Late again? Lately, the workload had increased, so he was often delayed.
Emily tucked the children into bed and went to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea. William still wasnt home. These days, he was always buried in work, coming back late more often than not. She pitied him, shielding him from household worriesafter all, he was the sole breadwinner. After their wedding, theyd agreed: shed tend to the home and their future children, while he ensured their comfort. One after another, three children arrived, each birth filling him with joy. He insisted he didnt want to stop there.
But Emily was exhaustedendless nappies, mashed vegetables, sleepless nights. She decided it was time to pause.
William returned well past midnight, slightly tipsy. When she asked why he was so late, he grinned.
“Em, we were all knackered, so we went for a quick drink to unwind.”
“Oh, you poor thing!” she smiled. “Come on, Ill fix you something to eat.”
“Dont bother. We had burgersruined my appetite. Better just sleep.”
Mothers Day was approaching. Emily, having asked her mum to watch the kids, headed to the shopping centre. She wanted this day to be specialjust the two of them, a romantic dinner. Her mother gladly took the children.
Besides groceries and gifts, Emily decided to buy something for herself. It had been agesshe felt guilty taking money from William for clothes, and there was never time to shop. Her last purchase had been a sensible housecoat, hardly fitting for a romantic evening. She entered a boutique, selected a few dresses, and slipped into a changing room.
As she tried on the second dress, she heard a familiar voice from the next cubicle:
“Mmm, Id rather take this off you now!”
A womans giggle followed.
“Patience! Go pick something for your wife instead.”
“Why bother? Shes drowning in nappies and school runs. The kids dont care what she wearsas long as theyre fed, changed, and their toys are tidied! Ill get her a blender. Or a bread makershell be thrilled!”
Emily froze, as if doused in icy water. Silently, she continued dressing, ears straining.
“If she asks where you spent so much,” the woman teased, “a blender and bread maker dont cost that much…”
“And why should I explain how I spend my own money? Im the one working while she sits at home, wanting for nothing! I give her a household allowancethats enough. She should be grateful!”
The voices faded as they left. Peeking out, Emily saw himher beloved Williamat the till with a blonde, kissing her shamelessly as he paid.
“Everything all right?” A shop assistant interrupted her daze.
“Yes, fine!” Emily thrust the dresses at her. “Ill take them all.”
At home, after her mother left and the children napped, Emily sat in silence. What now? The betrayal itself stunned her less than his contempthow little he valued her efforts.
She wanted to run, demand a divorcebut forced herself to think.
“Fine, Ill divorce him. Hell move in with that blonde, and Ill be alone with the kids, penniless. Child support? Probably pennies. How will we live?”
By evening, her decision was made. William came home on time that nightno “late meetings.” “Mustve had his fill already,” she thought coldly. All love for him had vanished. He was a stranger now. The only unease? If he sought intimacy, she could no longer pretend.
But William, satiated by his mistress, didnt approach her.
The next day, Emily updated her CV and sent it to agencies. Now, each morning began with checking her inbox. Finally, an interviewat his company. She hesitated but went.
After a two-hour discussion, they offered her a flexible role with decent payenough to support herself and the children.
She floated home. Her mother, seeing her radiant, pelted her with questions.
“Mum, Williams cheating!” Emily blurted joyfully. Certain her daughter had cracked, her mother pulled her onto the sofa.
“Emily, what nonsense! Hes at work all day!”
“Not workhis mistress!” She spilled the changing-room story. Her mother sighed.
“What will you do?”
“Divorce him! And Ive got a jobflexible hours. Once the kids are all in nursery, Ill work full-time!”
“Well, I wont stop you. No forgiving betrayal. And he doesnt value you. Ill help with the children.”
“Thanks, Mum!” Emily hugged her fiercely.
A week later, William returned late again. Emily ignored him. Puzzled, he stammered excusesshe cut him off, sending him to bed.
The next morning, as she fed the children breakfast, William presented her with a gifta bread maker.
“Darling, to make life easier!” He leaned in for a kiss, but she recoiled.
“Ive got a gift for you too.”
Baffled, he followed her to the hallway, where two large suitcases waited.
“Were divorcing. No more sneaking around.”
“How did you?”
“The changing room. While you shopped for your blonde. And take that bread maker to herI dont want it.”
Cornered, William snarled:
“Jealous, are you? Shes beautiful, passionate, cared forunlike you! Youve let yourself go! Drowning in kids, living off me! And who are you to question my spending? My money, my choice! Youre just a greedy, petty”
“Im not jealous,” she said calmly. “Leave.”
The next day, she filed for divorce and child support.
A week later, his mother hammered on the door.
“You gold-digging shrew! Kicked him out, now milking him for money? Drop the child supporthe doesnt owe you a penny!”
“He pays for his childrenthe ones he wanted!” Emily shot back. “If his mistress cant handle it, thats his problem. Hes their father as much as Im their mother!”
“What will you do without his money? Popped out kids, expecting to ride his back forever? Well, you wont! Hell lower his official salaryyoull get scraps!”
“Not happening.” Emily pointed at the door. “Get out before I call the police.”
Cursing, the woman left.
Months passed. The children started nursery one by one. Soon after the youngest began, Emily took on full-time work.
“Hello.” A familiar voice echoed. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, William. Im busy,” she replied, not looking up.
“Lunch, then?”
She lifted her gaze. He looked haggard, worn. Rumor had it his mistress, learning half his salary went to child support, had dumped him. But Emily felt nothing.
“No, William. We wont talk. And we wont have lunch.”
