Late from work again? Lately, his workload had increased, so he often came home late.
Emily tucked the children into bed and went to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea. William still hadnt returned. Recently, hed been swamped at work, coming home later and later.
Emily pitied her husband and tried to shield him from household worries. After all, he was the sole breadwinner. After their wedding, they had agreedshe would care for the home and their future children while William ensured their comfortable life. One after another, three children arrived. Each birth brought him joy, and he always said he didnt want to stop there.
But Emily was exhaustedendless nappies, baby food, and sleepless nights wore her down. She decided it was time to pause having children.
William didnt return until after midnight. He seemed unusually cheerful. When she asked why he was so late, he replied, “Love, weve all been under pressure at work, so we decided to unwind a bit.”
“My poor dear,” Emily smiled. “Come, let me fix you something to eat.”
“Dont bother. We had some piesruined my appetite. Id rather just sleep.”
Mothers Day was approaching. Emily asked her mum to watch the children while she went to the shopping centre. She wanted to make the day speciala romantic dinner, just the two of them. Her mother happily agreed.
Besides food and gifts, Emily decided to buy something for herself. She hadnt indulged in agesit felt wrong taking money from William for clothes, and she had nowhere to wear them anyway. Her last purchase had been a housecoat, hardly fitting for the evening she had planned. She stepped into a boutique, picked out a few dresses, and began trying them on.
As she slipped into the second dress, she heard a familiar voice from the next changing room: “Mmm, I cant wait to take this off you.”
A womans bright laughter followed.
“Be patient, you scoundrel! Go pick something out for your wife instead!”
“Why should she care? Shes drowning in nappies and school runs. The kids dont care what she wearsjust that theyre fed, changed, and their toys are put away! Maybe Ill get her a blender. Or a breadmakerthatll make her happy!”
Emily felt as if ice water had been poured over her. Moving silently, she mechanically buttoned the dress, listening to the voices next door.
“What if she asks where you spent so much?” the woman giggled. “A blender and breadmaker dont cost that much”
“Why should I explain where I spend MY money? Im the one working while she sits at home wanting for nothing! I give her an allowanceshe should be grateful for that!”
The voices faded as they left the changing room. Emily peeked out cautiously. There he washer beloved husband, standing at the till with a blonde, paying for their purchases. Once done, he pulled the woman close and kissed her right there, without a care for the cashier.
“Are you alright in there?” The shop assistants voice snapped her back. Shed been staring blankly in the booth for too long.
“Yes, yes, Im fine!” She pulled the curtain shut and handed over the dresses. “Ill take them all.”
At home, after her mother left and the children were down for their nap, Emily sat thinking. What now? She never imagined hed betray her like this. Not just the affairbut how little he valued her, how he dismissed her sacrifices.
She wanted to scream, to demand a divorcebut she forced herself to stop and think.
*Fine, Ill divorce him. Hell run off with his blonde, and Ill be left alone with the kids and no income. Child support? Pennies, most likely. How will we live?*
By evening, she had a plan. William returned “from work” on time that night. *Mustve had his fill earlier*, she thought coldly. Every ounce of love shed felt for him had vanished. He was a stranger now. The only discomfort? The thought of him expecting intimacyshe could never give that again.
But William, apparently satisfied elsewhere, didnt press her.
The next day, Emily updated her CV and sent it out. Now, every morning began with checking her emails. Finallyan interview. At the very company where William worked. She hesitated but decided to go.
After nearly two hours with the hiring manager, she was offered a good position with flexible hours. The pay was modest at first, but she could manage.
She floated home. Her mother, seeing her radiant, bombarded her with questions.
“Mum, Williams cheating on me!” Emily blurted out. Thinking her daughter had lost her mind, her mother pulled her onto the sofa.
“Emily, what nonsense! He works all day!”
“Not workingsneaking off with another woman!” She spilled everything. Her mother listened, then asked, “So what will you do?”
“Divorce him! And Ive got a job nowflexible hours. Once the kids are all in nursery, Ill go full-time.”
“I wont stop you. Cheatings unforgivable. Especially when he doesnt value you. Ill help with the children.”
“Thank you, Mum.” Emily hugged her tightly.
A week later, William came home late again. Emily ignored him. Surprised by her indifference, he started, “Love, we had another late one”
“Just go to bed,” she cut him off.
The next morning, as she fed the children breakfast, William proudly presented her with a gifta breadmaker.
“Here, darlingto make your life easier!” He leaned in for a kiss, but she recoiled, not even glancing at it.
“I have a gift for you too.”
Confused, he followed her to the hallway where two large suitcases waited.
“Im divorcing you. No more sneaking around.”
“How did you?” he stammered.
“In the changing room, while you were picking gifts for your blonde. Keep the breadmakershe might want it.”
Cornered, William lashed out.
“Jealous, are you? Shes beautiful, passionate, and takes care of herselfunlike you! Youve let yourself go! Drowning in kids, living off my money! And who are you to question how I spend it? Its mine! Youre just a greedy, petty woman!”
“Im not jealous,” she said calmly. “Leave.”
The next day, she filed for divorce and child support. A week later, her mother-in-law banged on the door.
“You gold-digging shrew! Driving him away, then bleeding him dry! Drop the child supporthe owes you nothing!”
“He owes his children,” Emily shot back. “If his mistress cant handle it, thats his problem. Hes their father as much as Im their mother!”
“What will you do without his money? Popping out kids, expecting to live off him forever? Hell lower his official salaryyoull get scraps!”
“Try it,” Emily said, pointing to the door. “Get out before I call the police.”
Cursing, the woman left.
Months later, the children started nursery. Once the youngest was settled, Emily went full-time at work.
“Hello.” A familiar voice made her look up. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, William. Im busy,” she replied flatly.
“Lunch, then?” He looked tired, worn. She knew the blonde had dumped him the moment half his salary went to child support. But she felt nothing.
“No, William. We have nothing to say.”
