“How dare he?” – The Story of a Crack in a Marriage
“That’s it, I’ve had enough!” – Ian slammed his fist on the table, making the china plates rattle. “Make sure I never see her again!”
“Are you serious right now?” – Marina glared at her husband, her voice trembling with fury. “Or have you forgotten I live here too and can invite whoever I want?”
“For as long as you live here,” he snapped.
“Is that how it is?”
“I’ve said all I need to say,” Ian threw back, jerking up so abruptly that his chair toppled over. He stormed out, slamming the kitchen door behind him.
Marina stood alone. Her pulse throbbed in her temples. His words stung like a slap. *”For as long as you live here…”* How dare he?
Lucy—her childhood best friend. They’d grown up together in Manchester, huddled under umbrellas during thunderstorms, slept over at each other’s homes, pulled each other out of scrapes they now laughed about. And now Ian was demanding she cut Lucy out of her life?
Why? Just because Lucy wasn’t married? Because she didn’t lock herself away with endless chores, but went on dates, laughed, *lived*? So what if she accepted gifts from admirers? That was her life, her decisions.
Marina had told Ian all about their girlhood adventures. He’d laughed along before! Now suddenly—ban her? On what grounds?
She marched into the living room, determined to set things straight.
“Ian, we weren’t finished. Explain to me—why are you so furious with Lucy? What has she *actually* done?”
“To *me*?” He scoffed. “As if I’d care! I just don’t want her in our home anymore.”
“Explain.”
“You really don’t get it?” He shot up, as if ready to bolt outside in his slippers. “Your Lucy is shallow. Swaps men like socks. Lives off their money. And you—you *accept* that. You’re friends with her. That means you approve.”
Marina blinked in disbelief.
“Ian, have you lost your mind? I love *you*. I don’t want anyone else!”
“Oh, sure. ‘Love you, can’t live without you.’ But deep down, you envy her—and your sister, Emma!”
Marina flared up.
“What does *Emma* have to do with this?”
“Everything! She shouldn’t be in my house either!”
Marina froze. It all made sense now. Emma, her younger sister, had once been caught in a scandal. She’d dated a man for years, hoping for marriage—only to find out he had a wife and two kids. When the truth came out, the family was in uproar. Everyone judged Emma harshly. Then—a twist. The man moved his family away… and left Emma a flat. Small, but in the heart of London.
Suddenly, the criticism stopped. Some even said, “Well, at least he did right by her.” Marina had told Ian all about it—and, it seemed, hadn’t hid her admiration.
“Well? Say something!” Ian barked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Marina steadied herself. “Emma’s grown. She decides who she dates and what gifts she accepts.”
“Oh, of course. Got herself a flat, didn’t she? And don’t pretend you weren’t jealous. Your eyes lit up when you talked about it!”
“That’s ridiculous. Imagine if *you* had a mate constantly chasing women, wining and dining them. And then your *brother,* a father of two, suddenly gifts one of them a place. Would you be happy about it?”
“I couldn’t care less. It’s their life, not mine,” Marina said quietly.
“Good. But in *my* house, those women aren’t welcome. Not Lucy, not Emma!”
Marina didn’t answer. She walked to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and let the tears fall. From despair, from powerlessness—because the man she loved wasn’t just refusing to listen. He was *judging* her. Not by who she was—the woman beside him every day, supporting him, cooking, listening, *living* with him. But by the shadows of others’ choices.
What now? Divorce? Or stay silent, betraying the ones who’d been there her whole life? There seemed no good choice. But the thought of betraying *herself*—that was the worst of all.
