Minha esposa me expulsou depois que recebi uma carta inesperada do diretor. Mas isso não foi o pior.
Meu nome é Christopher, e encontrei o amor da minha vida há meio ano. Ela é uma mulher de 30 anos, além de linda e inteligente.
Sou um profissional de TI comum que trabalha em uma empresa liderada por uma mulher de 30 anos e, nos últimos três anos, temos trabalhado juntos em um projeto de grande escala que exigiu muito de nós, intelectualmente e em termos de trabalho.
Minha esposa jogou minhas coisas para fora de casa. | Foto: Shutterstock
Este projeto deveria continuar por mais um ano e, se bem-sucedido, daria um impulso significativo às nossas carreiras. Eu definitivamente aproveitaria isso, pois significaria uma promoção ou talvez até melhores ofertas.
Eu ganhava o suficiente, é claro, mas em algum momento no passado, percebi que não se tratava mais do lucro para mim, mas sim do que eu podia fazer pelas pessoas para ajudá-las a resolver seus problemas — os técnicos, pelo menos.
Há poucos meses, minha diretora fez uma confissão que detalhava seus sentimentos por mim, e quando digo detalhada, é exatamente isso. Ela fez essa confissão por meio de um longo e-mail que recebi num sábado à noite — ela tinha bebido.
Dizer que fiquei chocado seria um eufemismo, porque eu jamais imaginaria que algo assim me aconteceria em um milhão de anos. Para mim, esse tipo de coisa se limitava a novelas.
Eu estava lendo a correspondência do meu chefe. | Foto: Getty Images
No e-mail, minha diretora revelou que estava apaixonada por mim durante a maior parte dos três anos em que trabalhamos juntos. Pensando bem, admito que ela pode ter me deixado algumas dicas, mas sempre achei que era o jeito dela de ser gentil e atenciosa.
Depois de ler o e-mail, chamei minha esposa para o meu espaço de trabalho, que era basicamente uma sala dedicada a todo o meu trabalho com tecnologia. Lá, ficam meus computadores e algumas comodidades que me permitiam trabalhar sem sair da minha zona de conforto.
Quando ela chegou, sentei-me com ela e contei-lhe sobre o e-mail interessante que acabara de receber do meu chefe.
“Você está demitido?!” ela adivinhou.
Por que ela pensaria isso?
“Claro que não”, respondi. “Olha só isso.”
Eu disse à minha esposa que ela precisava verificar o e-mail. | Foto: Getty Images
Ela leu o e-mail, mas apenas riu e voltou ao que estava fazendo antes de eu chamá-la. Depois disso, tudo ficou bem por um tempo, mas depois de uma semana, comecei a notar que ela evitava falar comigo.
Usei todos os truques possíveis para descobrir por que ela estava me ignorando, mas ela sempre dizia que estava tudo bem.
Mais uma semana se passou antes que ela finalmente se abrisse, e quando o fez, eu desejei ardentemente não ter insistido para saber. Naquele dia, ela me chamou de Christopher, então eu sabia que ela estava falando sério.
“Você precisa largar seu emprego”, ela disse.
Minha esposa me disse que eu precisava parar. | Foto: Getty Images
Fiquei tão atordoado que esqueci que estava de boca aberta e, quando me recuperei, não consegui parar de rir, o que, pensando bem, provavelmente foi uma péssima ideia.
“Isso acabaria com a minha carreira, querida”, eu disse descontraidamente.
Realmente não era uma opção que eu pudesse considerar. Preferiria que esse cenário nunca tivesse surgido, porque meu projeto, que consumiu muitos recursos e tempo, está em jogo.
Eu não tinha receio de que meu diretor forçasse a situação ou deixasse que isso afetasse nosso trabalho; nós dois sabíamos o que estava em jogo. Além disso, o e-mail parecia uma mulher desabafando, o que não posso contestar, pois faria o mesmo no lugar dela.
Fiquei chocado com a sugestão da minha esposa de que eu pedisse demissão. | Foto: Getty Images
É verdade que eu teria que pensar muito sobre como prosseguir com a dinâmica de trabalho, mas abandonar nosso projeto não era uma opção.
Tentei explicar isso para minha esposa, mas ela já tinha se decidido, e, cara, como ela era teimosa. Então, mais uma semana se passou, e minha esposa alternava entre ficar furiosa e me dar gelo. Ela também sugeriu várias vezes que eu saísse de casa para ficar com minha diretora, já que eu já passava muito tempo com ela.
E hoje, quando decidi ir para casa na hora do almoço, descobri que as fechaduras tinham sido trocadas e meus pertences estavam no pátio. Meu número do trabalho e meu celular estavam bloqueados no celular dela, então não consegui falar com ela também. Voltei ao trabalho num turbilhão de raiva. Como ela pôde fazer isso?
Tentei falar com a minha esposa, mas sem sucesso. | Foto: Getty Images
Ela me ligou vários dias depois, depois de me deixar em paz, e confessou que se sentia extremamente ansiosa cada vez que eu ia ao escritório, e tudo isso a sobrecarregou, levando-a a tomar essa decisão drástica. Ela também me deu um ultimato.
“Chris, você pode voltar assim que deixar seu emprego”, ela disse.
“Essa opção ainda está fora de cogitação!”, quase gritei.
Eu não conseguia largar meu emprego. | Foto: Getty Images
Depois de conversar com minha família sobre a confusão, lembrei-me de que eu era dono da casa da qual fui despejado. Então, comecei a ficar de olho na casa e, assim que ela saiu para a loja uma tarde, chamei um chaveiro para me ajudar a entrar.
Quando ela voltou, ficou furiosa ao me ver na sala. Gritou comigo e pediu que eu saísse de casa até entregar minha carta de demissão.
Contei a ela que havia notificado minha família sobre o que estava acontecendo e que eles insistiram no divórcio. Também contei que planejava ir ao tribunal no dia seguinte para entrar com o pedido e que ela tinha alguns dias para arrumar as malas.
Eu disse a ela que tinha terminado. | Foto: Getty Images
O que podemos aprender com a história?
- Confiança é recíproca. A esposa de Christopher não confiava nele e estava muito preocupada com a possibilidade de ele ceder ao convite aparentemente aberto do diretor. Ele confiou que ela não reagiria exageradamente quando lhe mostrasse a carta, mas ela se recusou a confiar nele para lidar com a situação, e isso pôs fim à união deles.
- Em caso de dúvida, ligue para a família. Christopher procurou a família quando as coisas ficaram complicadas, e eles o ajudaram a se virar, fazendo-o perceber que a casa da qual foi expulso era, na verdade, sua. Com o apoio deles, ele optou pelo divórcio, encerrando efetivamente o drama.
Compartilhe esta história com seus amigos e familiares. Ela pode alegrar o dia deles e inspirá-los.
My Best Friend and I Made a Pact to Marry by 40, and 10 Years Later He Showed Up Uninvited to My Wedding — Story of the Day
On my wedding day, everything seemed perfect until my past walked into the ceremony uninvited. A promise made years ago and a man determined to remind me of it threatened to unravel the life I’d built. Could I let go of the past, or would it destroy my future?
I leaned back on the couch, cradling my coffee cup and letting the black liquid swirl lazily. The lights of Manhattan glittered like a million tiny promises just beyond the window. That evening, I felt… complete. At 39, that was no small thing.
“Who knew Rachel,” I murmured aloud. “You’ve got it all figured out now, don’t you?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Years of climbing the corporate ladder had left little room for anything else.
Success? Sure. Independence? Absolutely. But happiness?
That had always been… elusive. The type that lingered at the edges of the room like a forgotten shadow.
Dating had always been a disaster.
“Remember Scott?” I laughed softly. “Wanted me to quit my job and move to Montana. Montana!”
And then there was Greg, who turned every conversation into a TED Talk about himself.
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But Michael? Michael is different.
My lips curved into a soft smile at the thought of him. Scatterbrained Michael, who once set off the fire alarm while trying to toast bread. The man who adored noisy dinner parties and dragged me into conversations I didn’t want to have but somehow made them fun.
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He isn’t perfect, no. But he is… mine.
A week ago, he’d changed everything.
“Rachel,” he had said, kneeling in the kitchen. He was holding out his grandmother’s vintage ring. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Be my wife.”
Of course, I said yes. What else could I have said?
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Suddenly, my thoughts drifted to Linda, my future MIL. She wasn’t exactly warm. Our conversations had been polite, but there was always something in her tone, as if she was sizing me up, waiting for me to prove I wasn’t good enough for Michael.
She doesn’t know me yet. People like her just need time, don’t they?
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Besides, the engagement party was the following day. Everything was planned to perfection.
Nothing can spoil it. This is our moment.
At least, that’s what I thought then.
***
The engagement party sparkled with life. The warm glow of the fairy lights above cast a magical atmosphere. Michael was at my side, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back as guests came up to offer their congratulations.
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“You two make such a perfect couple!” one of his cousins gushed, raising her glass. “To love and happiness!”
“To love and happiness!” echoed the room as everyone toasted.
I felt like I was walking on air, wrapped in a bubble of warmth and hope. That was what happiness was supposed to feel like. Secure and untouchable. And then it happened!
A figure appeared in the doorway. Then our eyes met. It was Brian!
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His presence felt like a ghost stepping out of my past, dragging memories I had long buried. Without thinking, I excused myself quickly, murmuring something to Michael about needing air. I found Brian near the hallway.
“Rachel,” he said softly.
“What are you doing here, Brian? How did you even know about this?”
“You’re not exactly a hard person to track down. And when I heard you were engaged, I figured it was time to finally talk.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said quickly, glancing back toward the party. “This is not the time or the place.”
But Brian stepped closer, his tone lowering. “It’s been ten years, Rachel. Ten. And all this time, I’ve been writing to you.”
“What? I’ve never received anything from you.”
“I sent dozens of letters, Rachel. They were ignored. Or… Someone made sure you never saw a single word.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“That’s ridiculous,” I snapped. “Who could…”
“Who? Ask yourself, Rachel. How well do you know Michael? Or his mother? Do you think she’s thrilled about you stepping into the picture?”
“You’re lying. This is just some desperate attempt to…”
“To what?” Brian interrupted sharply. “To ruin your happiness? Believe me, Rachel, I came to tell you the truth.”
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He took a deliberate step closer, lowering his voice. “We made a pact, Rachel. Do you remember? If we were still single at 40, we’d marry each other. And here I am, trying to honor that promise.”
“Brian, whatever you think we had or promised each other—it’s in the past. My life is with Michael now.”
“Is it? Are you sure? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re marrying into something you don’t fully understand.”
I clenched my hands into fists. “Brian, stop. Just stop. You’re twisting things to…”
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He interrupted. “To get you to open your eyes? Rachel, you’re walking into something you don’t fully see. And once you’re in, it might be too late to get out.”
I turned sharply, desperate to leave, but as I did, I caught a glimpse of Linda standing just around the corner. Her face was calm, almost unnervingly so, but her eyes gave her away. She had heard everything. Every single word.
“Rachel,” she said smoothly, ignoring Brian entirely. “Is everything alright? Michael’s been looking for you.”
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“Everything’s fine.”
But nothing was fine.
***
When I returned home, I tried my best to stay calm, though a quiet unease churned inside me. Maybe it was Linda’s presence. She had decided to stay with us to “help” in the final days before the wedding. Or perhaps it was the lingering tension from seeing Brian at the engagement party. Either way, my nerves felt frayed.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I wandered into the kitchen, deciding that a cup of tea with lemon might settle me. But as I pressed the knife against the lemon’s rind, my hand slipped. A sharp sting shot through my finger.
“Great!”
I grabbed a paper towel to stop the bleeding and went upstairs to find a plaster. That’s when I opened Michael’s drawer.
dr
My finger throbbed from the accidental cut, but what I found instead made my heart stop. A small box, neatly tucked under a pile of dribs and drabs. I pulled it out.
Inside were letters. Dozens of them addressed to me! My breath caught as I unfolded the first one. It was from Brian. Each letter, carefully written, was an attempt to reconnect, to share his feelings. And yet, I had never seen them until that moment.
Suddenly, I heard Michael’s footsteps. “What’s that?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I stood, clutching the letters. “You tell me, Michael. Why do you have these? All this time, you’ve been lying to me. Why?”
“Because I was scared of losing you. I didn’t want him to come between us.”
“Come between us?” I laughed bitterly, waving the letters in his face. “Do you hear yourself? You didn’t even give me a chance to decide for myself!”
“Rachel, please,” he begged. “I love you. Everything I did was to protect us.”
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“You protected yourself, Michael. How can I marry someone who doesn’t trust me to make my own decisions?”
Before he could respond, a new voice cut through the tension.
“Well, isn’t this dramatic,” Linda said, stepping into the room.
“This isn’t your business, Linda.”
“It became my business the moment you decided to humiliate him. What about today’s date? Maybe you’re not as perfect as you think you are.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and stormed out. The cool night air hit me like a slap as I rushed down the street. That night, I needed to make everything clear.
So, I went to see Brian. To my luck, I still remembered his address.
***
After the night I had, everything became crystal clear. No doubts, no confusion. All of them had melted away, leaving me with a single, unwavering plan.
I am not going to let anyone else dictate this day. My wedding will play out exactly how I want.
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By the time I stepped into the ceremony hall, I had rehearsed every moment in my mind. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, mingling with the low hum of guests’ conversations. Michael stood at the altar, his smile steady and full of love.
But my eyes, for just a brief moment, flickered to the back row. And there he was. Brian. He was sitting casually, a confident smirk playing on his lips. I sent him an almost invisible smile.
ma
Finally, the officiant asked the question that everyone dreads yet anticipates. “If anyone here has a reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
A hush fell over the room. I was waiting for Brian’s move. Finally, Brian rose to his feet.
“Actually. I do.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned to him.
Brian looked directly at me. “Rachel and I have a history. We made a promise to each other years ago, and she hasn’t fulfilled it.”
Slowly, I turned toward Brian, offering him a small, calm smile.
“Brian, why don’t you turn around?”
He followed my gaze. There was the woman I’d invited the night before.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I remembered how I’d found her the previous night, when I came to his place. She was sitting on the couch next to Brian, smiling at him like he was her whole world. It had taken only a few minutes to realize the truth: Brian wasn’t in my life for love.
“Brian,” the woman said, “I believed in you. And all this time, you’ve been lying to me, using me while obsessing over her?”
The guests gasped as she pointed toward me.
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“You’re nothing but a selfish, manipulative coward,” she spat. “I can’t believe I ever loved you.”
Brian stammered. “It’s not what it looks like! I just needed her to…”
“To what?”
“You don’t understand! She pretended I didn’t exist. I wasn’t going to let her forget!”
I stayed silent, watching him unravel.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You didn’t come here for love,” she said. “You came here to ruin hers.”
“I just wanted her to feel the way I felt,” Brian muttered.
The truth was out, and there was no taking it back.
“Escort him out, please,” I said softly to the nearby ushers.
As Brian was led away, I turned to the guests. “I’m so sorry for the disruption. But I needed this moment to close the chapter on my past.”
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The ceremony resumed, and nothing could overshadow our happiness after that.
Later, as Michael and I danced, he whispered, “What a show, my dear. I hope I’ll never see it again. I worried when you disappeared last night, but I never doubted you’d come back.”
I smiled, finally telling him about my visit to Brian and the woman. “She deserved the truth, just like I did. I came to tell him that you’re my future. But then, I saw her. Decided she also deserves a better man.”
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As I stood next to Michael, his hand warm in mine, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. The past no longer had power over me.
I glanced at the guests. My eyes caught Linda’s in the crowd. For the first time, she gave me a small, approving nod. At that moment, I felt a deep sense of peace, as if the universe itself had aligned just for us.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: A flight to surprise my fiancé turned into something I never expected. One kiss, one stranger, and one shocking discovery later, my plan to uncover the truth spiraled into an unforgettable adventure.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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