“It’s your motherso it’s your responsibility!” he said, but shed had enough.
Emily fastened her sons coat, gritting her teeth to keep her rising irritation in check. Another obligatory visit to her mother-in-law loomed aheada woman shed never gotten along with. From the very beginning, their relationship had been strained.
Margaret Whitmore had long ago decided Emily wasnt the right wife for her son. No matter what Emily did, there was always criticism, some complaint, some resentment.
“Emily, what now?” sighed Daniel, watching her irritated expression. “You dont want to go, do you?”
She scoffed and shook her head.
“Are you seriously asking me that? Honestly, Daniel! You know exactly why I dont want to go!”
Her eyes burned with anger.
“Shell lecture me again, nitpick, make problems where there arent any! Shell say Im raising our child wrongagain! And she doesnt care at all that I work, that I run the house, cook, clean, and pay all the bills! Im the one supporting this family, Daniel!”
“But youre at home all day…” he muttered, shrugging.
Emily narrowed her eyes.
“Really? You think I just sit and stare at the walls? Or do you think money magically appears in our account?”
“I work too,” he grumbled, sounding offended. “Its not my fault I earn less.”
The truth was, Emily, as a designer, earned three times what he did. She carried the financial weight of the family on her shoulders.
“Maybe you could go alone?” she asked hopefully.
“Emily, its Mothers Day! You cant just ignore her!”
She pressed her lips together and finished dressing their son. Two hours later, they were at Margarets house.
In the living room, as usual, sat LucyDaniels niece. Emily had long noticed how Margaret treated Lucy like a princess while barely acknowledging her own grandson. But it wasnt surprisingLucys parents had died five years ago, and Margaret had taken her in.
Margarets sisters sat around them, sipping tea and laughing loudly.
Then came the words that changed everything.
“Ive made a decision,” Margaret announced. “Im leaving my flat to Lucy. Daniel, you already have your own house.”
Daniel didnt even react. He simply nodded.
A few days later, the paperwork was done. The flat officially belonged to Lucyon the condition she wouldnt move in until after Margarets death.
But fate had other plans.
A stroke left Margaret completely helpless.
“We have to move in with her,” Daniel declared. “She cant manage alone.”
Emilys stomach twisted. She knew what this meant.
She would be the one feeding, changing, bathing herwhile still working and raising their child.
But she said nothing.
Weeks passed, and Emily had no respite.
Then, one evening, she snapped.
“Daniel, your mothers flat belongs to Lucy. Maybe she should take care of her?”
“Lucys at university, Emily. And she has a boyfriend. She cant exactly move him in here!”
Emily laugheddry, bitter, disbelieving.
“Daniel, I cant do this anymore!”
He crossed his arms.
“Oh. So youve had enough?”
Her hands trembled.
“Im drowning in all of it! You, your mother, our child, my work… ITS TOO MUCH!”
“But you work from home…” he replied with a mocking smirk.
Her gaze turned icy.
“And what of it? You think thats not real work?!”
Her heart pounded wildly.
“You know what? Now YOU can take care of your mother!”
“Shes my mother, but your mother-in-law! Its your duty! You want me to wash her?!”
Silence.
Then Emily spoke, calm but freezing:
“I owe you nothing.”
Daniel scoffed.
“Then hire a carer!”
“Oh, really? Will you pay for it?”
“Why should I pay?!”
“Then there wont be a carer.”
She crossed her arms.
“You can pay from your mothers pension. Or… from your salary?”
Daniels face darkened with anger.
“Then whats the point of having a wife?!”
And that was the moment.
Something inside Emily shattered.
Everything became clear.
Daniel had only ever used her.
And Lucy? She hadnt visited her grandmother once.
That night, Emily didnt sleep a wink.
By morning, she knew what she had to do.
When Daniel left for work, she packed their bags, took their son, and walked out.
She left one message, then blocked his number:
“I wont carry this weight alone anymore.”
That evening, Daniel stormed over, furious.
“Come back, or Ill file for divorce!”
Emily smiled faintly.
“File the papers. I was going to do it anyway.”
For the first time, Daniel was speechless.
But she didnt wait for an apology. The decision was made.
A month later, they were divorced.
Daniel never admitted his mistake.
And Emily?
She didnt regret a single second.
Six months later…
Emily heard the news.
Margaret had died.
And Lucy?
Without hesitation, she threw Daniel out.
Only then did he understand.
Hed lost everything.
