I was halfway to my mother-in-law’s house with freshly baked lasagna when my lawyer’s frantic call changed everything. “Go back home. NOW,” she shouted.
What I walked into that night exposed the ugly sides of two of the closest people in my life. I used to think my life was pretty stable. As a finance executive with a well-paying job, I had the kind of independence I’d always wanted.
My bills were paid, my fridge was full, and I could afford little luxuries here and there. It felt like I had everything under control until the day I discovered the truth about my husband, Matt. That day, my carefully built life crumbled in ways I never saw coming.
Matt and I met eight years ago during a hiking trip organized by mutual friends. He was the kind of man who could charm a room without even trying. I remember how his easy smile made everyone laugh, even as we trudged up steep trails.
By the time the weekend ended, I was sure I’d just met one of the most intriguing people in my life. But we didn’t start dating right away. For two years, we stayed friends, texting back and forth, occasionally meeting for coffee, and sharing bits of our lives.
Matt was always fun to be around, even if I noticed a stubborn streak in him. He had this knack for insisting things go his way, whether it was the restaurant we picked for lunch or the plans we made for a weekend. I chalked it up to his confident personality and let it slide.
After all, nobody’s perfect. Three years after that hiking trip, Matt and I got married. I thought we were ready for the next step, even if our friendship-turned-relationship had hiccups.
Sure, he could be frustrating at times, especially concerning money. He’d often borrow small amounts from me, promising to pay me back after his next paycheck. Honestly, I didn’t mind helping him out.
I told myself it was part of building a future together. But marriage brought out a different side of Matt, and I wasn’t prepared for it. Slowly, I realized his mother, Linda, played an outsized role in his life.
She was fiercely protective of Matt. It often felt like I was competing with her for his attention. And Matt?
He’d always side with his mother whenever there was a conflict. I hated how he’d always brush off my concerns as overreactions. Once, when I asked him why he prioritized her opinions over mine, he said, “She’s my mom, Demi.
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