I couldn’t believe it when my husband, River, hired a maid to “teach” me how to cook and clean like the perfect wife. Instead of arguing, I smiled and played along. What he didn’t expect was the lesson I had ready—one that flipped his fantasy upside down.
I’m Willow, 32, juggling a full-time marketing job, a busy home, and a 34-year-old husband suddenly convinced he knew exactly what makes an “ideal wife.”
River’s obsession started after dinner at his boss’s house. Hazen’s wife, Dahlia, was flawless—every dish plated perfectly, every surface spotless. On the drive home, River gushed, “You could learn a few things from her.”
From that day on, every comment from him was about perfection: “Dahlia bakes fresh bread. Dahlia keeps the house immaculate. Why can’t we be like that?” Meanwhile, he left socks on the floor and dishes in the sink.
Then came the maid. Poppy arrived one evening, apron on, mop in hand, clearly confused. River folded his arms proudly. “She’ll show you how it’s done.”
I swallowed my rage, smiled, and whispered to Poppy, “We’ll give him exactly what he wants—and more.”
Continue reading on the next page…