The tension in the room was thick as Evelyns mother-in-law, Margaret, pleaded with her.
“Evelyn, honestly, nothing truly awful happened! Men stray sometimeshe got carried away, couldnt stop himself in time. Be the bigger person. Are you really going to hand your husband over to some girl? Shell think shes won! Fight for your family!”
On Saturday morning, Evelyn dropped their son, Daniel, at her parents. She’d arranged for him to stay with them awhile.
Back home, she dragged cardboard boxes from the balcony and began packing. She started in the nursery, folding clothes, stacking toys, sealing each box with tape. Soon, the room would be bare except for furniture she had no intention of taking.
Around noon, her phone buzzedMargaret again.
“Hello, Margaret.”
“Good afternoon, Evelyn. William told me everything. I understand youre hurt. But must you be so hasty? Wait. Cool off. Think. Must you destroy the family over this?”
“Im not the one destroying itWilliam did,” Evelyn replied flatly.
“Evelyn, Im not excusing him! But couldnt you forgive him, just this once?”
“Once? Your son has been seeing his colleague for six months. Lying to me. And you say forgive him? No.”
“Please, think again. Youre taking Daniels father from him. William adores that boy!”
“He can see Daniel whenever he likes. I wont stop him. But I wont live with your son another day. Now, I have packing to do.”
She sealed the last two boxes, moved to the bedroom, and began filling suitcases.
Margaret arrived an hour later, convinced a face-to-face plea would change Evelyns mind.
The argument circled the same drain:
“Evelyn, nothing terrible happened! Men slip upits natural! Be wiser. Dont let some girl steal your husband. Shell think shes beaten you!”
“William isnt some trophy Ill fight over. Should I challenge this Jennifer to a duel? A boxing match? Shes irrelevant. If not her, itd be someone else.”
“Let me tell you somethingWilliams father strayed too in his youth. But I was wiser than you. I kept our family intact. Thirty-five years together now. A coral anniversary soon.”
“And how exactly were you wiser?” Evelyn smirked.
“I never made scenes. Instead, I was kinder. Cooked his favourite meals, took interest in his work, improved myselfnew haircut, lost weight, greeted him with smiles. Sometimes I *knew* hed just come from *her*, and I wanted to brain him with a frying pan. But I endured. And I kept my husband. My son had a father. My grandson has a grandfather.”
“Youre remarkable, Margaret. I couldnt do that. My sense of disgust is too strong. What youre suggesting is like eating from a bin.”
Margaret stormed out without another word.
Evelyn kept packing. She knew this wasnt the endWilliam and Margaret would make her life hell. She had to leave fast.
The next day, her father helped load boxes into a van. On the way, she stopped at Margarets to return the house keys.
Over coffee with her best friend, Rachel, Evelyn recounted the ordeal.
“And what arguments did she use?” Rachel asked.
“The usual. Youre robbing Daniel of his father, All men cheat, Women must be wiser. Then she shared how *she* won her husband back.”
“How?”
“I wont repeat it. Pure madness. Youd never do it.”
“Have you filed?”
“Yes. Last Friday.”
“Finally free of that Casanova. Couldnt stand watching that swine.”
“What do you mean, *couldnt stand*? You knew about Jennifer?”
“Not for certain. But I suspected.”
“And you didnt tell me? I thought we were friends.” Evelyn stood to leave.
“Wait!” Rachel gripped her wrist. “Listen. I had no proof. I saw what you sawjust drew different conclusions. Remember the office party? How Jennifer clung to William? How she *always* volunteered for trips with him? I suspected, but without proof, what if I was wrong? Remember the fallout when Sarah told her friend shed seen her husband with another woman? They reconciled, and *Sarah* got blamed for trying to wreck a marriage. She quit the firm. I didnt want that. If Id had solid proof, Id have told you.”
Evelyn exhaled. “Fine. But where do I go from here?”
“The flats in Margarets name, so Daniel and I are at Mum and Dads. But Grans old place will be ready soontenants moved out last month. Two bedrooms, not three, but enough. Sorting nursery nowtoo far to the old one, but Mums friend can get him into the local. Once divorced, Ill file for maintenance. Done.”
“Does William agree?”
“Says he doesnt want divorce, swears hes learned his lesson. I dont care. Once was enough. He begged me not to file for child supportpromised to pay voluntarily.”
“And?”
“No. I want no contact. Everything official. He threatened to take DanielBetter flat, higher salary.”
“I didnt argue. Just tallied his business trips last year. Eight. Saved it for court. When he claims he wants custody, Ill ask who looks after Daniel when hes away. Ive got a job. A home. Hell lose.”
William did petition for custody, insisting,
“My ex-wife cant provide our son the standard of living he deserves.”
Margaret claimed Evelyn was hiding Daniel:
“She took him from nursery! We thought theyd be at her parents, but they vanished after a week. Neighbors confirm itwhere is she keeping him? Some shady place?”
Evelyn had to clarify: they lived in her two-bed flat, Daniel attended the local nursery. She highlighted Williams frequent travelhardly ideal for parenting.
They lost.
Evelyn changed jobs soon afterskilled as she was, it was easy.
Then Rachel brought news:
“Jennifer quit. Left town.”
“Oh?”
“The office women made her life hell. She realized the well was dry and bolted for London. So your ex is alone now.”
“Doesnt trouble me,” Evelyn said.
And she meant it. That well? Too much poison had been spat into it to ever drink from it again.
What would you have done? Was Evelyn right? Share your thoughts.
