Still not home. Lately, hed been swamped with work and coming back later and later.
Emily had just put the kids to bed and wandered into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. John still wasnt back. These days, he was buried under piles of work and exhaustion, always running late. She felt sorry for him and tried to spare him from houseworkafter all, he was the only one bringing money into the house.
Right after their wedding, theyd agreed shed take care of the home and their future kids while John provided for the family. One by one, their three children came along. John was over the moon each time, saying he wasnt stopping there.
Emily, though? She was worn out from endless nappies, formula feeds, and sleepless nights. She decided to take a break from having any more kids.
John finally stumbled in past midnight, slightly tipsy. When she asked why he was so late, he shrugged.
“Emily, we were drowning in work, so we went out for a quick drink to unwind.”
“Love,” she smiled, “let me fix you something to eat.”
“Dont bother. Had some chicken wings, lost my appetite. Ill just head to bed.”
March 8th was coming up. Emily asked her mum to watch the kids so she could pop to the shopping centre. She wanted to celebrate properlya romantic dinner, just the two of them. Her mum agreed to take the little ones for the evening.
Alongside groceries and gifts, Emily decided to treat herself to something new. She hadnt bought clothes in agesshe felt awkward asking John for money just for herself, and where would she even wear them? The last thing shed bought was a housecoat, hardly suitable for a date night. So she stepped into a boutique, picked a few dresses, and slipped into the changing 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,” he murmured.
A womans playful laugh followed.
“Patience, you devil! Go pick something out for your *wife*.”
“Why bother? Shes too busy with the kids. They dont care what she wearsjust that theyre fed, changed, and toys are picked up! Ill get her a slow cooker. Or maybe a breadmakershell love that!”
Emily froze, her fingers tightening around the fabric. She kept trying on dresses mechanically, straining to hear more.
“But what if she asks where you spent all that money?” the woman giggled.
“Why should I explain myself? *I* work. *She* stays home. I give her a set amount for the housethats more than enough! She should be grateful.”
The voices faded as they finished up. Peeking out cautiously, Emily saw John at the till, paying for his purchases next to a blonde. Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her right there in front of the cashier.
“Everything alright?” the shop assistant asked, noticing Emily still in the cubicle.
“Yes, fine!” she replied, stepping out and handing over the dresses.
At home, Emily sent her mum off and settled the kids for their nap. She started making plans. Shed never expected betrayal like thisnot just the cheating, but the sheer disrespect for what she did for their family. In an instant, everything shed built for them meant nothing. She wanted to bolt right then, file for divorce, but forced herself to think it through.
“If I divorce him, he runs off to his blonde, and Im left with the kids and no income. Child support? Probably pennies. How do we live?”
By evening, shed made up her mind. For once, John wasnt late that night, hiding behind work excuses. “Probably saw her earlier,” Emily thought coldly. All her feelings for him had vanished. He was a stranger now. The only worry? He might want intimacybut the thought repulsed her.
Luckily, John seemed to have gotten what he wanted from his mistress, so he kept his distance.
The next day, Emily polished up her CV and sent it off to agencies and companies. All she could do was wait. Days dragged on, checking her email every morning. Finally, a replyan interview at a firm in town. The *same* one where John worked. She debated going but decided she had to.
Her mum watched the kids while Emily attended the interview. After two hours of talks, they offered her a decent position with flexible hours. The pay wasnt huge at first, but enough to support her and the children.
She floated home, beaming. Her mum, seeing her joy, pressed for details.
“Mum, Johns cheating on me!” Emily blurted out, oddly cheerful. Her mum, thinking stress had cracked her, pulled her onto the sofa.
“Emily, how can you say that? John works all day!”
“Hes not workinghes with his mistress!” Emily spilled everything shed overheard. Her mum listened, then asked,
“What are you going to do?”
“Divorce him! And yes, Ive got a flexible job. Once the kids are all in nursery, Im going full-time!”
“Good! Dont let betrayal slide. This is just the starthe doesnt even see you as a person anymore. Ill help with the kids.”
“Thanks, Mum,” Emily hugged her tightly.
On the evening of the 7th, John slunk in past midnight again. Emily didnt ask. Stunned by her indifference, he started rambling.
“Emily, the lads and I got carried away”
“Just go to bed,” she cut in.
The next morning, as Emily fixed breakfast for the kids, John proudly presented her with a gifta breadmaker.
“Darling, to make your life easier!” He tried to kiss her, but she 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.
“Heard everything in the changing room while you shopped for your blonde. And keep the breadmakergive it to *her*. I dont need it.”
Caught out and losing his family, John exploded.
“Jealous Ive got someone else? Someone beautiful, passionate, who *takes care* of herselfunlike you! Youve let yourself go, stuck at home with the kids, living off *my* money! Who I spend *my* money on is *my* business! 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, a knock cameher mother-in-law stood there, shrieking before hello.
“Gold-digger! You threw out your husband and now youre stealing his money! Drop the child support!”
“Hes not paying *me*hes paying for *his* children, the ones he *wanted*!” Emily shot back. “If hes short for his mistress, thats his problem. Hes as much a parent as I am!”
“What can *you* do without his money? You had kids to live off him forever! But you wont! Hell get his boss to slash his official salaryyoull get crumbs! Youll come crawling back!”
“Dont count on it,” Emily said, pointing to the door. “Get out before I call the police.”
Cursing, her mother-in-law left. Months later, all three kids got nursery spots. Once the youngest started, Emily went back to work full-time.
“Hi,” a familiar voice said at her desk one day. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, John. Busy,” she replied without looking up.
“Maybe lunch?” he pressed.
She finally met his gaze. He looked exhausted. Rumor had it the blonde dumped him when half his wages went to child support. But none of that mattered now.
“No, John. Were not talking. And were *definitely* not having lunch.”
