At 30 years old, and currently eight and a half months into my pregnancy, I've had to take a break from work. Normally, I earn notably more than my husband, who is the same age and works at a local firm. We get along well with most of his colleagues, except for one particular woman, who is 24 years old. She hasn't earned the nickname but often insists she's like my husband's "work wife". This woman previously tried to critique my career driven nature, accusing me of trying to overshadow my husband, which he promptly dismissed.

Additionally, since I've been pregnant and out of work, she commented quite unnecessarily that I appear "too thin for a pregnant woman", insinuating underweight issues although I'm at a perfectly healthy pregnancy weight. Her remarks seem tinged with jealousy, perhaps disappointed that I hadn't ballooned past her own physique. She's also suggested that I'm "too old" for pregnancy, which she's done subtly as if to appear concerned rather than critical.

The incident that really stands out happened at a garden party hosted by my husband’s boss, where I was also invited. During the event, my husband commented on how refreshing his gin and tonic was. It's a favorite of mine, so I took a brief sip from his drink. That's when I noticed "work wife" staring intently. She approached quickly, launching into a lecture about fetal alcohol syndrome. I explained it was a small sip, but she persisted, questioning my judgment to the point where my husband had to step in and reassure her it was no harm.

Her response was shockingly rude; she told me if I wanted to "kill my baby," I should consider an abortion. This left everyone around, including my husband, utterly speechless. Reacting instinctively, I told her off quite bluntly to mind her own affairs. Although whispered, my reaction seemed both fitting and necessary under the circumstances.

Since then, she has bombarded my husband with offensive emails, dozens of calls, and numerous voicemails, which have escalated to the point where he reported her to HR; she resigned shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, her unrelenting contact persists, pushing us to block multiple accounts. Her behavior raises genuine concerns for her mental stability, and despite everything, I can't help feeling slightly guilty for possibly exacerbating her issues.

If this scenario unfolded in the setting of a reality show, the dramatic escalation at the garden party would likely have been highlighted with strategic camera focus, possibly making me a sympathetic figure or, depending on editing, portraying me as overly defensive. The reaction from audiences would swing broadly based on their perception, potentially dividing viewers into camps of support or criticism over my blunt response.

Am I in the wrong for reacting the way I did, or was my response justified given her invasive and inappropriate commentary?

Stories in the same category