Slowly, Ethan changed. The affection faded. Compliments turned into criticism. The man who once adored me became cold and distant. Instead of asking about my day, he pointed out what I had done wrong. The clean house and home-cooked meals I once took pride in became expectations, and anything less was unacceptable.
Whenever I tried to talk about how I felt, he brushed me off.
“You’re a housewife, Nancy,” he’d say with a smirk. “It’s not like you have a difficult life.”
Those words cut deeply, but I swallowed my pain. I told myself I had to be strong—for Lily. She deserved stability, even if it meant sacrificing my happiness.
Over time, I realized the man I loved no longer existed. Ethan treated me less like a partner and more like something to manage. Still, I stayed. I clung to the hope that things would somehow improve.
They never did.
Ethan’s criticism became constant. No matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. He always found something wrong.
“You missed a spot on the counter.”
“Why isn’t Lily ready for bed?”
“What do you even do all day?”
Each comment chipped away at my confidence. When I tried to defend myself, he accused me of making excuses.