A British millionaire who divorced his ex-wife and moved his new girlfriend into the house while she was still living there couldn't understand why she became "so aggressive" when he asked if she would work as his housekeeper.

The couple, whose names were withheld from British press because it was a private family court matter, were married in the late 1970s and divorced in the 90s.

Despite officially divorcing, the two continued to live in the same home until about five years ago, when the man moved his new girlfriend and her 12-year-old daughter into the house.

At that point, the man apparently asked his fifty-something ex-wife if she would continue living in the house in a new role — his housekeeper.

According to reports, "he could not come to terms with why she, through her lawyers, had become so aggressive."

On Wednesday, a judge ruled she was entitled to about $8 million — half of her ex-husbands estate.

The judge ruled that there was "no distinction" between the couple's life before and after the divorce and that she should receive more than £6 million.

[image via Shutterstock]