Housewives Never Despair

My husband, Daniel Scott, had a stunning and exceptionally competent director by his side, Sofia York. From the inception of our company to its triumphant debut on the Pearl Bay Stock Exchange, Sofia was always in the spotlight during Daniel's milestones. Meanwhile, I stayed at home, managing our daughter, helping her with her homework, and handling household chores. My knowledge of Daniel's triumphs came solely from television and media reports. My best friend, unable to hold back any longer, chastised me for my lack of outrage. "I can't believe you tolerate it! Sofia even acts like Mrs. Scott in front of journalists. Ten years have passed. Even if you've been blinded by love, it's time to snap out of it." As my friend fumed with indignation, I calmly ran my finger around the edge of my wine glass. Right, ten years had indeed slipped by. I hadn't noticed time flying, but the result was worth it. Finally, those two had taken my company public. Now, with everything set, I could stage my coup at the upcoming shareholders' meeting, eliminating Daniel from his chairperson role and Sofia from her impending promotion to executive general manager. The shareholders' meeting was about to kick off just as Daniel finally strolled back into the house. As soon as the door swung open, our daughter, Cici, bounced over to him. She latched onto Daniel's leg, bubbling with joy as she chanted "Daddy" repeatedly. Daniel scooped Cici up and kissed her cheek. "I missed you so much, sweetie." He then playfully nuzzled her with his beard, provoking peals of laughter, before setting her down. Afterwards, he approached me with a gentle smile. "Thanks for your effort, Yvonne." He always spoke with a warmth that painted him as the perfect husband under our roof. But I knew well enough how much his ego had swollen since he rang the opening bell at the Pearl Bay Stock Exchange last month. He had frittered away $10 million in Almath City and splurged $50 million on a swanky downtown townhouse for Sofia in Oceantide City. He even lavished Sofia's family with posh villas and luxury cars, ensuring her parents and brother lived in the lap of luxury. Were it not for his reckless squandering of my funds, the thought of hiring a professional manager to step in for him would never have crossed my mind. In all fairness, he and Sofia were quite the dynamic duo. Both were driven and ambitious. I was starkly different, having lived a life of comfort and never really faced adversity. The biggest hurdle was Daniel's cheating, which bothered me for only three days. But once those days passed, I viewed Daniel as nothing more than a top-notch employee. After all, I controlled a hefty 48% of Daniel's company via discreet share acquisitions, on top of the 3% he gifted me at our wedding. That was significant. While the love might have evaporated, the money didn't, so that wasn't such a bleak scenario after all. As I drifted into the depths of my past, Daniel's brows knitted ever so slightly. "Still nursing a grudge against Sofia, Yvonne?" he asked, with an edge to his voice. "You can't expect to have everything. I've given you a life of luxury and comfort, so don't count on unwavering fidelity from me." His bluntness was nothing new. Even five years ago, when I walked into his office carrying Cici's homemade cupcakes only to find him locked in a passionate embrace with Sofia, he showed no hint of remorse. After Sofia strolled out, he nonchalantly handed me a cup of coffee. "Yvonne, we were college sweethearts, with four years of dating and five years of marriage. I loved you then. I still do now. "But you must realize I'm a man with s****l needs. I've been on business trips for half a year. Surely you don't expect me to be like men who hide away from the world, right? "I have wealth. I have desires. Sofia meets them. She's talented, so I utilize her skills and her body. It's not that serious. "You're too demanding, expecting me to provide a lavish lifestyle and also stay monogamous, yearning for the kind of love we had as kids. We're grown-ups now. Stop chasing perfection." It was the first time Daniel delved into human nature like that. Laying bare the flaws ingrained in men. The sheer weight of his words hit me so hard that I blacked out after I left his office and got home. When I was taken to the hospital, a revelation awaited me. I was pregnant. It was a miracle, the result of three grueling years of IVF treatments. I didn't want to loosen my grip, yet the reality hit me hard during those ten long months of my pregnancy. While Daniel played the role of the perfect husband at home, he gallivanted with Sofia, whisking her off to Disney and soaking up the sun on picturesque beaches. The truth was suddenly as clear as day. Everything boiled down to self-interest, so I made up my mind to make Daniel's priorities work in my favor. Swallowing the dull ache that pricked at my heart, I put on a gentle smile and moved closer to adjust Daniel's tie. "Oh, come now, with words like those. How could I possibly feel envious of Ms. York? She's been such a remarkable presence in your life, hasn't she? A driven woman with a prestigious education, seamlessly managing your partnerships and steering your company forward. Really, how could I help but feel indebted to her for caring for you so well, much less harbor any jealousy?" When Daniel heard my words, his expression softened, his face breaking into that familiar, tender smile. He reached out to tweak my earlobe, a playful gesture marking our times together. But ever since I learned he delighted in doing the same with Sofia, that touch made my skin crawl. Daniel might have forgotten that I would never let him near me after his betrayal with Sofia came to light five years ago. Even now, I stepped back modestly, creating a gap between us. "Look, Cici's watching. Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for your shower?" Calling out to Cici, I added, "Cici, Daddy's trying to skip his shower again. Go on. Help him make his way to the bathroom." As soon as the words left my lips, Cici wrapped herself around Daniel's leg again. While he shuffled to the bathroom, I headed to the kitchen, cleansing my hands and face vigorously, scrubbing my earlobes over and over until they felt satisfactorily clean. Then I whipped out my phone, dialing Daniel's diligent secretary, Harper. "Find any reason. Just conjure something up. Get Daniel out of my house right now."