My Husband Called Me A “Money-printing Machine” While Dining With His Mistress. I Canceled His Credit Cards And His Mother’s Life-saving Surgery In One Hour. Was I Too Cruel?
The Queen Walks Away
I took a deep breath, regaining the cold calm of a businesswoman. I didn’t need to argue with people who were not on my intellectual level.
“All right,” I said in a glacial voice. “If you despise my money so much and value affection and nobility so much, I will grant you your wish.”
I turned to Eleanor and Jessica with a look so sharp it made them shudder.
“Mom, Jessica, remember your words today. Will never regret them. And you Ethan, you say Laura loves you for who you are, regardless of material things, right? Perfect. Hold on to that belief.”
I picked up my purse, stood tall and lifted my head.
“I’m leaving here not as a loser who runs away but as a queen shaking off the parasites that have attached themselves to her. We’re done here. I’ll see you in court.”
I walked out the door leaving behind the looks of hatred and Laura’s triumphant smile. She thought she had won. She had just stepped into hell without knowing it.
As soon as I left the pub I heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind me. It was Eleanor. She lunged at me, blocking my path, her face flushed with anger.
“Stop! Where do you think you’re going? You cause all this commotion and just walk away as if nothing happened?”
I stopped and looked at her with unprecedented coldness. Before, whenever she raised her voice I would lower my head and apologize to keep the family peace. But today that patience had died along with my marriage.
“Where I’m going is my business. You no longer have any right to question me.”
Eleanor glared at me and pointed her finger. “How dare you speak to your mother-in-law like that, you spoiled brat! Do you think that because you have money you can do whatever you want? I’ll tell you one thing, my son is right to leave you. A woman like you who only knows how to make money, who neglects her husband and doesn’t understand the obedience a wife owes her husband is someone no one would want.”
Jessica also ran up and joined her mother.
“That’s right! Look at yourself, old and ugly, always with that bitter face. Laura is young, beautiful and sweet. It’s normal for my brother to fall in love with her. You should look in the mirror and do some self-reflection instead of blaming others.”
I looked at the two women in front of me with a feeling of absolute contempt. Were these the people I had carefully cared for for 10 years? I remembered the sleepless nights in the hospital when Eleanor had heart attacks. I remembered the times Jessica called me crying in the middle of the night because creditors were harassing her and I had to go pay her debts. I had considered them my family, but it turned out that in their eyes I was nothing more than a cash cow to be milked, an emotionless ATM.
“Enough!” I shouted with a voice so firm that they both fell silent at once. “You call me old, ugly, materialistic? All right. Let’s see how many days you can live with your nobility without the money of this old, ugly, materialistic woman.”
Eleanor pouted disdainfully. “Come on, don’t try to scare us. Without your money my son is still a doctor, a prestigious university professor. His salary is more than enough to support the whole family. Do you think we’ll starve without you?”
“Doctor, professor?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Do you know how much your son earns as a professor? $4,000. $4,000 a month, ma’am. That amount isn’t even enough for you to buy a bottle of your vitamin supplements or for your daughter to buy a dress. Do you think the trips to Europe, the designer clothes, the luxury meals you enjoy come from his salary?”
Jessica straightened up and retorted, “Don’t lie. My brother has scientific research projects that bring in millions. He told me so himself. Don’t try to deceive us.”
“Projects.” I shook my head, disgusted by their ignorance. “Those projects are 100% funded by my company. It was I who put up the money to buy him a reputation. Now that I’m withdrawing the funding, the project will be cancelled immediately. You’ll see.”
Eleanor seemed to hesitate for a moment but she still tried to maintain her false pride. “You wouldn’t dare. If you do that, you’ll be ruining your husband’s life. Don’t be so cruel.”
“Cruel?” I looked her straight in the eyes. “Compared to how you treated me today, what I’m about to do is merciful. You chose to side with that tramp to insult me and trample on my efforts. Don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
I didn’t want to waste any more words on them. I turned and walked straight to my car. Eleanor tried to lunge at me to grab me but I slammed the door shut. Through the soundproof glass, I saw her screaming and insulting, her face distorted with rage. Jessica beside her stomped her feet with an expression of frustration.
I started the car and accelerated past them as if they were strangers. In the rearview mirror, the images of my in-laws grew smaller until they disappeared. I didn’t cry. My tears were too precious to be shed for those who didn’t deserve them.
