Vicky, honestly, nothing terrible happened! Men sometimes get carried awayits just how they are. Be the bigger person. Would you really give up your husband to some girl? Shell think shes won! Fight for your family! pleaded her mother-in-law.
On Saturday morning, Vicky took her son to her parents house, agreeing that Daniel would stay with them for a while.
When she got back home, Victoria pulled out cardboard boxes from the balcony and began packing. She started in the nursery, carefully folding clothes, toys, and books, sealing each box with tape and labeling them. Soon, the room was stripped bare, save for the furniture she had no intention of taking with her.
Around noon, her phone rang. It was her mother-in-law.
Hello, Margaret.
Good afternoon, Vicky. Jeremy told me everything. I know youre upset, but maybe dont rush into anything? Take a moment to cool off and think. Is it really worth destroying the family over this?
Im not the one destroying itJeremy is, Victoria replied.
Vicky, Im not excusing him! But maybe forgive him this once?
What do you mean, this once? Your sons been seeing his coworker for six months, lying to me the whole time. And youre asking me to forgive him? No.
Please, just think it over. Youre taking Daniel away from his father. Jeremy adores that boy!
Margaret, Jeremy can still see Daniel. I wont stop him. But I refuse to stay married to your son. Lets leave it at thatIm busy packing.
Victoria finished the last two boxes and moved to the bedroom, folding her clothes into suitcases.
Her mother-in-law arrived at the flat exactly an hour later. For some reason, Margaret believed a face-to-face conversation would change her daughter-in-laws mind.
The discussion went in circles:
Vicky, nothing terrible happened! Men slip up sometimesits just how they are.
Be wiser than this. Would you really let some girl take your husband? Shell think shes beaten you! Fight for your marriage!
Margaret, Jeremy isnt some trophy I need to fight over. Should I challenge this Jane to a duel? A boxing match? What does she have to do with it? If it wasnt her, itd be Ellie or Christine.
Let me tell you something in confidenceJeremys father, Richard, wasnt perfect in his youth either. But I was wiser than you, and I saved our marriage. Thirty-five years together now. Soon, well celebrate our coral anniversary.
And how exactly was that wisdom demonstrated? Victoria smirked.
I didnt make scenes. Instead, I became more affectionatecooked his favorite meals, took an interest in his work, even changed my hairstyle, lost weight, greeted him with a smile when he came home.
Sometimes I knew hed just come from another woman, and all I wanted was to smack him over the head with a frying pan. But I bit my tongue and smiled. And lookI kept my husband. My son grew up with a father, and now my grandson has a grandfather.
Margaret, youre an incredible woman. I could never do that. My sense of disgust is too strong. What youre suggesting is like asking me to eat from a rubbish bin.
Her mother-in-law flared up, stood abruptly, and stormed out without another word.
Victoria kept packing. She knew this wasnt the endJeremy and Margaret would keep pushing. Thats why she was in a hurry to leave.
The next day, her father came to help. They loaded the boxes and suitcases into a van and drove off.
On the way, Victoria asked him to stop by her in-laws to return the flat keys.
Can you believe it? she told her friend the next day, Margaret spent a full hour yesterday trying to convince me to forgive Jeremys little slip and not file for divorce.
What arguments did she use? asked Emily.
The usualyoure depriving Daniel of his father, all men cheat, women should be smarter. Then she shared her own story of how she won back her husband.
How?
I wont repeat it, but trust me, it was utter madness. You wouldnt do it.
Have you filed already?
Yes, last Friday, Victoria replied.
Finally free of that Casanova. It was painful watching that two-timing fool.
Painful watching? You knew about Jane? Victoria demanded.
Not for certain, but I suspected, Emily admitted.
Why didnt you tell me? I thought we were friends. Victoria stood to leave.
Wait! Emily stopped her. First, I didnt know for sure. I saw the same things you did, just drew different conclusions. Remember that office party?
Jane was all over Jeremy. You saw that, right? And how many times did she suddenly need to travel for work with him?
You handle the paperworkdidnt you wonder why Jane kept replacing whoever was supposed to go with him last minute? I suspected, but I wasnt sure enough to say anything.
You couldve at least hinted.
And if I was wrong? Youd have thought I was trying to ruin your marriage. Remember Sarah White?
She told a friend she saw her husband with another woman, even showed her a photo of them hugging. There was a huge row, but they made upand Sarah was blamed for trying to break them up out of jealousy. She quit the company after that.
So dont be angry. If Id had proof, Id have told you. Where are you going to live now?
The flat was in Margarets name, so Daniel and I left. Were staying with my parents for now, but in a week, well move into my grandmothers placetwo bedrooms, but enough for us.
I need to sort out nurserythe old ones too far, but Mums friend promised to help transfer him to the one near us. Once we divorce, Ill file for child support.
Does Jeremy agree?
He says he doesnt want a divorce, that hes learned his lesson. But Im done. Once was enough. He begged me not to file for support, promised hed pay voluntarily.
And?
No. I dont want to deal with him. Everything will be official. He even threatened to take DanielIve got a better flat and a higher salary.
I didnt argue. Just counted how many work trips he took last yeareight.
What did he say?
I kept that for court. If he tries for custody, Ill ask wholl care for Daniel when hes away. Ive got a job and a home. He wont win.
Jeremy did file for custody, claiming Victoria couldnt provide for Daniel properly. Margaret accused her of hiding the child.
Victoria set the record straightthey lived in her two-bedroom flat, Daniel attended a local nursery, and Jeremys frequent travel made him an unfit primary carer.
In the end, neither Jeremy nor Margaret succeeded.
Victoria found a new job quicklyshe was good at her work. Soon after, Emily brought news:
Jane quit and left town.
Why?
The office women made it clear she wasnt welcome. She stuck around for a month, realised there was nothing left for her, and moved to London. So your ex is all alone now.
That doesnt bother me anymore, Victoria said.
And she meant it. Because no matter how bitter the well, once youve drunk from it, theres no going back.
