Give the Lesson to the Cheated Husband and Wicked Mother In-Law

“Belinda, haven’t you caused enough trouble?” His voice was icy. “This is a company, not your private garden where you can throw tantrums. It was just a missed call; what’s the big deal?” The normally calm man’s eyes were red with anger. Even the year he took a bullet for me, I’d never seen him show such emotion. Behind him, the open door revealed a room of silent executives, their faces full of understanding. From now on, I, Mrs. Montgomery, who rarely appeared, would likely become their joke. With that thought, I calmly picked up the test report from the table. Seeing my action, Hugh frowned. “What’s that?” “Nothing, just a piece of scrap paper.” Hugh was about to speak again when my phone vibrated. The caller ID read “Dad,” and he fell silent. My father’s voice was bright with joy and affection. “Belinda, have Hugh put his work on hold. I’ll handle the Akso project myself. His priority is you and the baby. I’ll be back in a few days…” I looked at the impatient man in front of me and said tightly, “Dad, there’s no need.” The voice on the line paused, turning anxious. “What’s wrong? Tell Dad, did Hugh betray you?” I turned away, holding back a sob. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll handle it.” After a long pause, my father sighed, his voice heavy with age. A seasoned businessman, he was sharp about his daughter’s troubles, yet powerless to help. Just like six years ago, when I was beaten for marrying Hugh. The slap landed on me, but it made the nearly fifty-year-old man cry. “Belinda, how could I bear to let you suffer what your mother never did?” My mother lived well, but her beauty faded early. In that old-fashioned era, she had me at thirty-six under my father’s protection. The first day I met Rita, she joked at the dinner table that the Montgomery Family’s daughters-in-law all had two children within three years. Hugh stayed silent and my father nearly crushed his wine glass. I didn’t care; marriage was between two people. The Montgomerys had no background and even with a difficult mother-in-law, I believed I could live well. Besides, what wasn’t worth it for a man who had saved my life? Luna spoke from behind me. “Mr. Montgomery, a client will arrive in five minutes.” His voice returned to its usual calm. “Okay.” The footsteps faded away. I took a deep breath and set down the phone, already disconnected. A pair of high heels suddenly stopped in front of me. It was Luna. She chuckled, mocking. “Miss Hansen, Mr. Montgomery said you can tell me directly if you need anything and I’ll pass it on.” Even communication between husband and wife had to go through an outsider—the meaning was clear. She paused, studying my face with smug satisfaction. “Miss Hansen, I’ll be honest. Mr. Montgomery has been very kind to me and I treasure working with him. I understand how much the company means to him, so I won’t leave easily.”

“Unlike you, everything I have comes from my own effort. I care about real value in a man’s eyes, not being a decorative wife.” Her look was mocking, nothing like the gentle firmness she’d shown him moments earlier. I gripped my bag and let out a cold laugh. “You’re bold. Hugh has never lacked people willing to work for him. Your so-called value means nothing to him.” She wasn’t angry. Calmly, she opened her photo album. It was almost full of screenshots of my chats with Hugh. “You may not know this, but since last month, Mr. Montgomery has given me his phone password. That means I’ve been the one reading your messages.” “By the way, the gemstone necklace you liked on your anniversary? I suggested he buy it. The night you asked him to come home early and sent photos of your new nightgown, I was the one who convinced him to go back.” “I stayed up all night that day and the next day, I got the same gemstone bracelet as you. I just don’t wear it to avoid suspicion.” A sharp slap rang out, leaving my fingers and heart numb. My composure shattered. “Who do you think you are, interfering in my marriage?” She covered her face, stunned for a moment, then laughed. “Are you scared?” Seeing my silence, she grew smug. “Don’t worry. I’m not the type to seduce a man or ruin a marriage—unless,” her tone shifted, her smile turning alluring, “he takes the first step. Then I’ll gladly finish the remaining ninety-nine.” A fanatical gleam flashed in her eyes, snapping me back to reality. That year, if Hugh hadn’t taken the first step, he might have lost his life. I would never have taken the remaining ninety-nine steps in tears. Yet the woman before me strutted proudly. I had family backing me; what did she have? “Are you so angry you can’t speak?” she asked, her voice relentless. Before turning away, I chuckled softly. “What else can I say? Should I just wish you luck?” Of course, Luna thought I was just angry. As I left, I saw her in high heels, her face red and swollen, heading straight for the VIP room where Hugh was. She knew how to use a man’s sympathy to win his favor; much smarter than I had been back then. At eighteen, I met Hugh, standing behind my father. Back then, he was like everyone else, politely greeting me with, “Hello, Miss.” At first, I was drawn to his looks and chose him as my bodyguard. But he never grew arrogant from my favor, nor did he ever show annoyance at my unreasonable demands. He was hardworking and careful in his job, yet always politely distant from me. Later, when I was kidnapped, he bravely took a bullet for me. The bullet nearly killed him and it made me completely fall for him. While he was unconscious, I dreamed of the fresh soap scent as he held me in his arms. The day he woke up, his eyes red and swollen from crying, I scolded him for failing me. Blushing, I pointed to the scratch on my shoulder, demanding he take responsibility.

My excuse was clumsy, but he nodded. I was thrilled, completely unaware of the complicated path I had chosen. When I got back to the Montgomery home, I heard Rita in the living room. “Young people today are so lucky! In our time, no wife would dare refuse her mother-in-law. Did you see how angry she got, her eyes red, when I asked her for a basin of water to wash my feet? I regret it. If she hadn’t been so greedy, Hugh would never have married such a useless, barren woman.” Vera called out from the living room, “Who says otherwise…?” I pushed open the door. The room fell silent. Vera, sitting on the sofa, stood up and forced a smile. “You’re back, Miss. Have you eaten? There’s some leftover lunch. Should I heat it up?” “No need.” Seeing my cold tone, Rita got angry. “Belinda, there’s so much waiting for you at home. Why did you leave so early without saying goodbye?” The Montgomerys were strict and old-fashioned. As a woman, her only role was to continue the family line, be a good wife and mother and run the household. On my first day after the wedding, Rita handed me a broom and made me clean the entire house, saying it was to prove I was a proper wife. I put up with it for five years, doing my best to please her. But I never expected her to be so ungrateful. I sneered. “Two maids, two cooks, a gardener and a family doctor. What else do you expect me to do myself?” She probably didn’t expect me to go from docile to hostile. She was momentarily speechless, her face red. “Don’t you need to take care of the whole family? Check every corner of the house? What if someone with bad intentions takes something? Do you even know what’s happening?” Her words were harsh. Vera, standing nearby, frowned and carried her plate to the kitchen. I looked at her calmly. “Aren’t you part of this house? I hired and paid them and Hugh is busy. As their mother, you can’t just do a little work, right?” Rita realized her mistake and tried to backtrack, but it was too late. She grew even angrier. “Why should I serve you? You can’t even have a child!” I stared at Rita’s twisted face, my eyes cold. She had patted her chest, promising that living together was temporary and that she would take care of us. Hugh had asked me to be understanding and I had, for five years. I endured my husband’s cold words and my mother-in-law’s hidden insults. Over time, I finally understood the helplessness in my father’s eyes years ago. “The child?” I touched my lower abdomen, a faint smile on my lips. Ignoring her calls, I headed straight to the master bedroom. Maybe because of the pregnancy, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. When I woke, it was already dark. From the living room came Rita’s unusually loud laughter and a man’s familiar voice. Hugh was back? Something felt off. I opened the door and immediately noticed the strangely cheerful atmosphere in the living room. Hugh was talking to Rita, while Luna smiled as she massaged Rita’s feet. Rita sighed, “Where do you find a girl like her? She’s obedient, sensible and her massage is even better than in the shops.”

“Hugh, you’d better treat her well, or I’ll have Luna work for us. After all, your wife is just a decoration…” The man frowned, his eyes full of helplessness. “Mom, what are you talking about?” “What nonsense! She keeps ignoring me. What’s the use of all this money? She hasn’t given me a child in all these years, making me a disgrace in the Montgomery Family! I think she’s cursed! She dresses up extravagantly and goes out every day… What if she’s having an affair and you don’t even know—” The vase I threw broke at their feet. The woman screamed, piercing our ears. Hugh looked at me in disbelief, his face twisted with anger. “Belinda! Are you crazy?!” I crossed my arms and looked down at him, chuckling softly. “Crazy? No, I’ve never been clearer-headed.” Hugh’s face went pale and his mother was frozen, speechless. Only Luna stayed calm, standing to shield the two behind her. “Miss Hansen, it’s normal for an elder to criticize a junior. Why get so angry over something so small? Don’t you even respect Mr. Montgomery?” I said casually, “What’s it to you? You came here, massaging and flattering her. Is dealing with Hugh too hard? Are you looking for another way?” She hesitated, then Hugh spoke sharply. “Belinda, what nonsense are you saying? I brought Luna home. You slapped her in public this morning and still owe her an apology. She only talked to Mom briefly and when she heard Mom wasn’t feeling well, she gave her a massage. How did her good intentions turn into something else in your mind?” I said nothing, only coldly looking at the cups on the table for Luna. They were a pair of coffee cups I bought at a French auction, one for me, one for Hugh. Luna, her eyes red, picked up her briefcase. “Auntie, Mr. Montgomery, I’m sorry. I only wanted to clear up the misunderstanding with Miss Hansen, but I stick to my principles. If I’m not welcome here, I won’t come back.” She turned to leave. “Wait,” I called, tossing the cup and coaster she’d used into the trash. “I don’t like people touching my things without permission. Since you touched these, you’ll pay for them. If you can’t afford it, have them pay instead.” I pointed at the mother and son on the sofa. Hugh looked at the items I’d thrown away, relief and helplessness flashing across his face. “Fine, I’ll pay.” Rita couldn’t hold back anymore. She pointed at me and shouted, “You! This is our Montgomery Family home. I’m using my own things for guests, so why should I pay?” I ignored her and sat on the sofa. “This house may belong to your Montgomery Family, but I furnished and decorated everything inside.” From furniture to appliances, from pots and pans to big pieces, everything was carefully chosen to match my vision of a perfect married life. Rita thought I was extravagant, but she enjoyed feeling superior because of my luxury. Hugh, however, rarely cared about what mattered to me. Even love was in short supply. I decorated the house to please Hugh and acted like the perfect wife and mother he admired, but pretending was still pretending. “You chose to spend the money! Your things are in my house. Aren’t they meant to be used? By your logic, should we pay you whenever anyone touches anything?!” Rita grew more and more upset. Luna, who had said she was leaving, pretended to care and came over to help Rita. “Auntie, don’t be upset, please sit down.” Seeing Rita was about to back down, I said, “Excuse me, I bought the sofa. If you want to sit, you need to pay.” Rita’s eyes widened and Hugh frowned. “Belinda, stop. Mom went too far. No need to argue. We’re family.” I casually picked up a cherry and ate it. “That won’t happen again.” The three across from me went silent. The cherries tasted sour, so I spat them into the trash. If something isn’t right, you return it, same for people. “Belinda, what do you mean?” His deep voice sounded like a storm was coming. I calmly wiped my mouth. “It means exactly that. Hugh, I want a divorce.”