THE MAID I HIRED WAS ALREADY MARRIED TO MY HUSBAND

My husband never told me that our new maid was, in fact, his wife. We had promised to love each other and be faithful to the end.
We never had disputes. No suspicion. No secrets… or so I thought.
Jude, my husband, was the kind of man I had prayed for. Calm, attentive and always concerned about my well-being.

He never raised his voice. He never made me feel alone.
And whenever I talked about it with my friends or colleagues, I did it with pride.
“Jude is different,” he always said.
“If all men were like him, half of us women wouldn’t have gray hair so early.”
My friends smiled and said, “You’re lucky. Men like Jude are rare.”

Jude and I had our little routines: morning prayers, afternoon walks, late-night chats.
He was always attentive. Even when I was a little stressed about jutting work and home, I could tell right away.
One afternoon, he took my hand gently and said, “Honey, I’ve been saying it… we really need a maid. I don’t like to see you so stressed. We need someone to ease the burden a bit.”
I sighed and shook my head.

“No, Jude. I can handle it. I’m not complaining. Besides, I don’t feel comfortable having strangers in the house.”
But he didn’t give up. “It is not weakness to accept help. I just want you to rest, that’s all.”
Seeing the concern in his eyes and hearing the sincerity in his voice, I sighed again and said, “Okay… only for a while.”
Just to ease things up. Just to rest.

So I accepted. We would get a maid, someone who would stay for a few months. Nothing serious.
The following weekend, Jude said he would travel to town. He told me that he knew someone, a distant relative, who could help us find a good girl.
I didn’t think much about it.

Until the moment he returned.
She was sitting in the living room, drinking a glass of cold juice, waiting for them.
When the door opened, I smiled softly, expecting to see a shy teenager from the village. But what I saw made my heart jump.
Behind my husband was a stunning young woman, with fair skin, bold eyes, and curly hair.

She was not a rookie. She looked composed… too composed.
And the moment our eyes met, her smile froze. Just for a second.
I looked at Jude.
He looked at her…
Then he looked back at me.
“This is Milca,” he said. “She’ll stay with us.”
Something didn’t fit.
But then again… I had no reason to question it. I felt like he knew what was best for me, for us.
I got up, received her properly, and took her to the guest room.
“Make yourself at home,” I told him. “You’re going to love this place so much that you won’t want to leave. I will pay you every 24th of every month.”
As I was about to leave the room, something caught my attention, a wedding ring on her finger.
I almost asked her if she was married. But I restrained myself. Instead, I told myself I’d ask Jude later.
That afternoon, while we were together in the garden, I cleared my throat and asked,
“Honey, don’t you think Milca looks a little old for a maid?”
He smiled.
“Too old? Don’t pay attention to their appearance, some people just look older than they are.”
Then I said,
“I saw a wedding ring on your finger. Is she married?”
He laughed and replied,
“Married? Would I bring somebody’s wife here? You know how these village girls are, they just wear rings like that, for no reason.”
I nodded slowly… But deep down, she wasn’t completely satisfied.

For the first two days, she did everything normally.
But on the third day, something changed.
That afternoon, I returned from work before my husband. When I arrived, I noticed Milca walking towards the front door. His face was serious, and he couldn’t tell what he thought.
He stood there, arms crossed, eyes fixed on me… As if I had been waiting for this moment.

Sorry! Just so you know, I’m not a maid! Be clear, I have the same rights in this house as you!
His voice resounded loud, he didn’t even let me get to the door before exploding.
I froze, my purse still slung over my shoulder. She had come home excited, I even bought her a couple of dresses. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.
I looked around. Was he talking to someone else?

But no one was there. Just her. And I.
I narrowed my eyes. “Milca? Are you ok? Who exactly are you talking to?”
She took two firm steps forward. “You, of course. Who else? For two days I have been silent, observing everything in this house. But that doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”
I blinked, surprised. “What?… What are you saying?”
She raised her voice again, her finger pointing at my face.

“May today be the last day that you tell me ‘do this, do that’. I’m not here to serve you.”
I shouted, “Excuse me?! You are crazy?! How dare you talk to me like that?! Do I look like your playmate?!”

She smiled slyly and rolled her eyes, “I told you already, I’m NOT a maid! This house is also mine. From now on, responsibilities will be shared equally. You do your part, I’ll do mine. No offense, and if you have a problem with that… Then pack your things and go.”
Before he could say a word, she turned around and walked into the living room as if nothing had happened. She sat down as if she owned the place. He crossed his legs, put a piece of gum in his mouth, and began to chew noisily, staring at the television.
I stood there, stunned. My eyes were wide open, my lips trembling.
Was he dreaming?
A maid? Speaking to me with such audacity? Telling me to leave? At my own husband’s house?
This had to be a joke. A very bad one.
I approached her furiously. “Who do you think you are?! You know what? Today will be your last day in this house. You are going to your village, or wherever you came from. You hear me? Stupid girl!”
She rose, her expression darkening.
“What did you just call me?” he asked coldly. “This should be the last time you open your mouth to insult me, if you try again, you won’t like what happens next.”
I couldn’t believe it.
“Milca, enough! Go inside, pack your things, and leave! I don’t care if you have to walk! Just go, before I completely lose my patience!”
She clapped her hands slowly and laughed.
“Are you talking to me or to yourself?” she said. “This house also belongs to me. Make it clear… and have peace.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and dialed Jude.
This nonsense had already gone too far. I had to go back. I needed him to explain. Who was this woman? And why did she talk as if she owned everything? One thing was clear, Milca had to go. I wasn’t going to back down. Not today! Not in my own home!
The phone rang.

Once.
Twice.
He did not answer.

Meanwhile, she kept chewing her gum, smiling as if it was all a joke.
I dialed again.

This time, he answered.
“Jude,” I said, my voice trembling. “You need to come home. Now.”

The maid I hired was already married to my husband

The call was abruptly cut off. My pulse pounded in my wrists as I stared at the phone, waiting to hear his voice. Jude used to be my refuge, the man I trusted, the one who was always there when I needed him. But now, after what had just happened, I felt more lost than ever.

My thoughts were rushing together, crashing into each other, and every time I tried to sort out what I felt, everything seemed confusing, even unreal. How was it possible that Jude had brought this girl, Milca, to our house? And, what’s worse, why hadn’t she told me she was married to him? The pain of betrayal gnawed at my soul.

I heard the sound of Jude’s car pulling into the garage. I got up quickly, almost without thinking. I had to face him. I had to know the truth, although the fear of what I might hear paralyzed me.

When he walked in, the first thing I noticed was the look on his face. He was tense, nervous, as if he didn’t know how to start the conversation. Milca, who was already in the room, stood up when she saw him, showing a smile that did not reach her eyes.

“Jude, please… Explain it,” I said, my voice trembling, but firm. I couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

Jude closed the door behind him and walked slowly over. I could see the guilt in his eyes, but also something else, something I couldn’t understand. He looked at Milca, then he looked at me, and then he spoke, his voice low.

“Margaret, I want you to know that I didn’t mean for all of this to get out of control,” he began, but I interrupted him, no longer able to contain my anger.

“No, Jude! How could you bring her here without telling me anything? And why didn’t you tell me you were married to her? How could you lie to your wife like this?!”

Milca walked up to him and put her hand on his arm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Jude, honey, please… enough of shouting. You’re just doing worse,” he said in a soft voice, but somehow more defiant than conciliatory.

What blew me up was that word: “Honey.” At that moment, everything he had feared became real. She wasn’t just a maid. She wasn’t just a friend. She was his wife. And in that instant, everything I had built with Jude collapsed before my eyes.

“Is she your wife?” I asked, my words colder than ice. “Why did you never tell me?”

Jude was silent for a moment. I saw that he struggled to find the right words, but he couldn’t find them. Milca, who had remained silent until that moment, stepped forward.

“Why are you asking now, Margaret?” he said, his tone contemptuous. “Have you noticed that your dear husband doesn’t need you anymore? See, now you have to share it. Does that bother you?”

Anger began to boil inside me, but something else stopped me. Something about the way she spoke, the arrogance in her voice, the way she stood as if she was in complete control of the situation made me realize something even more sinister: this wasn’t just a treacherous wife. There was something else hiding in the shadows of it all.

“This is enough!” I shouted, finally. “If you really loved me, Jude, you wouldn’t have put me through this. You wouldn’t have slept with another woman under my roof and hidden it from me. You wouldn’t have brought him here to me, humiliating me like this.”

Jude tried to get closer to me, but I pushed him away with my hand. “No, Jude. I don’t want you to touch me. Not now. I need to know the truth. Tell me everything.”

It was then that Milca intervened again. “Enough is enough, Margaret,” he said with a malevolent smile. “What good is your scandal now? You have nothing left! I’m expecting a child from your husband, and you can’t change that. If you keep resisting, you’ll end up losing everything. The house is ours now.”

My head turned, Milca’s words pierced my thoughts. My heart stopped beating for a moment. She was pregnant with Jude.

That was what hit me the hardest. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think clearly. Something inside me broke. How had all this gotten so far? Why didn’t I see the signs?

In a sigh, I said to Jude, looking painfully in his eyes, “I don’t want to live here anymore. I no longer want to live with a man who has betrayed me in this way. I’m leaving.”

Jude quickly approached, trying to stop me, but I pulled away firmly. “No, Jude. I don’t want you to touch me. You don’t need me. And if you stay with her, then please don’t look for me anymore. There is no turning back.”

I left the house, heartbroken, but with a determination I had never felt before. I had to free myself from this lie.

When I reached the door, I looked back. Jude stood there, watching me go, his face full of pain and regret. But it was too late.

I got in the car and drove to nowhere in particular. I just needed to get out. I needed space.

My heart was pounding, but there was also something inside me that told me that this wasn’t over yet. I don’t know what the future holds, but I knew I couldn’t stay in that place. Not with him. Not with her.

And in my mind, a single word resonated strongly: freedom.

From that moment on, everything would be different.

The maid I hired was already married to my husband

I drove through the streets aimlessly, the sun was beginning to set and the city seemed distant. Everything inside me screamed to escape reality, to free myself from the betrayal that had broken my heart. My mind, still processing what had just happened, could not find a silver lining. How had he gotten to this point?

Milca’s words kept echoing in my head, and although I knew that her presence in the house was a threat, something told me that there was still more to discover. Milca’s pregnancy… that was the real bomb, the trigger for everything. How could Jude have gotten to that point? How could he have deceived me for so long and had a hidden life while telling me that he loved me?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my phone. I looked at the name on the screen: Jude.

I let it ring several times, I didn’t want to answer. I didn’t want to hear his empty explanations. I didn’t want to hear how I was going to justify everything I had done. But finally, after a few minutes, I decided to answer.

“What do you want?” I said, my voice tense and broken.

“Margaret, please listen. I need to talk to you. Jude’s voice sounded tired, as if he was struggling to find the right words.

I was silent for a moment, biting my lips, fighting back tears that threatened to fall. I couldn’t believe that, despite everything I’d been through, I still felt vulnerable to him.

“Talk about what, Jude?” I replied coldly, as I took a curve aimlessly. “I don’t know what else to say. How can you explain to me that you bring your wife to live in our house, under my roof? That you have hidden all this for so long?”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. I felt his breath shorten, as if he was looking for an excuse that even he couldn’t find himself.

“Margaret, this… This was not what I imagined. His voice sounded sincere, but I couldn’t believe him. — Milca… she… It’s not just the maid. She is my wife. Yes, it’s true. I married her when we couldn’t have children, but everything changed when you came into my life. What I didn’t tell you is that, no matter how much I failed, I chose you. You are my true wife. My life with you is what I want.

Jude’s words hit me like a hammer. My real wife? So what had all this lie, this façade, been with Milca? A game? A mistake he couldn’t get rid of?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I said between my teeth, struggling not to sob. “Why hide all this and get into this madness?” I don’t care if you’re her husband, Jude. What hurts me is that you have broken our trust, our promise. I can’t stay here, not with her. Not under this roof.

“Margaret, I can’t explain everything right now, but I want you to give me a chance to talk to you. I promise you that the truth is more complicated than it seems. Milca is here, yes, but she is part of the past. You are my future. Please don’t leave me.

My mind was foggy, but something in his tone told me that there was more that I didn’t understand. However, my pride, my pain, and the sense of betrayal were stronger than anything else. I couldn’t stay there, in that circle of lies and manipulations.

“I can’t, Jude. Not anymore. “My voice was firmer than ever. “The best thing for everyone, especially for me, is for you and Milca to stay in that house. I’ll go. I don’t want to be here anymore.

I hung up the phone, not waiting for his answer. Somehow, I felt like I had done well, that I had made the right decision, even though my heart was broken. I headed towards Caro’s house. I couldn’t be alone with all those thoughts, with all that pain. I needed a safe place.

When I arrived at Caro’s house, he welcomed me with open arms, no questions, only understanding. We spent the rest of the night talking, or rather, I talked while she listened to me. The hours went by quickly, and even though I didn’t have all the answers, at least I felt like I was taking the first steps toward healing.

The next day was more difficult than the day before.

The next morning, I decided I had to face what was coming. Jude had called me several times, but I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what I wanted to hear from him. I didn’t know what else could be said.

Finally, I gathered my courage and decided to return home, for my things, for the place that had been our home for so many years. The last thing I wanted was to face Jude and Milca, but I knew it: I had to do it.

When I entered the house, the atmosphere was heavy, laden with unspoken words. Milca was in the kitchen, preparing something. Seeing me, his expression froze for a moment, as if he knew what was coming.

Jude appeared out of nowhere, his eyes full of regret.

“Margaret, please listen to me,” he said, slowly approaching.

But before I could go any further, I raised my hand to shut him up.

“Jude, that’s enough. I don’t want to listen anymore. You’ve lied to me and I’m not going to stay here any longer.

Milca appeared behind him, like a shadow. His smile was venomous.

“Did you really believe that you could keep us apart?” He said, looking at Jude as if it were all a game.

My heart was completely broken, but I wasn’t going to allow this woman, who had no right over my life, to speak to me like that.

– You’re leaving, Milca. I said, firmly, looking at Jude sadly. – Go away. And you, Jude… I can no longer continue with someone who has lied to me so much. Don’t let me be an option.

I left the house without looking back, determined to rebuild my life. I felt stronger than I had felt in a long time. I knew the road would be long, but at least this time, it would be my path.

The future was in my hands, and this time I wouldn’t let anyone destroy it.