My Husband Scolded Me for Distracting His ‘Work’ with My Cleaning — Until I Discovered the Truth

When we got married, I thought my spouse and I were aligned in our goals. I believed I was supporting him in his home office work, whatever that entailed, while I took on the responsibility of providing for the entire family—until I discovered what his “work” actually was.

I had been married to Jake for three years; he referred to himself as “the busiest man on Earth.” That was his excuse for spending hours and hours cooped up in his home office. However, after I learned about his “work,” our relationship completely changed.

Jake often spoke of “building our future,” a phrase that seemed to be his personal mantra. I wanted to believe him—I truly did. Isn’t that what love is all about? Supporting your partner through tough times?

To ease his stress, I took on everything else. I worked part-time to keep us afloat, managed the household, and raised our two children. But lately, it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers—our finances, my mental well-being, and, most heartbreakingly, my trust in Jake.

He always assured me he was “so close” to a breakthrough, even though the bills were piling up and the struggles never seemed to end. Most of his days were spent shut away in his sparse “office,” where he claimed to be attending “important meetings” or “analyzing numbers.”

I had to change every aspect of our lives to accommodate him, including when I did my duties so as not to wake him up and how quiet I kept the kids. Our days have a recurring pattern.

Jake would wake up early, quickly finish his breakfast, and announce, “Big meeting today,” before disappearing into his so-called “war room.” He referred to it with such importance, as if he were strategizing a global takeover. Yet, for all his grand ambitions, our bills remained unpaid and overdue.

However, yesterday was different, and after that, things took a significant turn for the worse.

The Wednesday was one of those days that seemed to go on forever. Since the children were not in school, there was more pandemonium because they started to get restless. My youngest, Tyler, continued to run in circles around the dining table while the dog barking joyfully in unison.

In the living room, my oldest daughter, Mia, was working on her cartwheels. In the meantime, I washed the kitchen counters, attempting to be as quiet as possible while maintaining some appearance of order.

“Keep it down!” Tyler whooshed by me, and I hissed at him. “Daddy’s working.”

“But Mommy,” he whimpered, holding on to the dog’s collar, “Scruffy wants to play!”

I let out a sigh. I was not in the mood to dispute. Hours ago, Jake had locked himself in his office. “I have an important meeting today,” he had reminded us during breakfast. No disruptions. As usual, I nodded, even though the words hurt. The unspoken rule in our household was to have no disruptions.

My thoughts drifted while I was cleaning the stove. How long has it been since Jake and I had a meaningful conversation? Not for the children or the bills, but for us? Regarding anything actual? I dismissed the idea and concentrated on the current task.

Then it took place.

Tyler scared me as he ran through after the dog, and the frying pan fell out of my grasp and hit the tile floor with a loud clang that made my son giggle and Mia scream.

“Oops!” Tyler’s hands went to his mouth as he giggled.

Then, with his eyes burning and his face flushed, Jake raced out of his office! He yelled, “Can YOU not keep it down for one single minute?!” and the children fell silent. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is during a work meeting?”

I froze, holding on to the counter for balance. “Jake, I—”

His voice was brimming with frustration when he interrupted me. “You realize how amazing you are? You can’t even maintain silence while I’m in there busting my ass!”

The children were motionless and wide-eyed as they stared at us. As though the dog could protect him from the stress, Tyler held on to Scruffy’s fur. Just as I was about to apologize, I heard a woman’s voice. Playful, soft, and completely inappropriate for our house.

With a knotted stomach, I turned to face the office door. I said, “Jake,” slowly, “who’s in there?”

Anger quickly gave way to panic on his face. He stumbled, “It’s just a client,” and blocked the door. “Stay out of it.”

However, I didn’t believe it! As I pushed by him and entered the room, my stomach turned suspicious.

The scene in front of me was stunning! A colorful, cartoonish online game was shown on the computer screen. The video call window in the corner of the screen contained a lively, animated avatar with the name “SUZYLOVELY88.” As though this were the most hilarious thing ever, the avatar burst out laughing.

“What is this?” My voice was solid but wavering.

Jake became indignant instead of terrified. “It’s my hobby,” he declared, swelled his chest as he often did in a tight spot. “You’re so dull all the time! I need to get away! I understand Suzy. Unlike you, she is enjoyable to converse with.

It was like someone slapped me!

“Your hobby?” I said it again, raising my voice. “While I’ve been working nonstop to support this family, you’ve been shutting yourself in here and acting like you’re working? For what purpose? To converse online with a complete stranger?

“She’s not just some stranger!” Jake’s cheeks flushed and he snapped. “She actually listens to me, which is more than I can say for you.”

Stunted into stillness, I blinked. The children’s inquisitive gazes darted between us as they peered around the bend. Fortunately, they complied when I motioned for them to retire to their rooms.

I felt my rage flare up as I turned back to Jake. “Do you hear yourself?” My voice was shaking with emotion as I spoke.

“I have given up everything for us—for you! Additionally, you have been sitting here squandering time on this nonsense.”

Jake sneered, his confidence eroding. “Maybe if you weren’t so naggy and exhausted all the time, I wouldn’t need this.”

I didn’t care that tears were streaming down my face. Infuriated once more, he continued, “You know what? I’m finished! I’m heading to Suzy! In fact, she brings me joy.

Without glancing at me, he ran out of the office, took a duffel bag from the bedroom closet, and began packing in clothes. I tried to reason with him as I followed him, but he refused to listen. And he was gone in an instant.

The following day went by quickly. I wavered between sadness, fury, and a strange sensation of relief. Both physically and emotionally, the house felt calmer. I consistently responded to the children’s inquiries about Daddy’s return date by saying, “I don’t know, sweetheart.”

Jake’s mom called on the second day. Her voice sounded desperate, which surprised me because I hadn’t anticipated it.

“Sweetie,” she said. “I know you’re upset, but I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” Bracing myself, I asked.

As she recounted, her voice wavered. Jake spent hours driving to meet Suzy. However, she wasn’t who he believed her to be.

My heart fell. “What do you mean?”

“Suzy,” she went on, “isn’t a female. He is a bearded middle-aged man. He has persuaded Jake to transfer money for “plane tickets” and has been catfishing him for months. My son is heartbroken.

The ridiculousness of it struck me like a wave, and I started laughing before I could control myself! Uncontrollably deep and genuine laughter. It was satisfying, like letting go of years’ worth of repressed annoyance.

“So, all along he really wasn’t working?” Curious, I asked.

“No, darling, he wasn’t earning much money playing video games. He sent some of what little he had to this Suzy person. His mother begged, “Please.” “He feels ashamed. He desires to return home.

I inhaled deeply as my laughing subsided. “No,” I firmly answered. Jake made his own decisions. I’ve been putting myself last for far too long. I’ve stopped doing it.

I told Jake I wanted a divorce and that I was taking everything when he tried to call to ask to return. I said he could keep his laptop. “Maybe you’ll find a better ‘Suzy’ next time.”

I won everything, including the kids, and my husband couldn’t fight me much because he had nothing to his name and had cheated online.

I started to rebuild my life in the weeks that followed. I signed the kids up for childcare and got a full-time job. Every stride I made felt like a step toward freedom, even though it was frightening. I felt lighter than I had in years, and the burden of Jake’s troubles was no longer there!

Tyler’s large, inquisitive eyes gazed up at me one evening as I put him into bed. “Mommy,” he muttered, “will we be alright?”

I grinned and softly brushed his hair back. “Yes, sweetheart,” I responded, feeling more confident than I had in a long time. “We’re going to be more than okay.”

And I actually did believe it for the first time.

Although Jake’s wife isn’t the first woman who has had to cope with a mysterious husband, the reality in the next story is even more terrible and shocking. It improves the woman’s quality of life.