I had always dreamed of a life of luxury, and it seemed my wish had come true when I married my husband. From the moment we found out I was pregnant with our son, I was treated like a queen. His family doted on me, ensuring I had everything I needed and more. My mother-in-law cooked me nourishing congee and bought me expensive treats, from bird’s nest soup to walnut kernels and pregnancy milk.
My husband, usually busy with work, now rushed home early every day. He would take me shopping for baby items on weekends and ask me every night if I was tired, if the baby was kicking, and what I wanted to eat the next day.
I truly believed I was the luckiest woman alive. That is, until one fateful night during my 23rd week of pregnancy. I started craving congee with salted duck eggs, a dish I had detested before pregnancy. Unable to ignore my cravings, I called my husband just before midnight.
He was on a business trip in Da Lat and promised to order me some congee right away. But as we were talking, I heard a woman’s soft voice in the background:
– Are you asleep, dear?
My heart sank. After a brief pause, my husband stammered:
– I’m in the hallway, talking to… my colleagues.
I remained silent, hanging up the phone and fighting back tears. I had no reason to doubt him, but I knew that the woman hadn’t called the wrong number. No colleague would address their boss so intimately at midnight.
The next day, I couldn’t bring myself to eat, despite my mother-in-law’s insistence. Seeing her concern, I felt something inside me shatter. The illusion of happiness I had believed in was now cracked, revealing a bitter truth.
I considered keeping quiet to ‘save’ the marriage and the family’s reputation, but by the evening, I confronted my husband. “I don’t need the congee anymore. I need your honesty.”
He fell silent for a long while before finally admitting the truth. He confessed to having an ex-girlfriend in Da Lat who still called him occasionally. He apologized for his deception and begged for my forgiveness.
I didn’t know what to believe, but at that moment, my baby kicked strongly, as if urging me to stay strong. I thought of the ultrasounds, the joyful moments when the baby’s kicks made me laugh, and the nights I whispered to my bump, “Be strong, my child.”
Without another word, I told my husband I needed time and that I would be staying with my parents for a while. My mother-in-law saw me off at the bus station, quietly squeezing my hand and reminding me to take care of her grandchild.
Back in the comfort of my childhood home, with my mother’s cooking and support, I began to heal. My husband didn’t try to contact me often, but he regularly sent money for pregnancy expenses and ultrasounds. He didn’t make excuses or plead for my return.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that I need to be strong for my child. Motherhood is a journey that requires resilience, and I am learning to stand on my own two feet, for my baby’s sake.
This story was submitted by a reader, N.H, via email (nh…@gmail.com). If you have a story to share, please send it to [email protected].
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