Either Her … or Him

May 5, 2025

“Do you still want your mother living with us?”

The question my husband raised seemed to hang in the air as he gazed pensively at my mother’s picture before observing me for half a minute.

“She’s too old to continue doing that. You know what happened to her last week. It’s irrational to keep your parents with you when they’re in such a state. Trust me, it’ll be best for our marriage to let her go.”

“Why?” I cried out. “You know I love you both!”

He looked between us once more and said, “It’s either her or me.”

The words pierced like a knife through my heart. I adore my mother, almost to the point of worshiping her – and have done so, since I could remember; for she has always been my closest friend. I recall snuggling up to her at night, laying my head in her lap, and relishing the feel of her hand stroking my hair as I confided my deepest secrets to someone that I knew understood me better than anyone else in the whole world. However, I also fell head over heels in love with my husband from the moment I saw him. My feelings of pure reverence for him only deepened when he encouraged my literary aspirations. More than once, he bought me books on various topics. A year ago, he also paid for a couple of writing courses so I could advance in this field. When I found out about it, I leapt into his arms; and he swung me around until I was breathless and nearly giggling. Somehow, I managed to gasp out that I’d gladly share in his dreams of heading an expedition to other planets. I still long to help him fulfill that aspiration; but right now, I feel as though the bottom of my world has been ripped from me.

Mum’s growing older. She’s got a strong constitution, and her mind’s as sharp as a whistle. For all that, I’ve seen signs that worry me, such as seeing her walk more slowly than usual in order to avoid falls. She fell over last week and nearly sprained her wrist. It almost scared the heart out of me.

I don’t understand why Noel is doing this to me. Perhaps he’s jealous of our close bond? Ever since our first date, he’s wanted to be Number One in my life. I’ve tried to please him as much as I could, provided he honour my relationship with my mother. It makes my blood boil to know how much I’ve given of myself to him. I can hear footsteps. I’ve got to go now.

May 10, 2025

It’s been a few days since I could come back here. I need to write about what happened yesterday, and I’m lucky I’ve got this opportunity because Noel’s gone out with the lawyer. A couple of days ago, Mum had another fall. This time, I feared she’d broken her neck. She was fine, but the incident felt like a wakeup call to me.

“You really need to put her in a nursing home,” Noel told me, as soon as he found out about it. “She’s growing too old for you to look after her.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to treat Mum like that,” I retorted. “She’s my closest friend. Perhaps we could pay for a nurse to come and look after her part-time?”

At that, Noel’s dark green eyes widened.

“No!” he exclaimed, slamming his hand down so hard on the table that a vase sitting on it seemed to jump at the sound. “You married me for my money, didn’t you?”

“I told you from the beginning I wanted to look after Mum. She’s had a hard life, and she’s longed to be a painter ever since I knew her. It’s only just now that she’s starting to realise that dream. How can you be so cruel?”

He glared into my eyes.

“You just want my money! You knew I had billions to my name when you wed me.”

“You’re being unreasonable! You knew about my relationship with Mum from the start! I just want some money to pay for a caretaker so she can live with me. I won’t put her in a nursing home to die off slowly. It’ll break her heart!”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand you. It’s the right thing to do for her.”

“It’s right for your money.”

Without another word, he stormed off. I felt puzzled and hurt. It’s so unlike Noel to treat me this way.

The very next day, he plonked me in front of a desk. I was shocked to see I wasn’t alone.

“Who is this?” I inquired, a little tremulously.

“It’s my lawyer,” Noel replied, with a smirk. “He’s going to help me with a few legal requirements relating to my money. All we need is your signature.”

I was stunned. Prior to this point, Noel’s been fairly free with his money.

“I’d do anything to please you,” I replied. “I just want to read it first so I know what I’m signing.”

Noel glanced significantly at the lawyer, and gave a sharp nod. The lawyer seemed to understand, and left. I noticed something odd, though. He continued to stare at the hallway, almost as though he could see someone else there. Then, he turned on me.

“How dare you demand that? Don’t you trust me as your husband?”

“Yes,” I commenced hesitantly, for I could see the steam rising from his ears. “It’s just that it’s the right thing to do, you know – to read the document. I must know what I’m agreeing to.”

He lowered his voice threateningly.

“If you dare to defy me on this, I’ll personally see to it that she goes to a nursing home next week.”

“May – may I please have some time to think about it? I’ll give you an answer the day after tomorrow.”

I don’t know how that tumbled out of my mouth, but it did.

His lip curled. “I suppose that’ll have to do.”

He then marched out of the room. I fled from him to hide my tears. Hours later, I heard a footstep behind me. It wasn’t his.

“Mum?” I sobbed.

I then felt her delicate hand on my head, soothing me as she had when I was a child.

“I’ve heard it all,” she said. “Why didn’t you come and tell me? We’ve grown just a little too distant lately.”

“You’ve been through so much with Dad’s death last year, and these accidents lately; a-and I didn’t want to stress you out,” I confessed, with a sniffle.

“Mothers have a way of finding out about things.”

Suddenly, she stopped stroking my hair. I sat up, surprised. It was dark now.

“We’ve got to act fast,” she said. “When he’s asleep, go and get his phone.”

“What’s going on, Mum?”

“Just trust me. Find that document and your pre-nuptial agreement if you can, too.”

I felt as though my world was falling apart. Surely Noel wasn’t cheating on me? Soon, Mum tiptoed out of the room; and I waited for Noel to come and kiss me. I nearly wept again as I remembered how ardently he used to embrace me. Now, I dreaded his brief kisses because they felt so dutiful and forced.

“Have you thought it over?” came a deep voice from behind me.

“I – I’ll tell you my answer when I can,” I faltered, for I had no desire to arouse his temper again.

“Fine,” he replied, curtly.

After he undressed, he gave me a peck on the cheek.

“Goodnight, and be a good girl,” he said, a little sternly.

As he kissed me, I smelled a faint whiff of perfume that wasn’t mine. I started slightly, but suffered this outrage in silence. Once he had fallen asleep, I sneaked to his side of the bed and grabbed his phone. Then, I went to the office where he kept his documents, found the documents I needed, and tiptoed to Mum’s room. Softly, I knocked on her door.

After she opened it a crack, she quickly beckoned me inside. Soon, we were sitting on her bed, examining everything. I had the fun job of scrolling through his phone. I saw nothing to concern me until I spotted a photo of an attractive woman. Then, I noted a text next to her picture which said, “Hey, Honey, how much more thou do you want?”

“Mum!” I cried out, with a gasp. “Look! He’s got another woman!”

She snatched the phone off me grimly. “And he’s been giving her money – yours and his! Oh, you poor dear.”

She tutted while reading through the terms and conditions of the contract he had insisted I sign. Meanwhile, I sat numbly, unable to speak or move as conflicting thoughts and emotions whirled through my mind. The man that I had joyously chosen to serve and support for the rest of my life, and ardently yielded myself to on my wedding night, was now seeing someone else. Just then, her voice cut into the shock that seemed to grip me.

“I know what’s going on,” she said, firmly. “He wants you to sign over everything you own so he can own it, and he’d like to keep his money to himself as well so he doesn’t have to share a dime with you. If you sign this and then leave, you’ll lose everything,” and she thrust out her hand, palm downward, in an “I’m cutting you off” motion. “Right now, you’ve got ownership of your assets; but that’ll change if he can pressure you. Don’t let him!”

“I won’t, Mum,” I reassured her, my voice trembling with ire as I finally managed to shake off my shock. “I’m visiting a lawyer tomorrow. You know how he said it was either you or him?”

“He doesn’t know this, but I heard that. What have you decided?”

“I want you in my life, Mum. I’m getting a divorce. First, I need to record his confession on my phone so I can give it to the lawyer. Then, I’ll sue him for trying to coerce me into this. Oh, Mum – I loved him so!”

I could no longer hold back. I broke down sobbing. Silently, she stroked my hair, in the same way she had when I was a child.

“It’s not fair!” I wailed. “I married him to help you so you could be a p-painter!”

“Oh, honey, I never asked you to make such a sacrifice for me.”

“It w-wasn’t at the time,” I protested. “I’d have done anything for him, but that’s over now! Did you know about the cheating?”

“I suspected it when he started being cold towards you, but I couldn’t prove it. Now, I know everything. Have you got a copy of the photos?”

I nodded. “You’re right, Mum. We need the evidence.”

After we had made copies of the documents and photos, we bade each other “good night”; and I staggered back to my room, heartbroken. I sneaked the phone back to my husband’s lampstand. Fortunately, he had slept through the whole drama. Stifling my sobs, I climbed into bed beside him. My heart was troubled, but I forced myself to focus on deep breathing until I finally fell asleep.

May 15, 2025

The last few days have been some of the best and worst of my life. The day after I discovered Noel’s philandering, I went secretly to visit a lawyer, accompanied by one of Noel’s bodyguards who couldn’t stand him. I knew my secret was safe with this woman so I was more than happy for her to escort me to the lawyer’s office.

After the formal introductions, the lawyer asked to look at the pre-nuptial agreement. I handed both documents over to her. A long, heavy silence seemed to reign in the room for a good half hour. Finally, she broke it abruptly with a polite cough. Our eyes connected, and she said, “Don’t sign it.”

“I won’t.”

“Has your husband been faithful to you?”

I paused a moment before handing her the copy of the texts and photos I had taken the night before.

“I see,” she said, after looking them over. “According to the terms of your prenuptial agreement, the unfaithful partner loses everything save a fourth of their total earnings, which is just enough to live on. You have indelible proof that he has cheated; and from what you said, he’s tried to coerce you as well. This is more than enough material for a divorce, if you want one.”

“I do,” I replied, clenching my hands together so tightly that my knuckles were nearly white. “I loved him so. I can’t bear this!”

“I know. I know. I’m so sorry. I’ll be happy to represent you.”

“It’ll cost a lot of money. I was planning to save that for Mum’s retirement!”

“Don’t worry. We’ll work something out so you can cover these costs. I’m fairly confident we’ll win the case.”

Later that day, I went home. I saw Noel sitting at his desk, scrolling through the space-related content on his computer. Timidly, I knocked.

“What is it?” he snapped, his small peepers narrowing even more than usual.

He never used to treat me so harshly.

“Noel, I really miss the man you used to be. When we were newlyweds, I’d knock on the door; and you’d open your arms wide so I could jump onto your lap and cuddle in. You’d hold me and kiss me all over until I giggled from sheer delight. Then, you’d take me to the bedroom and cherish me the way a woman deserves. What’s changed? Why are you so cold to me now? How can I be the partner you loved, once again?”

By now, I was nearly weeping from the sweet memories; but all those feelings promptly dried up when he rolled his orbs so hard I thought they would fall out of his sockets.

“Sheer sentimentality,” he replied, with a scoff.

Unbeknown to him, I had clicked a button on my pen and stuck it in my shirt pocket so I could record this conversation.

“Why do you need me to sign it so badly, Noel? You’ll hear my decision, but I need to know that first.”

He sighed. “I’ve got millions of dollars in court costs. A few years ago, I had to declare bankruptcy on one of my companies; and I lost a lot of money over it. If you shared your assets with me, I could replace that money easily and be financially secure for a few years – at least until I started another business.”

I sat down beside him. “I didn’t know this. Why’d you threaten me rather than explaining all this to me? I’d have been willing to help if only you’d told me.”

At that, he drew himself up.

“You weren’t being compliant,” he replied severely. “If you were truly a good woman, you would obey your lord without asking questions, or needing to know the reason why. It’s your duty as my wife.”

“Noel!” I cried. “We’re not living in the past! I’m your equal!”

“Does it matter? Moral principles hold up for all time, regardless of the era.”

“In that case, what about the cheating?” I demanded, my voice trembling slightly.

“What cheating, woman? What lies has your mother told you now?”

“No lies,” I responded, stiffly. “I only speak the truth, Noel. I found out about your woman, and the money you want to give her from me! That’s money I plan to use for my mother so she can set up her own painting school! She’s had so much taken from her in life, and it’s not fair! Does this woman know about me?”

“No,” said Noel.

“Why not?”

“I never thought to bother her with such petty details.”

“Then why’d you need the money for her?”

“She’s carrying my child. You never wanted children, and I couldn’t convince you to change your mind because you were too frightened to let me do what I must to become a father. It’s all your fault!”

He was screaming now. I had had no idea how much he hated me for being afraid to have children. Now, I allowed my newfound indignation to override my guilt over these fears.

“We signed a prenuptial agreement stating that an unfaithful partner would lose three fourths of their assets to the other one. What made you gamble on it?”

“Because I’m rich, famous, and charming, sweetie. Now let me kiss those rosebuds I’ve enjoyed so much.”

He leaned in towards me. By now, I felt physically ill. Just in time, I leapt to avoid him. Unfortunately, I bumped my elbow against a vase filled with peacock feathers; and it fell down, cracking slightly on its lip. Suddenly, the door swung open; and my mother marched in, accompanied by the lawyer.

“That’s more than enough evidence to justify a divorce,” the lawyer said. “Do you have the recording?”

“I do,” I answered, handing the pen to her. “Luckily, it wasn’t broken. You know, his new woman needs money for her baby. We’ve got to help her somehow.”

“You’ll pay for this, all of you!” Noel bellowed. “I see the wicked confederacy against me – the scheming old crone, the disobedient wife, and the conniving woman who shouldn’t be a lawyer! How dare you do this to me, you wretched thieves!”

“I’m getting a divorce, Noel! I loved you with all my heart, and I was thinking about bearing you a son. When you tried to coerce me the other day, love died. It’s over, Noel.”

I wrenched the wedding ring off my finger and flung it far from me. Then, I turned to my mother, buried my head in her chest, and sobbed copiously as Noel stormed from the room.