. Ben was shattered by his wife’s betrayal. He pleaded with her desperately, promising to change—he’d earn more money, quit his job, work day and night, do anything to make her happy. But Natalie was unmoved. She dreamed of sailing on white yachts and shopping in London’s most exclusive boutiques—things her poor husband could never provide. No promises or declarations of eternal love could change her mind. Five years later, as Natalie turned thirty-two, her rich suitor lost interest—there were always younger, more enticing women at his side. He told her she was too demanding and argumentative and finally abandoned her. Penniless in the capital, unaccustomed to working or fending for herself, Natalie decided to go back to her ex-husband. She believed that, since he’d sworn eternal love, he must still be waiting for her. Approaching their old flat, Natalie saw the door open to a stranger—a woman holding a small girl. “Sweetheart, we’ve talked about not answering the door alone,” the woman said to the child. “Who are you looking for?” she asked Natalie. Stunned, Natalie hesitated. “I’m looking for Ben. Is he in?” she managed. “Ben, there’s a woman here asking for you! What’s your name?” the stranger called out, then looked at the guest. “Natalie!” Ben exclaimed, surprised, before turning to his wife. “Love, go inside, I need to talk.” “Who was that?” Natalie asked, watching the woman and child go. “That’s my wife, Olivia, and the little one is my daughter, Maisie,” Ben replied. “You remarried? And have a daughter? You promised me everlasting love, said you’d never love anyone like you loved me!” “It’s been years! I was heartbroken at first, but I realised life didn’t end when you left. Then I met Olivia and fell for her completely. She made me happy. She gave me a daughter.” “And what about me?” “Natalie, you’ve been gone for five years and never cared how I was or what became of me. You left for a wealthier man and a lavish life. Maybe we were never rich, but that doesn’t excuse what you did. Now you’re back—did you expect me to just wait here for you all this time? “I was foolish! I love you!” “Natalie, stop this charade. Please go—I don’t want you here. Your rich boyfriend ditched you so now you’re running back to me? It makes me sick. Please just go.” Natalie broke down in tears, hurt that no one wanted her, while Ben felt satisfied that he had finally moved on and found his own happiness at last.

Natalie, its been five years since you left. You never cared about how I was living, or what became of me.