I never believed in intuition—until that afternoon.

My business trip was supposed to last a week, but since the work finished earlier than expected, I quietly returned home a day ahead of schedule. My heart was fluttering with excitement at the thought of surprising my husband, Tuan—surely, he would be overjoyed.

But as I reached the gate, I froze. Through the slightly open door, I heard my husband’s laughter, full of pride:

— “Mom, my new lover is really different. Last night, she demanded three times! I’m certain this time you’ll soon have a grandson.”

I was stunned. My ears rang. My hands trembled as I clutched my suitcase. His words pierced through my heart like a knife.

The Mother-in-Law’s Complicity

My mother-in-law, Mrs. Lan, laughed gleefully:
— “That’s wonderful! This daughter-in-law of mine has been married for years, yet her belly is still flat. I’ve been anxious for so long. As long as I get a grandson, I don’t care whose child it is.”

I collapsed against the wall. For years, I had endured her scrutiny—over my clothes, my cooking, even my infertility. I had traveled everywhere for treatment, taken countless medications, endured injections—just to give this family a child. Yet now, the two of them were openly plotting to replace me with his mistress, treating me as if I were invisible.

The Shocking Betrayal

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The sound startled them both. Tuan’s face turned pale, while Mrs. Lan’s expression darkened:
— “You… why are you back already?”

I looked straight at Tuan, forcing my voice to stay calm:
— “New lover? Three times? A grandson? You’ve outdone yourself, Tuan.”

He stammered:
— “You… you misheard. I was just… joking to cheer Mom up.”

I laughed bitterly:
— “Joking by betraying your wife? By humiliating the woman who endured medicines, injections, surgeries, and endless pain just to have a child for you?”

Mrs. Lan cut in sharply:
— “Enough! If you can’t give birth, let someone else do it. This family needs an heir, not a useless woman.”

Her words felt like a slap across my face. But instead of breaking down, I felt a surge of defiance. I would not let them trample me any further.

A Sleepless Night

That night, I packed my things, clutching each piece of clothing, each memory, as my heart twisted. The image of our wedding flashed back: Tuan once held my hand, vowing to stay with me for life. But those vows had now turned to ashes.

I stayed awake, writing the divorce papers. My handwriting shook, but my decision was firm. Only one thought rang in my head: “I will not live in a house with a betrayer and a complicit mother-in-law.”

Facing the Morning

The next morning, I placed the divorce papers on the table. Tuan’s face drained of color when he saw them:
— “Are you insane? It’s not worth divorcing over this. I just… made a mistake.”

I sneered:
— “One mistake leads to another. You cheated, and your mother supports it. There’s no place for me in this house anymore.”

Mrs. Lan shouted:
— “Then divorce! My son has plenty of women. His mistress is young, strong, demands him every night, and will soon give me a grandson. As for you, staying only gets in the way.”

I turned to her, my voice cold:
— “You’re right—I may be barren. But at least I’m not barren of dignity. Keep your precious son. One day, you’ll realize that a man who betrays his wife can betray anyone—even his own mother.”

The Price to Pay

After the court ruling, I officially left that house. I rented a small apartment and started a new life. It was tough, but I felt free. No more enduring insults, no more living under contempt.

Tuan quickly went public with his mistress. Yes, she was young and passionate—but only a few months later, she grew tired of being tied to a man with nothing but an inflated ego. Soon, messages and photos of Tuan drunk, jealous, and pathetic spread online. He lost face, and his career crumbled.

At first, Mrs. Lan rejoiced, thinking she would finally have a grandson. But the mistress left before giving birth. She wasn’t foolish enough to shackle herself to a useless man and a bitter mother-in-law. Only then did Mrs. Lan realize that her dream of an heir was nothing but an illusion.

My Rebirth

I poured my energy into work. Eventually, I joined a community project supporting women struggling with infertility. There, I met others like me—we shared stories, comforted one another. Slowly, I understood: happiness doesn’t have to come from being someone’s daughter-in-law, or from bearing a child just to please others.

A year later, I adopted an orphaned little girl. Holding her in my arms, I felt my life open into a new chapter. Hearing her call me “Mom” in her tiny, imperfect voice meant more than all those empty vows of the past.