It started with an odd request from my husband, Jake, during dinner—he wanted me to pay all the bills so he could save for our “future.” At first, I thought it was a joke, but then he explained it casually, expecting me to cover rent, utilities, and groceries while he saved for a house, car, and kids.
Days later, I received a phone call from a woman named Anna, who claimed to be Jake’s girlfriend. She said he couldn’t afford a downtown apartment because I was using his money. She insulted me, saying I was holding him back.
I began to question everything. Jake’s sudden secrecy and his proposal seemed odd. I decided to dig into his life and found out Anna wasn’t lying. Jake was using me to fund his life with her.
I began secretly preparing my move. I drained our savings, canceled utilities, and planned to move into a smaller apartment—without him. When Jake found out, his shock was palpable. I informed him I had moved the savings into my account as fair compensation for everything I had done for him.
As I walked out, I couldn’t help but laugh at the mess he had created. A few weeks later, Jake was couch surfing, and Anna had dumped him once she realized the money was gone.
In the end, I felt free and ready to build my own future—without him.
