The wife accused of being “kept” who gave an unexpected lesson to her husband and mother-in-law.
“You know what, my dear?” My mother is right. You’re a maintained, get to work! Gaston shouted, banging on the table with such force that the spoon jumped and clinked against the plate.
Andrea was paralyzed. I didn’t know what to answer. Inside his head boiled a mixture of rage, pain and bewilderment.
Maintained, he thought.
She was the one who paid the mortgage, water, electricity, gas and even Gastón’s cell phone with the interest on her savings. The same one who washed, cooked, cleaned and made sure that the home was comfortable and warm.
Andrea’s decision
Before getting married, Andrea had dreamed of being a housewife. He had worked enough to raise a good sum at the age of 33 and, with that, he gave up his career to dedicate himself to the home. Gastón, seven years younger than her, married more for convenience than for love.
But that night, her comment pushed her to act.
“Okay, love,” Andrea said calmly. “So, do you think I’m a maintained?”
Gastón, uncomfortable, only managed to say:
“It’s just that the money is not enough. You are always at home and I am working.
– So, the problem is not me… it’s you. Andrea stared at him.
Without adding more, she took her bag, went out and ordered a taxi.
The unexpected plan
“Where are you going?” Gastón managed to ask, nervously.
“To get money,” she replied calmly before closing the door.
Inside the taxi, Andrea thought about the irony of the situation: she had bought an additional apartment and had temporarily given it to her mother-in-law, Laura, to fulfill her dream of moving to the city. And now, that same woman vouched for her daughter-in-law to be a “burden.”
Ten minutes later, Andrea entered a real estate agency. There she signed a contract to rent the apartment in which her mother-in-law lived.
The confrontation with the mother-in-law
When she returned to the apartment, Laura opened the door in a robe and with rollers.
— Andrea, what happened? You didn’t even warn us. Everything is fine?
Andrea, bluntly, said to her:
“Mrs. Laura, your time here is over. Tomorrow this house will be rented.
The woman was shocked, unable to react. Andrea called a locksmith and, in a matter of minutes, they began to change the locks.
“What are you doing?” Laura exclaimed.
“Ensuring the future of my family,” Andrea replied, while the locksmith worked without pause.
The truth uncovered
When Andrea returned home, Gastón was outraged.
— How could you? Did you take my mother out on the street?
“No,” she replied firmly. I just optimized expenses and found a way to increase revenue.
Andrea made it clear that, if money was as scarce as he said, they would have to live with austerity: no beers or outings, walking to work and bringing homemade food instead of having lunch in cafes.
Gastón could not stand the new “adjustments”.
The outcome
Laura, desperate, tried to call several relatives, but no one wanted to receive her. Eventually, he had no choice but to return to his home in the village.
Gastón, unable to accept Andrea’s decisions, left shortly after, leaving the relationship behind.
Andrea, although she was alone, breathed easy. No one ever called her “maintained” again.
What do we learn from this story?
That the person who supports the home in silence should never be underestimated or humiliated. Respect and recognition are the foundation of a healthy relationship. And, above all, that when someone dares to set limits, they recover their dignity and peace, even if it means being alone.
👉 Follow our page, like 👍, and share this post. Every click can make a difference—perhaps saving your own life or that of a loved one.