A Week After We Moved in Together,

A week after our honeymoon, I was still blissfully settling into our new home when Derek handed me a surprise: a frilly apron and a long black dress he called a “house uniform.” He claimed it was a family tradition, but I was stunned. I’d worked hard to build my career and had no interest in becoming a stereotypical housewife.

To make a point, I played along—putting on the outfit and embracing the role with over-the-top cheerfulness, even calling him “sir.” Derek grew visibly uncomfortable, especially when I greeted his coworkers in full attire during a dinner at our place. After they left, he confronted me, accusing me of embarrassing him. Calmly, I reminded him that I was simply living out the role he’d set with his so-called tradition. I made it clear I wouldn’t wear the apron again—I wasn’t his maid, and he needed to rethink his outdated expectations.

The next day, Derek came home shaken—he’d been called into HR about comments he’d made reflecting his “traditional values.” I took the opportunity to declare my independence and shared my plans to find remote work. As I tucked the apron into the back of the closet, I felt empowered—I had stood my ground and reclaimed my voice.