When I found out my husband was receiving monthly payments from my dad, I knew something was wrong. Little did I know that uncovering the truth would force me to confront the depths of manipulation and betrayal. What I discovered changed everything, leading to an ultimatum no one saw coming.
I was organizing my husband Matthew’s birthday party, arranging the balloons, and setting the cake on the table. The doorbell rang, and I called out to Matthew, “Can you get that? I’m a bit tied up here!”
Matthew nodded and walked to the door, opening it to reveal my father, Walter, standing there with his usual stiff demeanor. I watched from the kitchen, curiosity piqued, as Walter handed Matthew an envelope. Matthew accepted it, looking a bit surprised.
“Happy birthday, Matthew,” Walter said, his voice flat and formal.
“Thanks, Walter,” Matthew replied, taking the envelope and glancing at me. I caught the exchange from the corner of my eye, suspicion creeping in. Walter had never been generous. Hell, he never even bought me birthday gifts as a kid!
As the party went on, my mind kept drifting back to the envelope. What could be in it? Walter had handed it over like it was nothing.
I glimpsed Matthew slipping the envelope into his jacket pocket, his face unreadable. My curiosity turned into a gnawing worry.
When everyone had left and the house was quiet, I snooped around. In a drawer in Matthew’s desk, I found the envelope. Inside was $3,000 in cash. My heart skipped a beat. Why would my father give Matthew this much money? It didn’t make sense.
The next morning, I confronted Matthew.
“Why did my father give you $3,000?”
“It’s just a birthday gift, Hannah. Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he replied glibly.
I felt a surge of anger. “Three grand isn’t just a gift. Why would he give you that much money?”
Matthew’s nervous smile widened. “Maybe because men handle money better than women. He knows I’ll spend it well.”
I clenched my fists, biting back a retort. I waited until he was asleep, his soft snores filling the room, and then I crept out of bed. I grabbed his laptop and checked his email history. Nothing. No suspicious emails, no traces of transactions.
Frustrated, I decided to call my father. The phone rang twice before he picked up.
“Dad, why did you give Matthew $3,000?”
“Don’t be silly, Hannah. It was just a birthday card and fifty dollars.”
I gripped the phone tightly. “I saw the money, Dad. Why are you lying?”
Walter sighed heavily. “Hannah, it’s late. Go to sleep.”
The line went dead. I stood there, seething. Something was wrong, and I was determined to find out what.
Matthew and I stood together, ready to rebuild our marriage. It wouldn’t be easy, but we were stronger for having faced the truth. We vowed to move forward, free from the shadows of the past, and create a future based on mutual respect and genuine love.
What would you have done?