My Husband Told Me His “Work Wife” Was An Upgrade. Then I Found Out He Was Paying Her Rent While Telling Me To Budget. How Should I Handle This Dinner Invite?

The Counter-Offer

Two weeks passed in a blur of teaching kindergarten during the day and staying at Laya’s apartment at night. I’d started to relax into a routine when Ambrosia called on a Tuesday afternoon while I was cleaning up paint supplies after art time.

She said Craig had contacted her office wanting to negotiate the divorce terms instead of contesting them, which meant he’d accepted that this was really happening. I felt something loosen in my chest at that news, relief mixed with sadness that our marriage was officially ending.

Then Ambrosia explained his proposed terms and the relief disappeared. Craig wanted me to take 40% of our assets instead of 50% in exchange for withdrawing the HR complaint against him and Jessica. I actually laughed out loud in my empty classroom, a bitter sound that surprised me with its harshness.

I told Ambrosia he still didn’t understand that this wasn’t about money or revenge, it was about respect and accountability for choices he made every single day for months. She asked if I wanted to hear the full proposal before deciding and I said:

“No, tell him I want the 50/50 split as originally outlined and the HR investigation would proceed on its own timeline.”

She said she’d pass along my response and warned me that Craig might not take it well. I told her I didn’t care how he took it anymore.

The Confrontation at Laya’s

That evening I was helping Laya make dinner when someone started pounding on her apartment door hard enough to rattle the frame. Laya’s boyfriend was there too and he answered it while we stood back in the kitchen. I heard Craig’s voice immediately loud and angry and demanding to know why I was being so unreasonable.

Laya’s boyfriend is tall and broad-shouldered and he filled the doorway completely, telling Craig in a calm but firm voice to leave or he’d call the police. Craig tried to push past him to get to me but Laya’s boyfriend didn’t move, just repeated that Craig needed to leave the property now.

I stayed in the kitchen with Laya, my hands shaking while I gripped the counter listening to Craig yell about how I was destroying his life and taking everything he’d worked for. Laya’s boyfriend pulled out his phone and started dialing and that’s when Craig finally backed off, his voice fading as he walked away down the hallway.

We heard his car start in the parking lot a minute later, the engine revving too loud before he drove away. Laya’s boyfriend came back inside and locked the door behind him asking if I was okay. I nodded even though I wasn’t sure it was true.

The three of us sat down to eat the dinner we’d made but I couldn’t taste anything. My mind stuck on Craig’s anger and the realization that he finally understood I was serious about the divorce.