My name is Helen, and I’m a 26-year-old housewife. Until two years ago, I worked for a mobile company where I met Anton Cade, my boss at the workplace. I was 24, and it didn’t take us long to fall in love and get married. Anton, three years my senior, was very dependable, especially when teaching me the ropes at work. As a newcomer to the department, I couldn’t express how grateful I was for his precise instructions.
As we became friends, we frequently went out to dinner together. When he asked me out, I was over the moon, particularly because I had never dated anyone before. Being a cartoon enthusiast, I was always more interested in 2D characters than real-world men. However, seeing my high school and college classmates getting married one after another, I started to feel the pressure. When I fell in love with Anton, I secretly vowed it would be my first and last love. So, when we got married a year later, I was completely elated.
Anton was good-looking and popular among our female co-workers. I was proud to be his wife, and many congratulated us. Basking in unprecedented joy, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead for us.
“You’re married to me now, so you’ll quit your job, right?”
The day after we submitted our marriage registration, as we eagerly embarked on our new married life, Anton dropped a bombshell.
“Obviously,” he stated, “I’ve always wanted my wife to focus solely on household matters. Don’t worry, I can support both of us with my income.”
“But this is so sudden. You never mentioned this before,” I replied. Anton had never brought up the idea of me quitting my job before our marriage. I had taken my current job based on my father’s recommendation, and leaving without notice wouldn’t be right. I wanted to explain this, but Anton’s eyes silently pressured me, warning against pursuing the topic. Instinctively, I closed my mouth.
“I should have told you, but it’s done,” Anton declared. “Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to go to work. I’ll handle the handover.”
The news was so abrupt that it left me feeling dizzy. However, Anton’s words were resolute. As he had been my superior at work, I couldn’t oppose him. Even though I had to leave my job without a proper farewell, I was determined to make our marriage work.
I worked hard at household chores, preparing meals focused on Anton’s favorites. Although Anton ate without specific comments on the taste, I longed for a word of appreciation, especially after quitting my job and no longer being recognized by anyone. Our relationship often felt more like that of an employer and housemaid than a husband and wife, but our marital life was generally smooth.
However, one day I fell ill and couldn’t get out of bed. Feeling lethargic, I thought I would catch up on housework the next day. Anton entered the bedroom and angrily asked, “What are you doing? Get up and make some food,” as he kicked the blanket I was under.
“I’m sorry, I’m feeling unwell today. Can you manage something for yourself?” I explained, hoping for understanding.
Instead of nodding or consoling me, Anton frowned and said, “You don’t work, yet you’re lying down just because you feel a bit sick? Pathetic. Get up,” kicking me again.
In disbelief, I got up from the bed. It was unthinkable that he would demand housework from his sick wife. I had never imagined he would be like this before we married. Perhaps it was my fault for not seeing it, but it was too much. I found myself doing chores while tears streamed down my face.
The Discovery
Several days passed, and my health showed no signs of improvement. It was then that I realized I had missed my period. Panicking, I rushed to the drugstore to buy a pregnancy test. The result was positive. Overjoyed, tears flowed naturally, and I decided to share the news with Anton when he returned from work.
The day Anton returned home after midnight was the day I had chosen to share the news. However, the moment he entered, the smell of alcohol made me nauseous. His face was flushed, and he staggered as he walked.
Even though I had prepared dinner, I wanted to share the news of my pregnancy with Anton quickly. My excited emotions surged, and I shared the news with my intoxicated husband. “Yes, I haven’t been to the doctor yet, so it’s not confirmed,” I began, eager to convey our happiness.
However, Anton’s face darkened as he responded, “A child? What have you done?” His characteristically grim tone was unlike anything I’d ever heard before.
“Huh?”
“I don’t want a child! Damn, this is the worst. If you’re going to have it, raise it yourself.”
His harsh words shocked me. He rudely stripped off his clothes and headed to the bathroom. It was unbelievable. The happiness I had felt just moments ago was immediately replaced with deep sorrow. He had never mentioned not wanting children before. We hadn’t even been using contraception, so I naturally thought we both wanted children.
As I hung Anton’s jacket and was about to take his shirt to the washroom, I noticed something else. A piece of paper had emerged from the pocket. Immediately, I could tell it was a receipt. At first, I thought it was just from tonight’s gathering, but then my eyes caught the name of the establishment.
Is this a motel? My hand holding the receipt trembled. The shock of this discovery weighed heavily on my heart. How could this be? We’ve only been married for just over a year.
The idea of Anton cheating began to make sense, and many pieces fell into place. Was he genuinely in love with the person he was cheating with, while I was merely a convenient servant? Was that the reason he reacted so harshly when he learned of my pregnancy?
As I grappled with these thoughts, nausea set in, and I became convinced that something was amiss. Perhaps the reason he drove me out of the company was that his mistress worked there. It seemed like everything was beginning to make sense.
That day, I decided to gather evidence of Anton’s infidelity. From then on, his cold behavior towards me was undeniable. It was as if he couldn’t forgive me for becoming pregnant. Despite knowing that I was suffering from morning sickness, he would deliberately eat smelly foods near me and nitpick my housework, forcing me to redo tasks.
My pregnant body had to endure a lot, and my heart was heavy. Despite this, I continued to investigate his affair. Anton never parted from his cell phone, making it impossible for me to sneak a peek. When I secretly entered his room, it was neat and tidy, with nothing incriminating in sight. I realized that it would be challenging to catch him off guard. The thought of hiring a detective crossed my mind, but I didn’t have the money.
The Phone Call
I was deep in thought, mulling over my situation, when I received an unexpected phone call. It was my father, who rarely reached out to me.
“Hello, it’s me, your Dad. How are you?” he inquired.
Surprised by his call, I asked, “Dad, what’s going on? Aren’t you busy with work?”
“My employees have been doing well, so I’m not that busy,” he explained. My father, the CEO of a company in Canada, had always been a workaholic. His unexpected call left me curious.
“So, what’s happening?” I inquired. My father proceeded to reveal a shocking truth.
“Is that really true?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes,” my father reassured me. “He’s not the type to lie. I want you to believe me.”
Initially in shock, as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, I felt a sense of relief. “Thank you, Dad. I’ll do my best,” I told him with gratitude before hanging up. My research was finally paying off, and I couldn’t help but feel elated. However, the newfound knowledge also stirred up feelings of anger and frustration.
Anton continued to be distant. Months passed, and our relationship remained strained. Eventually, an event occurred that shattered our life.
The Breaking Point
At nine months pregnant, I was always cautious around Anton, living in a state of constant apprehension. One day, I served dinner as usual. When Anton returned home, we sat at the dining table. As I quietly ate, Anton suddenly slammed his fork down.
“What is this? It’s tasteless!” he exclaimed, throwing the food I had prepared onto the floor.
Baffled by his outburst, the anger at having the meal I had cooked discarded before me began to well up inside. Since becoming pregnant, I had been using less seasoning to make healthier meals. If he found the food bland, he could have simply added some salt himself.
I was about to voice my complaint when Anton sneered and uttered hurtful words. “I don’t want a woman with a belly like a monster. You have to raise the kid by yourself.” While looking at my swollen belly, he spitefully declared his eyes filled with malice and a vulgar smile stretching across his lips.
I had always anticipated that this day might come. Swiftly, I went to my room, retrieved a document, and returned.
“Fine. Here are the divorce papers,” I said, thrusting the prepared documents in front of him.
Anton’s face twisted in shock. “What the hell? What’s this all of a sudden?”
“Well, it was your idea. Now sign it quickly. I’ll submit it tomorrow,” I responded. In reality, I had been contemplating divorce since I began suspecting Anton’s infidelity. However, with a child on the way, I was unsure if I could support myself. But now, I had a different plan in mind.
My resolve seemed to have provoked Anton. His face reddened with anger. “Just watch. I will make you regret every moment you looked down upon me. Do you think you can survive without me? You have a baby to care for, and you’ll regret it.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me,” I assured him.
Perhaps irritated by my determination, he snatched the divorce papers and began to fill in the blanks. “Here you go. If this is what you wanted, it’s yours,” he said.
“Thank you,” I responded. Anton probably didn’t think I would actually submit the papers, as he handed them over without a fuss.
The following day, I promptly submitted the divorce papers and left the house. I knew he would be surprised when he returned from work. After that, I moved to my parents’ home, primarily due to my father’s return to the US from Canada and his suggestion that I stay with them.
I received three calls from Anton on the day I left, but I ignored all of them. Eventually, he stopped calling. It became clear that I meant very little to him. He was probably content with his mistress by now.
The Final Confrontation
Six months had passed. I had a baby who was born safely, and I was now living happily with my parents. It was while I was enjoying this peaceful life that Anton called again. I ignored his calls at first, but after several persistent attempts, I had no choice but to answer.
“Hello? What do you want now?” I said, wary of his tone.
“Hey! What’s going on? Why were you on that show? And since when were you the daughter of a CEO with assets worth millions of dollars? I never knew that!” Anton’s voice boomed with surprise and anger.
It turned out that Anton had seen a TV show that was broadcasted after I returned to my family home. Thanks to my father’s role as the CEO of a renowned global tech company, the show featured the lavish lifestyle of his family. During the interview, they discussed our family’s wealth, mentioning a rough estimate of $10 million.
“Oh, by the way,” I said, “I didn’t tell you that I have an asset of $3 million due to an advanced inheritance. That’s why I was able to divorce you.” Yes, my father had informed me about the inheritance, which gave me the confidence to live comfortably.
Upon hearing this, Anton’s reaction was immediate and furious. “What? That’s dirty! Why didn’t you tell me about this before? Half of it is mine, right? Give me the money now!”
I calmly responded, “Just as I suspected. After seeing the show, all you could think of was extorting money from me. Gifts from parents are not included in the property distribution. And are you forgetting your own misdeeds?”
Anton was puzzled. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m exasperated with your rage, Anton,” I continued. “You cheated, didn’t you? With your new wife? And she’s a junior from your company, isn’t she? You started dating her even before our marriage.”
Anton was evidently shocked by the information I got from my father. I finally had the upper hand.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out? My father told me. He has many acquaintances in your company, and one of them informed me about your affair. I’ve never mentioned it, but I’ll be demanding child support.”
Anton, still in denial, protested, “Stop kidding! Why should I pay child support? It’s all because of you, right? You got pregnant on your own and slacked off with household chores. It’s all your fault!”
Hearing Anton blame me without apologizing was beyond belief. I couldn’t believe I was ever married to someone so lacking in common sense.
“Anton, I’m broke. My wife spent all the money I earned, and now I’m drowned in debt.” Hearing his pitiful plea, I went from anger to sheer disbelief.
“What are you talking about? Do you even realize how ridiculous you sound? I never want to deal with you ever again. I’ll have my lawyer handle the matter of child support. Never call me again, and you will not see the child anymore. Goodbye.”
“Hey, wait—”
After pouring out my emotions, I quickly hung up the phone. Afterwards, I blocked Anton’s number and took a deep breath. It’s over now, right? I no longer want him disrupting my peaceful life.
It turned out that he began paying child support every month. As per a former colleague’s account, Anton claimed that the woman he remarried was quite a spendthrift, and he had to pay his current living expenses with debts. Because of these circumstances, Anton had tried to get a share of my inheritance. However, Anton, who didn’t get a penny from me, now had expenses greater than his income. He was struggling. What’s more, he stupidly began his job search only after leaving his current company, resulting in being forced into a life of poverty.
Hearing this didn’t move me in the slightest. I thought he deserved all the hardships. The harsh words and cold demeanor he showed me will never fade from my memory.
On the other hand, I’m enjoying parenthood with my parents. I think I’ll lead a comfortable life without financial worries. But since my father mentioned passing on the company to me, I’m all geared up to work. After all, I am my hardworking father’s daughter.