Husband Cared for His Sick Mother While Wife Worked – Until She Spotted Him Buying Flowers for Another Woman

Emily couldnt remember the last time shed felt so rested. Her business trip had been delayed by a few hours, and without explanation, shed switched off her phone and stretched out on the bed. Just that morning, shed returned from the countryside, where shed spent two days without sitting down oncescrubbing, cleaning, cookingall under the constant criticism of her mother-in-law and husband.

According to her mother-in-law, Emily had “ruined” her son, didnt earn enough, and somehow, despite her wages, the family was starving. Her husband, of course, agreed, muttering that Emily could easily find extra work since she finished early and didnt even have to cook.

“Look how she mops the floor,” her mother-in-law tutted to her son, David. “Takes her ages. Couldve been doing the laundry instead.”

Emily snapped. If they cleaned even once a week, the floors wouldnt be filthy. She shouldve kept quiet. The barrage of complaints intensified. Closing her eyes, Emily calmly suggested, “I offered to move you to the city. David couldve kept his job, and wed have cared for you properly.”

David erupted. “So Im supposed to work myself to death and then play nurse? Youve got a heart of stone.”

Emily didnt wait for more. She walked out to the bench by the gate.

“Emily, love, whats happened?” Her neighbor, Claire, stood before her. Theyd met before the wedding, and Emily had liked her instantly.

“Just the usual,” Emily sighed.

“Still putting up with them?” Claire shook her head. “I dont get it. Hes always there, but youre not really together. Why bother?”

“It wasnt by choice,” Emily said. “We cant leave his mum like this. Once shes better, David can move back.”

Claire snorted. “Shed run a marathon carrying us all on her back before that happens. I think shes faking. You used to be differentwhat happened?”

Emily shrugged. “Dunno. Just… drop by if you want.”

When her phone rang, it was her bossher trip was rescheduled for noon tomorrow. Relief washed over her. Extra pay, and an escape from Davids endless calls.

That evening, the house was oddly peaceful. She and David slept in separate bedshe didnt want to upset his mum. Emily didnt argue. She was too exhausted anyway.

At 2 a.m., her mother-in-law shook her awake. “Are you deaf? Ive been calling!”

Blinking, Emily mumbled, “Mustve been asleep. Whats wrong?”

“Fetch my pills.”

Emily stared. The medicine cabinet was closer to the woman than the sofa where David snored. But she got up. By 5 a.m., she finally dozed offonly to wake at 6:30. She arrived in the city exhausted, but when she learned her trip was postponed again, she nearly cheered. Switching off her phone, she collapsed onto the bed. Now, finally, she felt fresh.

She had time to do her makeup properly and reach the station. It didnt matter that the destination had changedshed had a proper rest.

An hour earlier, her travel allowance had come through. For the first time, she didnt send it to David. She wasnt sure why. Shed already given most of her wages last month. This time, shed keep it.

With twenty minutes until her train, she ducked into a café for water. Hurrying past a flower stall, she froze. David. Here. Buying roses. Hed sworn his mother was too ill to leave alone.

Emily watched, a cold dread settling in her stomach. What if the flowers werent for her? The thought sickened her, but the seed of doubt had sprouted. Nine minutes until departure. Gripping her ticket, she tailed him to a taxi. She flagged another. “Follow that car. Ill double your fare.”

The drivertoo handsome for the jobraised an eyebrow but obliged. Through the window, she saw David embrace a woman, handing her the bouquet before she climbed into a car. Emilys stomach twisted. The driver smirked. “Might not be what you think.”

Only then did she really look at himtoo polished for a cabbie.

The taxi turned into her street, stopping outside her flat. David and the woman disappeared inside. Tears welled. So while she was away, and his “sick” mother was in the village, he brought someone to *her* flat?

“Going in?” the driver asked softly.

“No point,” Emily whispered.

“Missed your train anyway. Where were you headed?”

She named a town 200 miles away.

“Rubbish. Lets get coffee. Calm down, then Ill drive you.”

“I cant afford that.”

“Who said anything about a taxi?” He grinned. “Just dropped my dad at the station. Sisters in Devon. Then you barged in like a hurricane.”

Emily flushed. “Sorry.”

“Stop crying, or youll flood the car.”

Half an hour later, she stood by the Thames, coffee in hand, watching the sunset. Breathtaking. Her problems felt small.

“Like it?” the driverAlexasked.

“Stunning. Lived here years, never knew this spot.”

“I come here a lot. Found it after my wife cheated.”

Emily gaped. He laughed. “Yeah, thought the samewhod cheat on *me*?”

She studied himher age, handsome, calm.

Two days later, David called as she packed for another trip.

“Emily, whats this? Wheres the money?”

“Thats for travel expenses.”

“So youre not sending it?”

“Exactly. None of it. And by the way, get your things out of my flat. Its mine.”

Silence. Then David sighed. “Are you mad? How am I supposed to live?”

“Get a job. Like normal people.”

“I cantMums ill!”

“Not too ill, clearly. You left her long enough to buy flowerswith *my* moneyand take some girl to *my* place.”

She hung up, finally realizing how naive shed been.

She and Alex exchanged numbers. Goodnight texts, little chats.

On the day of her next trip, David ambushed her outside.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

He grabbed her wrist. “We need to talk.”

“No, we dont.”

“Youre wrong,” he hissed. “If you think youre walking away, youre mad. So I had a flingbig deal. Im a man. I have needs.”

“Do you really think I care?”

He yanked her closer. “Youre being ridiculous. Come home, apologize. Youve worried me enough.”

She wrenched free, but he seized her again, fabric tearing.

“Youre coming.”

“Let go! Youre hurting me!”

Suddenly, she was free. David was gone. Alex stood there, breathless.

“Emily, you okay?”

She blinked. “How are you here?”

“Didnt want you on that train alone, letting some bloke chat you up.”

David reappeared, snarling. “So youve got a boyfriend! Im filing for divorce!”

Emily straightened. “Perfect.”

David faltered, realizing his mistake. Emily smiled. “Thanks for offering. Saves me the paperwork. Ill sign whatever.”

As they drove off, Alex chuckled. “Hes still standing there, gobsmacked.”

“*Ex*-husband,” she corrected. “Now explain why youre here.”

“You texted about your trip. I came to drive you.”

“Thats 300 miles!”

“Yep.” He braked, popped the boot, and returned with a bouquet of white roses. “Forgot these. This was the plan all along.”

Emily stared at him, then the flowers, and smiled. It was better than shed dreamed.