The Wife He Left Behind

Chapter 01

Emily Lane and Daniel Shaw had known each other since college, but they didn’t get together until after graduation.

Daniel came from a pretty average background. He had a younger brother close in age, and his parents didn’t have much to offer. Emily, on the other hand, was an only child, raised with care and love, even if her family wasn’t particularly wealthy or influential.

There were plenty of young men around her father’s circle—sons of doctors, lawyers, businessmen—who were all objectively “better matches” than Daniel. But love, as they say, doesn’t follow logic. Emily’s parents eventually gave in to her choice.

They got married with little fanfare. No lavish dowry, no big house—just a rented apartment and a promise whispered on their wedding night.

“I swear,” Daniel held her close and said, “I’ll give you a good life. One day, your parents will be proud they gave you to me.”

Back then, with her head resting on his chest, Emily believed him with all her heart.

In 2008, when the price of construction materials and steel tanked, everyone was scrambling to build their own little dream houses. Emily and Daniel worked themselves to the bone, doing drywall, painting bare concrete walls just to make a buck.

Sure, the real money was in full-scale renovations, but they started small—just the two of them, learning from DIY videos late at night, taking notes on construction forums. Exhausting? Absolutely. But back then, life was hard in all the right ways.

With time, good reviews and word-of-mouth brought them clients. They hired a few hands, kept their crew small, but by the end of the year, they sat on their couch doing the math—and yes, they’d actually turned a profit.

They laughed. Then cried. And laughed again. That kind of joy hits different when you’ve earned every cent of it.

By the third year, they’d bought a modest house—not fancy, but theirs. Every inch of it was built with sweat and sacrifice.

That winter, Daniel accompanied Emily to her parents’ for the holidays. He took her father’s hand, looked him straight in the eye and said,
“Sir, thank you for trusting me with your daughter. I promise, I’ll take care of her, always.”

Business kept growing. The crew expanded. Things were finally falling into place. Emily was approaching her thirties, and with that came the conversation about kids.

Daniel suggested she stay home and take it easy for a while. He’d handle the business. She’d done enough; it was time to enjoy life a little.

Daniel’s mother, Mrs. Shaw, caught wind of their baby plans and immediately went full grandma-mode—dropping by with bone broth, herbal supplements, organic vitamins.

But life, as it always does, had other plans.

Mrs. Shaw slipped on a rainy day and injured her back. At first, Daniel and Emily discussed hiring a nurse to help her during the hospital stay, then relying on Mr. Shaw once she returned home.

Easy enough, right?

Wrong.

The reality was a lot messier. Mrs. Shaw was reserved and shy—if the nurse didn’t ask, she wouldn’t speak up. Too embarrassed to say she needed to use the bathroom. More than once, Emily and Daniel found her soiled and humiliated when they visited.

Seeing Daniel’s pained expression, Emily made a decision. They’d put the baby plans on hold. She would personally help care for his mother.

And she did—without complaint.

Everyone at the hospital noticed. “That woman’s mother-in-law hit the jackpot,” one old man whispered. “Not just a good son—but a daughter-in-law who actually gives a damn.”

When Mrs. Shaw was discharged, she still struggled to walk. Emily took on everything—cooking, cleaning, helping her bathe, managing appointments. She became the heart of the household, holding it all together.

Thanks to her, Daniel could travel for work for days at a time and never worry about what he’d come home to. She had it handled—every time.

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