My Temporary Wife at the Plant

After my wife went back home for childbirth, Lily Evans and I started living as a temporary couple.

Little did I know, something utterly shocking would happen—something that would shatter everything I believed in...

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My name is William Anderson. I’m thirty-two years old and work as a supervisor at an electronics manufacturing plant. Six months ago, my wife, Emily, got pregnant. We originally planned for her to return to our hometown when the baby was due, but her morning sickness was so severe that she needed someone to cook for her. Since I was too busy with work, I sent her back early.

The moment she left, I brought Lily Evans home to live with me temporarily. We became what you’d call a temporary couple.

This kind of arrangement isn’t uncommon at our factory. When people are far from home, it’s natural to crave companionship—both emotional and physical. I came here as an outsider too, starting as a regular worker. Through hard work, I eventually bought a house, a car, and built a family. I even got promoted to supervisor.

When I first met Lily, she had just arrived at the factory. I was drawn to her innocence and took care of her in every way. And she—well, she seemed to like being taken care of.

That day, I came home in high spirits, only to find Lily looking utterly devastated.

We’d been together for a while now. Though we weren’t real husband and wife, we’d never fought or even gotten upset with each other. Seeing her like this alarmed me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She shook her head but stayed silent. I grabbed her hands and shook them. “Tell me.”

She sat on the chair, her eyes hollow. After a long silence, she finally spoke in a trembling voice.

“He’s here.”

My mind went blank.

She had told me before—back in her hometown, she had a husband. An older man, a bachelor who had paid a hefty dowry to marry her. They’d held a wedding banquet but never registered the marriage. She never loved him. That’s why she left to work here.

By tradition, she belonged to his family. But legally, she was still free.

I stood by the table, where a large bowl of roasted pork knuckle sat steaming, its rich aroma filling the air. My thoughts raced—how could I make her stay?

“I have to go.”

Her words shattered me.

After all this time together, I still couldn’t compare to that bachelor.

I won’t pretend I’m a good man. I have a family, yet I sought comfort elsewhere. But my feelings for Lily were real. With Emily, it was different—she was a local, and being with her helped me settle here. It was more about convenience than love. Plus, her best friend was a high-ranking executive at the factory, which gave me stability.

I swayed on my feet, nearly knocking over the table. I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, trying to steady myself.

“Don’t go back with him,” I urged. “If you don’t want to leave, no one can force you.”

She turned to me, her gaze serious. “But he’s been working for my family without complaint. He even gives my parents money.”