From Devoted Wife to Housekeeper My Ex-Husband's Ultimate Regret

I had been a stay-at-home mom for ten years, and every single day, I made sure to deliver a home-cooked lunch to my husband’s office. But today, the rain was pouring down too hard. I asked him if I could just sit in the lobby for a bit until the storm passed. His forehead creased into a deep frown. What are you doing sitting here It looks so bad if my coworkers see you. But the storm is crazy right now... Just leave, okay Look at how disheveled you are. You're embarrassing me. He practically pushed me out the door. Just then, one of his coworkers walked by and glanced at us. Oh, hey, Brandon. Is this your wife Brandon’s face went pale. He let out a forced, dry laugh. No, no. She’s my housekeeper. She just dropped something off on her way. With that, he shoved his umbrella into my hands and whispered through gritted teeth, Get out of here. Don't make a scene. Out in the torrential rain, I got soaked to the bone. I had cooked and delivered his meals for ten years, but in his eyes, I was nothing more than the hired help. That afternoon, I packed up the kids and moved into a small rented apartment. That night, my phone rang off the hook. I only sent him one text back Since you told everyone I’m just your housekeeper, it doesn't make sense for a housekeeper to live with you anymore, does it When I finally answered the phone, Brandon’s voice was tense and angry. Claire, what is your problem Dragging the kids out in the middle of the night just because of what happened at noon Do you have any idea how hard I work My coworkers and bosses were all there. You sat in that lobby looking like that—where was I supposed to put my pride I stood by the window of my tiny rented apartment, watching the rain drizzle outside. Just because of that My voice sounded incredibly flat, even to my own ears. Brandon, do you really think that was a small thing I just asked you to leave first! How bad could the rain be What's the big deal about getting a little wet Was it really necessary to run away with the kids over this His voice grew louder and more aggressive. Just come back home. Stop throwing a tantrum. You're making us look like a joke. I looked down at my hands. After ten years of marriage, I was still wearing the cheap silver ring he bought me when we wed. Back then, he said he’d replace it with a diamond when we made more money. I had waited ten years for that promise. Now, I didn't need to wait anymore. I'm not coming back. Brandon, get ready for a divorce. There was a sudden silence on the other end, followed by a mocking snort. What nonsense are you talking about Divorce Claire, have you lost your mind I've never been saner. I turned around, leaning my back against the cold window pane, taking in the cramped apartment. My two kids were squeezed together on a small bed in the inner room, fast asleep. The younger one, Leo, was still clutching his worn-out teddy bear. You said I’m your housekeeper. It’s definitely not appropriate for a housekeeper to live in your house with her kids. Moving out is exactly what you wanted, right It was just a stupid comment! Claire, are you seriously never going to let this go I was just trying to save face in front of my coworkers. I said it without thinking, and you’re taking it literally Without thinking. I repeated the words, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. Brandon, when you say things without thinking, do you ever stop to care about how I feel Do you have any idea why I look the way I do today Is none of that on you What do you even want from me I told you. A divorce. Fine. You think you're so tough. His voice went icy cold. Let me tell you something, Claire. Once you walk out that door, don't think about ever coming back. Don't come crawling back to me crying later.I didn't say another word and hung up. Outside, the rain picked up again, drumming heavily against the glass. I put my phone on silent. I stood by the window for a long time. The window frame was drafty, letting in the biting cold. Ten years ago, I wasn't like this. Back then, I was a fresh college graduate with a great job and a comfortable family background. Brandon had come to my city for a business trip. A mutual friend introduced us, and after a year of long-distance dating, I packed my bags and followed him to Seattle. At first, my parents were completely against it. They worried I would suffer being so far from home. But they couldn't win against my stubbornness, and they finally gave us their blessing. On my wedding day, my mom cried so hard she couldn't speak. My dad just hugged me tightly at the airport and said one thing If it ever gets too hard, just come home. Your dad can always take care of you. I had hugged my mom, smiling, and told them not to worry, that Brandon loved me and everything would be perfect. And Brandon really did treat me well back then. When we first got married, he saw how exhausted I was commuting on the crowded bus every day. He saved up three months of his salary to buy me a cute Vespa. I told him he didn't have to, but he insisted his wife deserved the best. Later, he got promoted. His work became more stressful, and his stomach ulcers got worse. My heart ached for him, so I quit my job to become a full-time housewife, dedicating myself to cooking healthy, specialized meals for him. Every day, I would prepare his lunch and ride my Vespa for twenty minutes to deliver it to his office. At first, he told me not to do it because it was too much trouble. But I told him I loved doing it. Seeing him eat my food made me feel secure. And I did that for ten years. Over those ten years, I gave birth to a daughter and a son. My body stretched and changed, and I could never get back to my pre-pregnancy shape. I poured all my energy into this family—cooking for him, nursing the babies, cleaning the house, doing the laundry. I had no time to dress up, and honestly, nowhere to dress up for. The most expensive makeup I owned was bought for our wedding, and it had expired years ago. It wasn't that I didn't notice myself aging. Sometimes, when I looked in the mirror and saw the fine lines around my eyes and the gray hairs peeking through, I would feel a pang of sadness. But I always thought, We're a family. He would never judge me. For ten years, I always left immediately after dropping off his lunch, never lingering. Until today. The storm was terrifying. I had wrapped his lunchbox in three layers of waterproof bags, but I got completely soaked. By the time I reached his office lobby, my jeans were wet to my thighs, and water was dripping from my hair. I just wanted to sit in the lobby for a few minutes. Just until the rain eased up. Just a few minutes. But he didn't care at all if I caught a cold. He only cared that I was an embarrassment to his image. Pulling myself back to reality, I looked at the credit card in my hand. There was $25,000 on it. It was the nest egg my mom had given me when I got married. She told me to keep it safe, saying that a woman always needs her own money, no matter what. I sat on the edge of the bed, my mind a chaotic mess of memories and regrets.After a while, I stood up and walked into the bedroom. My two kids were squeezed onto the single bed, sleeping peacefully. Leo, who was only four, loved holding onto things when he slept. The teddy bear he brought from home was squeezed completely out of shape in his tiny fist. Lily, my eight-year-old, was a messy sleeper, her leg thrown over her little brother. I gently moved her leg off him and tucked them both in. Lily mumbled something in her sleep, sounding like Mommy. A wave of emotion hit me, and my throat tightened. I quickly stepped out of the room. I wanted to call my mom. But halfway through dialing the number, I deleted it. It had been eleven years. Eleven years ago, I had confidently promised them that I would be happy. If I called them in the middle of the night now, telling them I was in a rented apartment with the kids and getting a divorce... They would be devastated. I decided to wait until tomorrow. I buried my face in the pillow and finally let myself cry. Over the next few days, my life was surprisingly quiet. In the morning, I took the kids to school. I came back to clean, had a simple lunch, hit the grocery store in the afternoon, and picked them up to make dinner. Suddenly, the pace of my life slowed down—so much so that I felt lost. Before, I was always rushing around, cooking, delivering food, and cleaning. I never felt like there was enough time in the day. Now that I didn't have to cook for Brandon, I had so much free time, and I didn't know what to do with myself. Sometimes, I would just sit on the couch and stare at the wall for hours. Brandon didn't come looking for me. He didn't even call. After I hung up on him that first night, he had called a few more times. I didn't answer, and eventually, he stopped trying. I didn't know what he was thinking. Maybe he was waiting for me to crawl back. After all, for the past ten years, whenever we argued—no matter whose fault it was—I was always the one to apologize first. This time, I was done swallowing my pride. On the fifth day, Lily asked me, Mommy, when are we going home I told her, This is our home now, sweetie. She shook her head. No, I mean Daddy’s house. I didn't know how to answer her, so I just said, Daddy is away on a business trip. We'll talk about it when he gets back. On the sixth day, Leo came down with a high fever. I carried him to the urgent care clinic alone. Between registration, waiting in line, paying, and getting his medicine, I was exhausted. By the time we got back, the sky was completely dark. Lily was starving, leaning over the table doing her homework. The moment she saw me walk in, she threw her arms around my waist. Mommy, you're finally back! I'm so hungry. I quickly made her a bowl of mac and cheese, gave Leo his medication, and checked his temperature. Once they were both asleep, I realized I hadn't eaten anything all day. There was only some cold canned soup in the pantry. I heated it up and ate it at the counter. As I ate, my tears fell right into the bowl. I suddenly remembered that whenever I got sick in the past, Brandon had never once accompanied me to the clinic. He always said he was too busy at work and told me to just call an Uber. Once, when I had a fever of 102 degrees, I still had to cook his lunch before I could go to the doctor. He said takeout was greasy and that his stomach could only handle my cooking. Back then, I actually thought he was being romantic. Looking back, what absolute bullshit. On the seventh morning, Leo's fever finally broke. I took them to school. At the school gate, I saw Brandon’s car parked by the curb. He was leaning against the driver’s side door, smoking. When he saw us, he stubbed out the cigarette. The kids ran over, shouting, Daddy! He knelt down, hugged them, and whispered a few words. Lily glanced back at me, then took her brother’s hand and walked into the school yard. Once the kids were inside, he walked over to me. Claire. He stood in front of me, scanning me from head to toe. Where have you been staying these past few days Are the kids okay Is there something you need I asked coldly. If not, I'm leaving. Wait. He grabbed my arm tightly. Claire, what is wrong with you You haven't come home for a week, you're ignoring my calls... what exactly do you want I looked down at his grip. Let go of me. He let go, but didn't budge. Let me ask you. Are you seeing someone elseI stared at him in disbelief, then let out a cold laugh. Brandon, I said, looking him dead in the eye. Are you seeing someone else His face instantly changed. What are you talking about I'm not stupid. Since we ran into each other today, perfect. Let's go sign the papers. His expression darkened. Claire, are you insane You're dragging this out over one stupid comment from last week One stupid comment I repeated his words. Brandon, I delivered food to you for ten years, and you told people I was just your housekeeper. Do you know what I was thinking when I rode home in that freezing rain I was wondering what the hell the last ten years of my life even meant. I told you, I just said it without thinking— You said it without thinking while I was standing in the pouring rain. For ten years, Brandon, I cooked every single meal for you, and you were too ashamed to even acknowledge me as your wife. He fell silent. Let's get a divorce. Let's end this cleanly. I'm not divorcing you, he snapped, turning his head away. Let me remind you, Claire. When we got married, my family spent a fortune on that house and the renovations. Every single thing in there cost money. You think you can just walk away now On what grounds I looked at him, feeling a sudden sense of detachment. Was this really the man I had lived with for ten years Fine, if you don't want to divorce. Then we'll just live our separate lives. I'm not coming back, and don't come looking for me. Leave me alone. Claire! I ignored him and turned to walk away. After a few steps, I glanced back. He was still standing there, watching me, but he didn't run after me. The next afternoon, I decided to go back to the house to grab some things. I needed the kids' winter clothes and some important documents that I had left behind in my rush. I knew he would be at work at 200 PM, so I chose that time. My key still worked. As I turned the lock, my hands shook slightly. The house was a mess. On the dining table sat a half-eaten cup of instant ramen. It had only been a few days, and he was already resorting to instant noodles. I went upstairs to the master bedroom to pack. The kids' clothes were in the bottom drawer, so I knelt down, pulling them out one by one. Then, I heard a car door shut outside. I stood up and peeked through the window. Brandon’s car was parked in the driveway. He was sitting in the driver’s seat. In the passenger seat sat a woman. I couldn't see her face clearly, but she looked young, with long hair and a bright red coat. They were sitting incredibly close. The woman reached out and gently stroked his cheek. I stood frozen, clutching my phone. So, he really was cheating on me. I quickly opened my camera app, zoomed in, and took several crystal-clear photos. I caught them talking intimately, the woman touching his face, and Brandon turning to laugh warmly at her. After taking the photos, I slipped my phone into my pocket and finished packing. I zipped up the suitcase and dragged it downstairs. When I walked out the front door, his car was still parked there. I walked right up to the passenger side and knocked on the window. Excuse me, sir. Could you move your car You're blocking my way.