Sometimes life presents you with lemons in the form of a neglectful husband. When my husband suggested that I become a cleaner instead of buying new work clothes, I took his advice. But I did it in a way that he didn’t even see it coming.
The worst part about betrayal? It always comes from someone you trust.
A year ago, I went on maternity leave to devote myself to our son Ethan.
Late night feedings, endless nappy changes, keeping the house tidy, making sure Tyler always had a hot meal waiting for him after work… I did it all.
And honestly? I didn’t mind. Being a mum was challenging, but also rewarding in a way that my office job never was.
Tiny smiles and first giggles… they filled my heart with a joy I’ll never be able to explain in words.
But after a year, it was time for me to go back to work. I was actually excited. I missed adult conversations that didn’t revolve around baby food. I missed feeling like I wasn’t just a mum.
Except there was a problem.
‘Tyler, none of my work stuff fits anymore,’ I said one night while folding laundry. Ethan had finally gone to bed and Tyler was sitting on the couch.
‘What do you mean?’ – He asked.
I sighed, picking up the pencil skirt that used to be my main office wear. ‘I mean that my body changed after the baby was born. I’ve tried everything in my wardrobe and nothing else fits.’
‘So? Just wear something else.’
‘That’s what I’m saying. I don’t have anything else. I need to buy some new outfits for the office.’ I sat down next to him on the couch. ‘I was hoping we could use some of our savings for that.’
Then he looked at me with a look that made me feel like I was asking for something off-limits.
‘Do you have any idea how much daycare will cost?’ – He asked. ‘Plus all the expenses for the baby? Your job barely covers those expenses as it is.’
‘It’s just a few outfits, Tyler. I can’t go back to work without clothes.’
Then he said.
‘Your job is costing us a lot of money. Just get a job as a cleaner. You don’t need fancy clothes for that.’
I couldn’t believe his words.
Had he really said that? This man for whom I cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner? The one whose laundry I washed? Whose child I took care of twenty-four hours a day while he pursued his career uninterrupted?
‘The cleaning lady?’ I repeated.
Tyler shrugged. ‘It’s practical. Oh, and the hours are better for childcare.’
I’d sacrificed my body, sleep, and career advancement for our family. And now that I needed the essentials to keep moving forward, he didn’t even bother to support me.
Instead of yelling at him, I just smiled and said: ‘You’re right, babe. I’ll think of something.’
And I did.
But not in the way he expected.
I wasn’t going to beg him for basic respect or a few new shirts.
Instead, I followed his suggestion and got a job as a cleaner.
But not just anywhere.
I applied at his office.
Tyler works for a prestigious corporate law firm downtown. When I discovered they needed a part-time cleaner by posting a job ad online, I felt like the universe had given me exactly what I needed.
Within a week I was hired for the evening shift, which was perfect for our child’s situation. My mum was more than happy to watch Ethan for a few hours in the evening, especially when I explained what I was doing. She never really liked Tyler.
And the best part? Tyler had no idea about anything.
He assumed I was taking night classes to ‘improve my skills,’ which I mentioned in passing. He never asked for details, which was a testament to how little he cared about my aspirations.
For three weeks, I worked the cleaning shift, trying to avoid the floor where Tyler’s office was. I had to pick the right moment.
The perfect opportunity presented itself when I learned from office gossip that Tyler would be having an important meeting with a client on Wednesday night.
The cleaning schedule required me to be on his floor that evening, and I didn’t ask him to change it.
When Wednesday came, I walked into his office in my grey uniform, with my hair gathered into a simple ponytail and minimal makeup.
I pushed my cleaning cart with purpose, and the squeak of the wheel announced my presence before I even got to his door.
Tyler was just presenting something to a group of five people sitting around his conference table when I walked in to shake out the bins. I kept my head down at first, methodically going about my business, but the moment his gaze fell on me, I felt him fall silent.
The confident flow of his presentation was interrupted halfway through.
‘And the quarterly projections show…’ His voice broke. ‘Forecasts show that… Excuse me, excuse me for a second.’
I continued working, moving to the bin next to his desk, feeling his gaze burn into my back.
‘Marilyn?’ – He finally spoke. ‘What are you doing here?’
I turned and smiled politely. ‘Oh, hello, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.’
The blood rushed away from his face so fast I thought he might pass out. Meanwhile, the client and his colleagues were looking among themselves in confusion.
Then one of his colleagues, who had seen me at company events before, spoke up. ‘Wait, is that your wife? What is she doing here?’
Tyler stuttered. ‘I…I don’t know.Marilyn, what are you doing?’
I kept my composure, standing straight and dignified despite my uniform. ‘Oh, I was just following my husband’s excellent advice!He said that since my previous job was too expensive – childcare and professional clothes – a cleaning job would be more practical.No need to worry about the dress code. Honestly, it turned out to be quite enlightening.’
Silence reigned in the room.
All eyes turned to Tyler, whose face went from pale to flushed with embarrassment.
His superior, Mr Calloway, raised an eyebrow. ‘Your husband advised you to become a cleaner instead of pursuing a career?’
I shrugged with an innocent smile.I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.’ The blood rushed away from his face so fast I thought he might pass out.
Meanwhile, the client and his colleagues were looking among themselves in confusion.
Then one of his colleagues, who had seen me at company events before, spoke up.
‘Wait, is that your wife?What is she doing here?’ Tyler stuttered.
‘I…I don’t know.Marilyn, what are you doing?’
I’ll just finish up here and hit the road. You gentlemen have a pleasant evening.’
As I pushed the trolley towards the door, I heard Mr Calloway say: ‘Let’s take a fifteen minute break, shall we?’
That told me that Tyler was in for an unpleasant conversation.
But I wasn’t done yet. That was just the beginning.
In the weeks that followed, I tried to be exceptionally diligent in my work. I always cleaned Tyler’s office last, timing it so that his co-workers were still around to finish their day.
I smiled sweetly when anyone asked about my presence there, and thanked Tyler loudly for his ‘awesome career advice’ whenever we crossed paths.
One day, Tyler tried to talk to me about it at home.
‘This has gone on long enough,’ he insisted.‘You’ve made your point. It’s embarrassing.’
‘Embarrassing for whom?’ I asked calmly. ‘I’m following your suggestion.I thought you’d be proud of me for being so practical.’
I shrugged with an innocent smile.‘Well, he said my previous job was too expensive because I needed new clothes after the baby was born.He decided this job would suit me better.’
The expression on Mr Calloway’s face hardened as he looked at Tyler. The atmosphere in the room changed completely.
‘Marilyn, can we discuss this at home?’- whispered Tyler. whispered Tyler. whispered Tyler.‘Now is not the time.’
In particular, Carol from HR stopped me one evening for a chat after she caught me reading a legal memo I noticed on my desk.
When she heard about my background in corporate communications and the circumstances that led me into cleaning, she was shocked.
‘We actually have an opening in the marketing department,’ she told me. ‘The salary is competitive and the work schedule would be good for your child. Are you interested?’
I was more than interested. I was ready.
The final act in my plan occurred at another company event where spouses were invited.
Tyler begged me not to attend, claiming we should ‘leave work at work,’ but I insisted.
I arrived very late, wearing a stunning new navy blue dress that I had bought with my first advance from my new marketing position that would start the following Monday. The position paid significantly higher than Tyler’s.
‘I’m following your suggestion.I thought you’d be proud of me for being so practical.’
‘You know I didn’t mean anything like that,’ he said.‘It was just a comment.I was worried about the money.’
‘Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to our newest team member,’ Carol announced to the small group gathered around us. ‘Marilyn will be joining our marketing department on Monday as our new Director of Communications. Some of you may have already met her in another capacity.’
The smirks and raised eyebrows around the circle made it clear that everyone understood exactly what ‘in another capacity’ meant. Tyler looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Later that night, Tyler cornered me at the drinks table.
‘You planned this whole thing, didn’t you?’
He hissed.
I calmly sipped my champagne. ‘No, Tyler. You planned it all when you decided I wasn’t worth a few new outfits to restart my career.
I just adapted to the circumstances you created.’
‘Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to our newest team member,’ Carol announced to the small group gathered around us.‘Marilyn will be joining our marketing department on Monday as our new Director of Communications.Some of you may have already met her in another capacity.’
The smirks and raised eyebrows around the circle made it clear that everyone understood exactly what ‘in another capacity’ meant.Tyler looked as if he wanted
In the months that followed, the relationship between us changed dramatically.
Tyler’s position in the firm became increasingly uncomfortable as the story of his ‘career advice’ to his wife made company history. Meanwhile, my role expanded as my talents were recognised. The power dynamics in our marriage changed markedly.
Tyler repeatedly tried to apologise.
He bought me clothes, jewellery and even a new car, but it didn’t help.
You see, the moment he made me feel like I wasn’t worth basic respect, something fundamental happened between us.
Now, six months later, my wardrobe is filled with clothes that match the woman I’ve become.
Meanwhile, Tyler had lost his job. He’s apologised more times than I can count, but no amount of regret can erase that moment when he made me feel small, when he so easily dismissed my worth.
And now the choice is mine. Do I forgive him and give our marriage another chance?
Or is it time to walk away for good?
What would you do?
