I think that your saying this to T is funny, until I heard how the story ends. Yikes. I'm not sure to make of why someone would not allow his workers to have water, but it does seem cruel.

The only thing I wonder about, and I suspect this is not the case from what is in the story, is that sometimes people, especially those who are in charge, are not the way they are at work when they are at home. They are almost not themselves at work, they take on a role and then act in accordance with that role. I know of a number of lawyers who are complete bullies and @sshats if you are on the opposing side in a legal case, but are really sweet guys in real life.

But to me the issue wouldn't necessarily be why you would marry a cruel person, but whether or how he was cruel to you, and how that affected you, and maybe how it still does.