He still wasnt home. Lately, hed been swamped with work and coming back later and later. Emily tucked the kids into bed and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. John still hadnt made it back. These days, he was buried under piles of work and exhaustion, so he often ran late. Emily felt for him and tried to spare him from household chores. After all, he was the only one bringing money into the house.
Right after they got married, theyd decided Emily would take care of the home and their future children while John provided for the family. Thats how their three kids came along, one after the other. John was over the moon each time and joked they shouldnt stop there.
Emily, though, was worn out from endless nappies, formula feeds, and sleepless nights. She decided to take a break from having any more kids.
John came home past midnight, slightly tipsy. When she asked why he was so late, he shrugged.
“Em, we were drowning in work, so we went out to unwind.”
“Love,” she smiled, “let me get you something to eat!”
“Dont bother. I had some wings. Just gonna head straight to bed.”
Mothers Day was coming up. Emily asked her mum to watch the kids and headed to the shopping centre. She wanted to celebrate properlya romantic dinner, just the two of them. Her mum agreed to take the children.
Aside from groceries and gifts, Emily decided to treat herself to something new. She hadnt bought anything in agesshe hated asking John for money for clothes, and where would she even wear them? The last thing shed bought was a housecoat, but that wasnt exactly dinner-appropriate. So she wandered into a boutique, picked out a few dresses, and stepped into the fitting room.
She was trying on the second dress when she heard her husbands voice from the next cubicle.
“Mmm, cant wait to get you out of this.”
Giggles followed his comment.
“Patience, you devil! Go pick something out for your wife!”
“Why bother? Shes knee-deep in kids. They dont care what she wearsjust feed them, change them, and tidy up their toys! Maybe Ill get her a slow cooker. Or a bread makershell love that!”
A cold shiver ran down Emilys spine. She kept trying on dresses mechanically, straining to hear more.
“What if she asks where you spent all that money?” the girl teased.
“Why should I justify my spending? I work, she stays home! I give her a set amount for the housethats plenty! She should be grateful!”
The fitting mustve ended because the voices faded. Emily peeked out cautiously and saw her beloved husband at the till, paying for his purchases beside a blonde. After paying, he didnt hesitate to kiss herright there in front of the cashier.
“You alright in there?” the shop assistant asked, noticing Emily still in the cubicle.
“Fine, thanks!” Emily stepped out, handing back the dresses.
At home, Emily sent her mum off and put the kids down for their nap. She started making plans. Shed never expected such betrayal from her husband. It wasnt just the cheatingit was how little he valued her, the work she did for their family. In an instant, everything theyd built together meant nothing. She wanted to run, to file for divorce immediately, but she forced herself to think.
“If I divorce him, hell run off to his blonde, and Ill be left with the kids and no income. Child support? Probably pennies. How will we live?”
By evening, shed made her decision. That night, John didnt come home late with his usual work excuses. “Probably spent the day with her,” Emily thought coldly. All her feelings for him had vanished. He was a stranger now. Her only worry was that he might want intimacyshe couldnt stomach the idea.
But apparently, John had gotten everything he wanted from his mistress because he didnt come near her.
The next day, Emily updated her CV and sent it off to agencies and companies. All she could do was wait. Days dragged by. Every morning, she checked her emails. Finally, a replyan interview at a firm in the city. The same place where John worked. She debated going but decided she had to.
With her mum watching the kids, Emily went to the interview. After two hours with the managers, she was offered a decent position with flexible hours. The pay wasnt huge, but enough to support herself and the children.
She floated home, thrilled. Her mum, seeing her so happy, started questioning her.
“Mum, Johns cheating on me!” Emily blurted out, oddly cheerful. Thinking stress had unhinged her daughter, her mum guided her to the sofa.
“Emily, how can you say that? John works all day!”
“Hes not workinghes with his mistress!” Emily spilled everything shed overheard in the fitting room. Her mum listened, then asked,
“What are you going to do?”
“Im divorcing him! And Ive got a flexible job. Once the kids are all in nursery, Ill go full-time!”
“Good! You shouldnt tolerate betrayal. This is just the starthe doesnt even see you as a person anymore. Ill help with the kids.”
“Thanks, Mum!” Emily hugged her, overwhelmed.
On the night before Mothers Day, John came home late again. Emily didnt ask questions. Surprised by her indifference, he started justifying himself.
“Em, the lads and I lost track of time”
“Just go to bed,” she cut him off.
The next morning, as Emily fixed breakfast for the kids, John proudly presented her with a gifta bread maker.
“Darling, to make your life easier!” He leaned in for a kiss, but Emily stepped back, ignoring the box.
“Ive got a gift for you too.”
Confused, John followed her to the hallway, where two large suitcases waited.
“Were getting divorced. No more lies about where youve been.”
“How did you?” he stammered.
“I heard everything in the fitting room while you were buying gifts for your blonde. And keep the bread makergive it to her. I dont need it.”
Caught out and losing his family, John snapped.
“Jealous Ive got someone else? Someone beautiful, passionate, and put-togetherunlike you! Youve let yourself go, stuck at home with the kids, living off my money! Its my right to spend it how I want! Youre just a gold-digging wife!”
“I dont care,” Emily said calmly. “Get out.”
The next day, she filed for divorce and child support. A week later, someone banged on the door. Her mother-in-law stood there, glaring.
“Gold-digger! Youve driven out your husband and now youre taking his money! Drop the child supporthe owes you nothing!”
“He owes his childrenthe ones he wanted!” Emily shot back. “If he cant afford his mistress anymore, thats his problem. Hes as much a parent as I am!”
“What will you do without his money? You had kids thinking youd live off him forever! But you wont! Hell get his salary docked, and youll get scraps! Youll come crawling back!”
“Dont count on it.” Emily pointed at the door. “Get out before I call the police.”
Cursing, her mother-in-law left. Months later, all three kids got nursery spots, and once the youngest started, Emily went back to work full-time.
“Hi,” a familiar voice said at her desk. “Can we talk?”
“Busy, John,” she replied without looking up.
“Maybe lunch?” he pressed. Emily glanced up. He looked exhausted. She knew the blonde had dumped him when half his salary went to child support. But that didnt matter anymore.
“No, John. Were not talking. And were not having lunch.”
