Chapter 4
Chapter 4
He stared at the page, so I continued reading the harsh truth. “Our total monthly household running cost is fifty-five hundred dollars, Gareth.”
Gareth froze instantly, his hands trembling slightly against the paper. “That is simply impossible.”
“It is completely accurate,” I replied smoothly. “And you only deposit eighteen hundred dollars into this account every month.”
His face drained of color, not out of shock at the expenses, but because his long-standing bluff had finally been called out.
“Well, I just assumed you were managing things properly,” Gareth stammered nervously. “I suppose I can contribute another two hundred dollars a month if necessary.”
Our monthly shortfall was nearly thirty-seven hundred dollars, and he was offering a pathetic two hundred extra.
Gertrude wandered into the kitchen right then, having overheard our tense conversation from the hallway. “Gareth, that large inheritance check your father left behind is still safely stored in your private account, right?”
Gareth tensed up visibly, his posture stiffening. “Yes, Mom, of course it is.”
His answer came way too fast, and as a trained accountant, I was experts at spotting lies concealed behind hesitant answers. When Gareth’s father passed away years ago, Gareth handled all the insurance paperwork himself, and Gertrude had been firmly convinced that a massive fund was sitting untouched for her future elderly care.
A few days later, I confronted Gareth in his home office when we were completely alone. “How much money is actually left from your father’s life insurance payout?”
Gareth glared at me defensively. “Why is that any of your business?”
“Because your mother fully believes that money is sitting in a vault for her future,” I stated clearly. “If it is still there, just show me the official bank statement.”
Gareth slammed his heavy fist onto the wooden desk between us. “I do not have to show you a single document in this house!”
That explosive moment was the true end of my marriage, not because of his raised voice, but because of the terrifying clarity it gave me. I was expected to pay the bills, cook the meals, raise the kids, nurse his mother, and cover his massive financial deficits, yet I had zero right to ask for basic honesty.
That night, I retained a top family lawyer named Samantha, and I located a beautiful three-bedroom apartment located within the exact same school district for my kids. The rent was high, but it was still far less than the massive sum I spent keeping Gareth’s household afloat every month.
On November eighth, I cooked my children’s favorite dinner, and once everyone finished eating, Gareth immediately turned on the television in the adjoining room.
“Gareth, please turn off the TV because we need to talk right now,” I said calmly.
“My favorite sports game is starting,” Gareth dismissed without turning around.
May you like
I slowly untied my apron and set it down. “I am filing for a divorce.”
Chloe froze with her cup halfway to her mouth, Paige stopped breathing for a second, and Gertrude gasped in deep surprise. Gareth took several seconds to process my words before turning around with a bitter sneer.
