I was stunned when my husband, Chad, brought in a maid to “teach” me how to cook and clean like the perfect wife. Instead of fighting back, I went along with it. What Chad didn’t see coming was the lesson I had planned for him—one that flipped his grand plan upside down. I’m April, 32, juggling a full-time job, a hectic home, and a 34-year-old husband who’s recently decided he’s the expert on what a “perfect wife” should be. Chad and I both have demanding jobs: he’s in finance, always stressed about reports, while I’m in marketing, coming home mentally exhausted. You’d think we’d cut each other some slack, but lately, Chad’s expectations have been through the roof.

It all started after that unforgettable dinner at his boss Craig’s house. Craig’s wife, Jamie, welcomed us with a warm smile, wearing a pristine dress that probably cost more than my old rent. Her house?

Spotless. Not a speck of dust, not a cushion out of place. And don’t get me started on the five-course meal she served up like she was born with a chef’s knife in hand.

Chad couldn’t stop staring. “You see how Jamie keeps everything so tidy? Dinner’s ready the moment Craig walks in,” Chad said on the drive home, his voice dripping with admiration.

“You could learn a thing or two.”

I clenched my jaw, staring out the window to keep from snapping. But Chad wasn’t done. “Why don’t you try harder?