My Cheating Husband Wants to Marry His Mistress
FO
O
Henry Johnson organized a lavish birthday party for me, and I assumed it was also to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. But then he announced, “Let’s get a divorce.”
With all our close friends and family gathered, Henry declared his intention to divorce, leaving no doubt about his resolve. I was taken completely by surprise, having no idea why he wanted this.
He said, “I’m exhausted. Being under your thumb every day makes me feel suffocated. I want to live freely on my own. Can you let me go?”
The conversations around us seemed to place the blame on me, suggesting I was too controlling for any man to handle. I was at a loss for words. I never even checked his phone or knew his password.
I stared blankly at Henry, only to hear his best friend say, “Sister–in–law, do a good deed and let him go. You’ve been too strict. The woman he’s seeing is already pregnant and has no status.”
I was completely unaware that my husband had someone else, and his best friend chose to reveal it in front of everyone. Henry was enraged and punched Perseus, exclaiming, “Have you lost your mind? What lies are you spreading? Whose side are you on?”
Perseus took the punch without flinching and replied, “Henry, I’ve had enough of your antics. Every time we go to the karaoke bar, you bring her along, then act all lovey–dovey with Ottilie at home. Sister–in–law, you think he’s working late? No, he’s playing with us at karaoke! He comes home late because he spends time with her after work. He even bought her a house right across from yours.”
My birthday party turned into a complete farce. Surprisingly, I wasn’t the most humiliated one–Henry was. He never expected his best friend to betray him like that. As everyone left, some felt sorry for me, some laughed at me, some cursed Henry as a jerk, and others called Perseus
disloyal.
Perseus boldly responded, “How am I disloyal? Henry announced the divorce in front of everyone. Is that fair? Blaming his wife, making it look like she suffocated him. If this happens to you, would you want your husband’s friend to lie to you too?”
His words echoed loudly, silencing everyone. Henry, seething with anger, clenched his fists, ready to fight Perseus again.
The room fell into a dead silence. I asked Henry, “How long?”
今
I was clueless. Henry replied, “Two years. She’s still in school. Don’t make it hard for her. She’s from the countryside; it’s tough for her!”
“Ottilie, you’re not like her. You can thrive on your own, but she can’t. She has no family, only me. Without me, she can’t survive.”
I laughed bitterly. “So I should be abandoned, betrayed, and cheated on? If it weren’t for Perseus, I’d still be blamed for controlling you too much and forcing you to divorce on my birthday. How disgusting.”
“I’m sorry. She’s pregnant. I need to provide her with security. She’s still in school. If I didn’t push for this, you wouldn’t agree to a divorce.”
I chuckled bitterly, tears streaming down as I laughed. “What do you take me for? You want a divorce, and expect me to beg you not to? Just tell me you have someone else and want a divorce. Do you think I’d cling to you?”
Henry said nothing more, just apologized and left.
Today, I discovered Henry had another home outside, right across from ours. He even bought her a house.
I locked myself in my room for three days, not going to work. I saw gossip about me in the work group chat.
“Ottilie’s husband cheated! He has a mistress! I thought her Instagram was full of travel photos with her husband! They’re always together. How did he find the time to cheat?”
“Think small. I’ve seen husbands sneak off to hotels while picking up their kids!”
“They’ve been together since college, eight years now. They got married right after graduation. Ottilie bought the house they live in. When they got together, he was broke. She paid the living expenses. Now that things are better, he’s getting flirty.”
‘Do you think she’ll divorce him? Just let that dog man off so easily?”
<
I closed the group chat, not wanting to read more gossip. I opened Instagram and deleted every post about Henry.
I used to be the perfect woman with a successful career and a loving husband. Everyone envied me, both at work and at home. Even back in my hometown, relatives praised me for having it all: good grades, a good university, a successful career, and a good husband. They said I had foresight, investing in potential, and helped my husband rise to where he is now. He forgot the hardships he went through, the poverty, and the embarrassment of having no money to buy me a birthday gift back then.
Three days later, Henry’s lawyer called, asking me to sign the divorce agreement. The division of assets was fifty–fifty, except for the house and company. The house was mine, so he wouldn’t take it. The three hundred thousand startup fund for his company was from my parents, and he’d repay it with interest, so I couldn’t claim the company. He thought it was fair.
“I won’t sign unless he leaves with nothing.”
“Ottilie, you should know the law doesn’t support leaving with nothing. As a woman, I sympathize and understand you. Henry feels guilty now and is willing to split things fairly. Once his guilt passes, you might not get as much. The sooner you divorce, the sooner you can start anew. Why drag it out?”
I chuckled. “He started a new life without divorcing. Why can’t I? If he leaves with nothing, I’ll divorce.”
The lawyer smirked and stood up. “Ottilie, you’re just stalling. Your demands, won’t be supported in court. If you’re insistent, see you in court.”
I went back to work. My boss already knew and offered me a month off. But I didn’t need it. If I lost my marriage, I’d focus on my work. I went about my routine as if nothing had happened.
Colleagues thought I’d choose to endure and coexist with the mistress. It was common, especially since Henry was wealthy now. Divorcing him would benefit the cheating couple.
Even senior colleagues advised me on marriage. “Any smart person would learn to be soft with their husband. Especially when he’s wealthy and attractive. So many women are eyeing him. You need to lower your head, turn a blind eye, and life goes on. The woman outside fascinates him because she acts weak and soft. You shouldn’t focus solely on your career. Give Henry a child. Your child is legitimate; the one outside is an illegitimate child.”
I couldn’t understand their marriage advice. Finding out your husband cheated, yet rushing to have a child to secure your position as the main wife. Even my parents advised me similarly, saying Henry wasn’t the poor boy he once was. He’s a CEO now, and his company is facing financing, preparing to go public.
Leaving him now would just benefit someone else. It’s strange. Everyone advised me as if it were up to me whether to divorce. Henry insisted on divorce to give the other woman a name. My dad said, “So, just soften up. You’ve shared so much together. If you soften, he’ll surely feel soft–hearted. Men at his position want to be admired and protect the weak.”
I went home for dinner, hearing all this. If he wants to protect the weak, he should do charity. Plenty of weak people need protection. I was about to leave when Henry arrived.
“Mom! Dad!”
Seeing me, Henry paused. “Ottilie, you’re here too.”
“What a coincidence! We didn’t know Ottilie was coming for dinner today! You two should talk, have a good chat! Ottilie has much to say to you!”
My parents quickly left.
Henry sat on the sofa, adjusting his clothes, and said, “The trial is soon. There’s nothing much to discuss. The sooner you sign the divorce agreement, the sooner we can divorce. It’s good for both of us.”
“I know you don’t want to divorce me, but I’ve fallen for someone else. There’s no going back, Ottilie. We’ve shared so many years. Let’s part amicably.”
I said, “You’re overthinking. I didn’t know my parents invited you too. Henry, when my dad gave you 300,000 for your startup, without it, you wouldn’t have today. Just returning 300,000 and expecting me to divorce? Keep dreaming.”
12:52 PM
<
“I understand that you don’t want a divorce, but I’ve fallen for someone else, and there’s no going back, Qianxun. We’ve shared many years together; let’s part on good terms.”
I said, “You’re overthinking this. I didn’t know my parents invited you today. Henry, my father invested 3 million in your startup. Without that money, you wouldn’t be in your current position. Do you think you can just repay the 3 million and expect me to agree to a divorce? Keep dreaming.”
Henry was visibly upset. “Ottilie! When did you become so pragmatic and materialistic? Yes, the 3 million came from my father–in–law, but I also worked hard to build this company! If you had invested elsewhere, you might have seen nothing in return! Now I’m repaying you with interest, and you’re still not satisfied?”
“You think I’ll walk away with nothing? You’ve read too many novels! Is that even possible? You’re just wasting your time and youth by prolonging this divorce! I no longer love you. Why do you insist on staying with me? What’s the point?”
As I watched Henry’s agitation, I remembered the time when he received the 3 million. He was so happy, holding me and making promises.
“Ottilie, trust me. When I succeed with the company, I will repay you a hundred or a thousand times over! I’ll always remember your and your father’s kindness. I’ll love you forever and treat you well! Darling, I love you, I love you!”
He meant it back then when he said he loved me. Now, with his career flourishing and someone else in his life, his words of no longer loving me are true too. My parents realized Henry was determined to divorce me, so they advised me to do it quickly, start anew, and not waste time on
meaningless things.
I declared, “I want him to leave with nothing.”
My parents thought I was being unrealistic because it seemed impossible. Especially with Henry’s financial means, he had the time and ability to contest it in court. I also found a lawyer, Henry’s former close friend, Perseus.
After the incident at my birthday party, they had a falling out. I repeated, “I want him to leave with nothing.”
I thought Perseus would laugh at me like everyone else, “Stop dreaming! That’s impossible!”
But Perseus said, “Alright! Let’s make him leave with nothing!”
At that moment, I laughed. Then, as I laughed, tears streamed down my face. I said, “There’s dust in my eyes from the construction outside your law firm’s entrance.”
Perseus handed me a tissue, “Why is there a sand pile at my doorstep? I’ll have someone clear it!”
And then, someone really came with an excavator to clear the sand. At that moment, I cried even louder. The operator, not knowing what had upset me, revved the machine and sped off. Seeing the excavator run so fast, I laughed again.
I looked ridiculous, crying and laughing. Perseus suddenly hugged me tightly.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Listening to his heartbeat calmed me down. Perseus and I grew up together in the same neighborhood. He was raised by his grandparents while his parents were abroad. He was taken abroad during high school. He only returned in the past two years for work, which led him to Henry’s company, and they became good friends.
That day, I received a friend request from a stranger. From the profile picture, I had a suspicion, I accepted the request.
Then, they sent a series of photos. Photos of her with Henry, her sneaking a kiss while he slept on the sofa. Pictures of them cuddling in bed. Even explicit videos.
“Your husband doesn’t love you anymore. Can’t you let him go with some dignity?”
“Henry has always been careful, worried you’d hurt me. But I know you’re kind. If your husband cheats, you’d blame him, not me. After all, if not me, it’d be someone else, right?”
“You know I live across from your neighborhood, and you haven’t caused me trouble. I knew you were a good person. Let go, let me and the child a father be together. I truly love him, and he loves me too.”
12:52 PM
<
“I’ll ask him to give you more money. You’re still young; you can find someone who loves you!”
“1
She sent a lot, but I didn’t read it all. She provided me with all the evidence of Henry’s affair, all taken by her, making it perfectly legal. I forwarded them to Perseus.
Perseus laughed, “Why did she hand over such crucial evidence? We’re one step closer to that scumbag leaving with nothing. Let’s celebrate with a late–night snack!”
“I’m on my way!”
Her name is Jessica. She’s a junior at Harvard, from a poor family. By chance, she received sponsorship from Henry and became his sponsored student. Perseus sent me all of Jessica’s information, including school contacts and her advisor’s contact.
While eating grilled skewers, Perseus casually said, “Send the chat logs she gave you to the school. They’ll handle it. She thinks you’re kind and won’t mess with her.”
“Of course, I also think you’re kind and won’t make things difficult for her.”
Then Perseus reminded me, “But her being a mistress is a personal and moral issue. The school usually won’t expel her, just mainly criticize her for education.”
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Stories
I promptly informed Jessica Thompson’s school about her situation. As Perseus Parker anticipated, the school reprimanded Jessica but
of f her involvement as a mistress. imposed no further penalties. Only her teachers and counselor were
A few days later, a banner appeared at the school entrance: “Jessica Thompson from the third–year finance college is in love with my husband and is pregnant. As his wife, I’m here to help him marry his mistress!” Someone even used a loudspeaker, drawing the attention of students and teachers. Jessica quickly became infamous, making the local news as a notorious mistress. But I wasn’t responsible for this.
