The Quiet Strain of a Family’s Unseen Rift
Late into the night, after the children were tucked in, Liza found herself in the kitchen. She boiled water, prepared a cup of tea, and settled at the table, her thoughts heavy. Roma, her husband, had not yet returned. Lately, work consumed him, leaving him absent and often staying late at the office. His wife felt a deep compassion for him and attempted to ease his burdens by managing all household tasks herself, showering him with care and love. Roma served as the primary provider for their family.
From their wedding day, they had agreed upon traditional roles: the husband would financially support the household, while the wife would nurture the home and their children. This arrangement remained intact. Together, they raised three children; Roma’s steady income supported them well, and Liza maintained their home. He greeted each new child with joy and dreamed openly about expanding their family. Meanwhile, Liza felt drained, overwhelmed by the constant needs of their young children and the endless diaper changes. The scarcity of breast milk meant she had to prepare formula every night. She had long concluded that having three children was sufficient, and the time to stop had arrived.
Frequently, Roma arrived home late, occasionally under the influence of alcohol. When Liza inquired about his tardiness, he explained that the children’s demands had worn everyone out, prompting a quick stop at a bar to unwind.
“My poor dear,” Liza murmured softly, offering comfort, “Let’s have something to eat.”
“I had plenty of snacks already; I’m full,” he replied, ready to retreat to sleep.
With International Women’s Day approaching, Liza arranged for her mother to watch the children so she could shop for a romantic evening. Her plan involved cooking a delicious meal and spending time intentionally without interruptions. After purchasing groceries and gifts, she also intended to find a new outfit, as her clothing was worn and unfit for celebration.
Once at a popular boutique, she left her bags at the cloakroom and started trying on dresses. As she removed her nylon jacket, an unexpected whisper echoed from the adjoining fitting room — it was Roma’s voice:
“I want to undress you right now.”
This was met with a soft, laughter-filled female voice, probably too sweet: “Just a little longer. Go get something for your wife instead.”
“She doesn’t need anything,” Roma replied. “Her only concern is the kids. I’ll buy something for the kitchen; she loves spending all day there.”
Frozen in shock, Liza struggled to breathe as if struck by a heavy blow. Despite trying to continue fitting dresses, her desire to purchase anything vanished. The conversation carried on:
“What if your wife asks how much you spent?”
“I don’t report my spending to her. I hand over money for the household, but she doesn’t truly know my earnings.”
Footsteps followed, the fitting session ended, and the couple left. Peeking from behind the curtain cautiously, Liza watched as Roma paid while standing beside a slender, attractive blonde whose waist he gently touched.
“Are you alright?” the sales assistant asked, noticing Liza sitting for a long time on the bench, her face pale.
Liza eventually purchased the dresses she liked and returned home. After sending her mother away, she put the children to bed during lunch and laid down, thoughts swirling.
Could she be at fault? She had indeed neglected herself. Nonetheless, this was unmistakably a betrayal — a treacherous stab she never anticipated. She would never have suspected Roma of infidelity. The way he spoke about her, as if she were insignificant or, worse, a servant, was crushing — he even joked about buying her a gift suitable for work.
Key Insight: A marriage built on unbalanced expectations and silence can hide painful truths until faced head-on.
Divorce tempted her strongly, yet she understood that would leave him free to leave with his mistress while she struggled to raise the children, likely with minimal support. For now, she resolved to stay silent and observe.
That night, Roma arrived late again, citing work pressures. Liza met him with cold indifference, feeling as though speaking to a stranger, not her loving husband. Her heart had instantly grown cold.
The following day, Liza prepared a résumé and submitted applications everywhere she could. Days passed with repeated checks of her inbox. Many applications went unanswered; several resulted in rejection. Eventually, she secured an interview at the very company where Roma worked. After some hesitation, she attended.
Liza impressed the management, receiving an offer for a respectable role. Her starting salary was modest but enough for the children’s needs. Elated, she returned home full of hope. Upon arrival, her mother greeted her with a flood of questions.
“Roma has a mistress!” Liza announced, her voice filled with bittersweet joy.
Her mother poured tea and insisted they discuss quietly. “Sweetheart, what are you saying? He stays late for you and the children; you’re accusing him unfairly.”
Laughing nervously, Liza revealed the truth.
“Do you want a divorce?” her mother asked.
- “Absolutely, but I need to get organized first.”
- “I secured a job with a flexible schedule.”
- “We must enroll the kids in kindergarten before I work full-time.”
“It’s your choice,” her mother admitted. “One who betrays once is likely to do so again. I’m disappointed. He even discussed you openly with another woman. I’ll support you with the kids.”
“Mom, I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Liza said, embracing her tightly.
Approaching the holiday, Roma came home past midnight once more. His wife showed indifference, asking no questions. He started to explain his long day and a bar visit with friends. Liza cut him off and told him to sleep.
The next morning, while feeding the children, Roma offered Liza a kitchen food processor, saying:
“Look at this gift. I want to help with housework a bit.” He attempted a kiss, but she turned away.
Without opening the present, Liza responded solemnly, inviting Roma to the hallway, where two packed suitcases waited.
- “These are your things.”
- “I’m divorcing you.”
- “Now you won’t have to conjure stories about work or tired friends. Go to your mistress and relax.”
Shocked, Roma asked, “Who told you?”
“I saw you choosing her gift myself. Feel free to give her the food processor too; maybe she’ll enjoy the kitchen,” Liza retorted.
Cornered, Roma exploded in anger:
“Look at yourself! She’s beautiful and skilled in bed. You don’t dress well; you’ve let yourself go and become awkward. The funniest part — you live on my money. Or do you count my money so I don’t spend it elsewhere? You don’t have that right!”
Liza was exhausted with the argument, pushing him through the door with his suitcases.
“Don’t come back,” she warned firmly.
Surprisingly, that night brought rest, and dawn felt like a new beginning. That very day, Liza filed for divorce and child support.
Soon, the doorbell rang. Her mother-in-law stormed in, yelling:
“What are you doing? You kicked my son out and now want his money? He owes you nothing. Withdraw your alimony claim!”
Liza responded calmly:
“Fascinating viewpoint. Some men believe they pay their ex-wives instead of their children. What if he won’t have enough for his mistress? That’s no longer my concern.”
Her mother-in-law continued furiously:
“Look at you acting all professional! You haven’t worked a day since marriage. You mooched off him and got comfortable. Don’t expect riches from alimony. He’ll tell his boss to pay in cash; you’ll get peanuts.”
Liza responded decisively, “Get out before I call the police. Like mother, like son. I only realize this now.” She forced the angry woman out.
Relieved, Liza watched as her children started kindergarten and she began full-time work. Roma and she worked at the same company, and one day, they unexpectedly crossed paths.
“Hello,” he greeted softly. “Can we talk?”
“No offense, but I have work,” she replied without looking at him.
“Then let’s have lunch together.”
“The word ‘together’ no longer belongs to us,” Liza responded sharply.
She observed Roma looking worn, his mistress having left after learning half his income went toward child support.
In summary, this story highlights the painful impact of betrayal within a family and the resilience required to rebuild one’s life amidst hardship. Liza’s journey underscores the importance of self-respect and the courage to advocate for oneself and her children.