One reason could be jealousy. A person who is jealous of the wife's happy marriage or her status might try to blackmail her to create chaos in her life.
One reason could be for the child's betterment. For example, if the mom blackmailed the child to practice an instrument, it might be because she wants the child to develop a talent.
There could be a lack of proper education on appropriate behavior and boundaries in the school environment. If students don't understand the seriousness of blackmail and the harm it can cause, they may engage in such behavior. Additionally, if there are underlying tensions in the school, such as discrimination against lesbian students, it could be a form of retaliation by those students who feel oppressed.
The husband might lose a significant amount of money or assets. For example, if the wife blackmails him for financial gain, like in the case where she demands a large sum of money or property transfer. This could leave the husband in a difficult financial situation.
One reason could be a mistake the teacher made, like the wrong grading as in the previous example. Another could be some personal information or past event that the blackmailer got hold of, such as a teacher's past academic failure or an embarrassing photo from their youth.
Financial information can also be a cause. If a woman has a large inheritance or is involved in a big financial deal and someone gets hold of some details like her bank account numbers or some financial missteps she made in the past, they might blackmail her for money. It could also be related to her professional secrets. In a competitive workplace, if a woman has access to some key company information, rivals may try to blackmail her to get that information.
One reason could be lack of emotional connection in the marriage. If a wife feels unheard or unloved, she might be more prone to look elsewhere.
One reason could be stress. Maybe she has a lot on her plate at work or in her personal life, like taking care of an ill family member, which makes her seem cold.
Stress is a major factor. In many smoking wife stories, the wife is often dealing with a lot of stress, like managing a household, taking care of children, and working at the same time. Smoking gives her a momentary break from all that pressure.
Another ending could be that the wife finds a way to expose the blackmailer. Maybe she teams up with a detective friend or gathers enough evidence on her own. In this case, she not only gets out of the blackmail situation but also makes sure the blackmailer is punished for their actions. This is a more positive and empowering ending for the wife.
Greed could be one reason. If the son is money - hungry and knows his mom has something to hide, he might blackmail her for financial gain.