Late from work again? The workload has been heavy lately, so hes often late.
Emma tucked the children into bed and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. James still hadnt come home. Recently, hed been swamped at work and often returned late.
Emma felt sorry for her husband and tried to shield him from household worries. After all, he was the sole breadwinner. After their wedding, theyd agreed: Emma would take care of the home and their future children, while James would provide a comfortable life. One after another, three children were born. Each arrival thrilled him, and hed said he didnt want to stop there.
But Emma was exhausted from endless nappies, baby food, and sleepless nights. She decided it was time to pause having children.
James finally returned after midnight. He seemed unusually cheerful. When she asked why he was so late, he replied:
“Em, weve all been working hard, so we decided to unwind a bit.”
“My poor love!” Emma smiled faintly. “Come, let me fix you something to eat.”
“Dont bother. We grabbed some burgersruined my appetite. Ill just go to bed.”
Mothers Day was approaching. Emma asked her mum to babysit and headed to the shopping centre. She wanted to make the day speciala romantic dinner and time alone together. Her mother happily took the children for the evening.
Along with groceries and gifts, Emma decided to buy something for herself. It had been ages since shed last splurgedshe felt guilty taking money from James for clothes, and there was nowhere to wear them anyway. Her last purchase had been a tracksuit, hardly suitable for a romantic evening. She went into a clothing 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, Id love to undress you right now!”
A womans bright laughter followed.
“Patience, you rogue! Go pick something out for your wife instead!”
“Why bother? Shes buried in nappies and baby food. The kids dont care what she wearsjust as long as theyre fed, changed, and their toys are put away! Ill get her a blender. Or a bread makershell be thrilled!”
Emma felt as if ice water had been poured over her. Trying not to make a sound, she mechanically continued trying on dresses while listening to the voices next door.
“If she asks where you spent so much money,” the woman giggled, “a blender and a bread maker dont cost that much”
“And 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 allowance for the house, and thats that! She should be grateful.”
The voices faded as they finished shopping. Emma peeked cautiously from her cubicle. Sure enough, her beloved husband stood at the till with a blonde, paying for their purchases. After handing over the money, he turned to the woman and kissed her full on the lips, right in front of the cashier.
“Are you all right?” The shop assistants voice snapped Emma back to realityshed been staring blankly at the wall for too long.
“Yes, yes, fine!” She pulled back the curtain and handed over the dresses. “Ill take them all.”
At home, after her mother left and the children were down for their nap, Emma sat in silence, wondering what to do. Shed never expected such betrayal from James. Not just the affairbut how he spoke about her, how little he valued her efforts.
She wanted to demand a divorce immediately but forced herself to stop and think.
“If I divorce him, hell move in with his blonde, and Ill be left alone with the kids and no income. Child support? Probably pennies. How will we live?”
By evening, shed made her decision. James didnt come home late that nighthed clearly had his fill of affection elsewhere. Emma felt nothing for him anymore. He was a stranger now. The only thing that unsettled her was the thought of him expecting intimacy when she could no longer bear to give it.
But James, satisfied by his mistress, didnt approach her.
The next day, Emma updated her CV and sent it to various agencies. All she could do was wait. Every morning, she checked her emails. Finally, the long-awaited response arrivedshed been invited for an interview at a company in town. The very one where James worked.
After much deliberation, she decided to go.
With her mother watching the children, Emma attended the interview. Nearly two hours later, she was offered a good position with flexible hours. The pay wasnt much at first, but enough to support herself and the children.
She floated home on air. Her mother, seeing her so happy, bombarded her with questions.
“Mum, James is cheating on me!” Emma blurted out cheerfully. Convinced her daughter had lost her mind, her mother took her hand and sat her down.
“Emma, what are you saying? How could James cheat? Hes at work all day!”
“Not workhis mistress!” Emma recounted everything shed overheard in the changing room. Her mother listened, then asked:
“Well, what are you going to do?”
“File for divorce! And guess what? Ive got a job with flexible hours. Ill apply for nursery places, and once the kids are settled, Ill work full-time!”
“I wont try to stop you. Betrayal is unforgivable. Especially when he doesnt value you as a person. Ill help with the children.”
“Thank you, Mum!” Emma hugged her tightly.
A few days later, James returned late again. Emma didnt question him. Surprised by her indifference, he began justifying himself:
“Em, we had to work late again”
But Emma cut him off. “Just go to bed.”
The next morning, as she fed the children breakfast, James presented her with a gifta bread maker.
“Here, darling, to make your life easier!” He leaned in for a kiss, but she recoiled, barely glancing at the gift.
“I have a gift for you too.”
Confused, he followed her to the hallway, where two large suitcases waited.
“Im divorcing you. No more hiding your affairs.”
“How did you” James spluttered.
“In the changing room, while you were buying gifts for your blonde. Oh, and keep the bread makergive it to her. I dont need it.”
Cornered and losing his family, James lashed out:
“Jealous, are you? Shes beautiful, passionate, and takes care of herselfunlike you! Youve forgotten how to dress up, buried in kids, living off me! And who cares what I spend my money on? Its mine! Youve no right to demand explanations! Youre just a greedy fool!”
“Im not jealous,” Emma said calmly. “Leave.”
The next day, she filed for divorce and child support. A week later, there was a knock at the door. Her mother-in-law stood there, glaring.
“You gold-digging leech! Driving my son away, now bleeding him dry! Drop the child supporthe doesnt owe you a thing!”
“Hes not paying mehes supporting his children, the ones he wanted!” Emma shot back. “If his mistress isnt happy, thats his problem. Hes their father as much as Im their mother!”
“What will you do without his money? You had kids expecting a free ride, but it wont work! Hell cut his official salary, and youll get peanuts! Youll suffer!”
“Thats not possible,” Emma said, pointing to the door. “Get out before I call the police.”
Cursing, her mother-in-law left.
A few months later, nursery places were secured for the children. Once the youngest started, Emma began working full-time.
“Hello.” A familiar voice startled her at her desk. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, James, Im busy,” she replied without looking up.
“Maybe lunch sometime?” he pressed.
Emma raised her head, studying her ex-husband. He looked tired, worn out. She knew the blonde had dumped him the moment she learned half his salary would go to child support. But Emma felt nothing.
“No, James. We wont talk, and we wont have lunch.”
