“I always believed that my marriage to Linda was based on trust and love. We’d been together six years and married for three. She was my rock through thick and thin, and I assumed I was hers. But occasionally the things you least expect can turn your life upside down.” “It all started on a quiet evening when I observed Linda acting peculiar. We were watching television, and she kept looking at her phone nervously, as if she was waiting for something. When she excused herself to take a call in the other room, I became curious. It was the third time she had done it in a week, and it was out of character.”
“When she returned, I casually inquired who it was. She brushed it aside, saying it was only her friend Samantha who needed assistance. I wanted to believe her, but something seemed odd. That night, while she slept, I lay awake with a mounting sensation of anxiety. “What was she hiding?” He decided to check her phone, and what he saw startled him.”A few days later, while Linda was out grocery shopping, I took the opportunity to check her phone. I knew it was a breach of trust, yet I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something was off. The chat thread with Samantha was simple enough, but then I came across a series of bank transaction notifications.”
“Every month, Linda received a money from my father’s account. I was stunned. The amounts varied but were substantial, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. These payments have been ongoing for many years, virtually from the start of our relationship. Why would my father send money to my wife? My imagination raced through a hundred different scenarios, each one more worrisome than the previous.”
“I decided to confront my father first. He lived approximately an hour away, in the house where I was raised. “I drove there, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and suspicion.””Dad, I need to ask you something,” I replied, attempting to maintain a steady voice. He looked up, a surprised expression on his face. I took a deep breath. “Why have you been sending money to Linda every month?”
“His face turned pale, and he finally admitted, ‘It’s time you learned, but you should sit down. For three years, we’ve been surreptitiously paying Linda’s bills. A few years back, she approached me. She intended to break up with you. She was overwhelmed by her school debts and did not want to bring you into her financial quagmire. She felt it was only fair to terminate things. “My mind reeled.” Linda, are you thinking of leaving me? It was like a punch in the belly.”
“I knew you liked her and would be crushed if she went. So I struck a deal with her: I promised to help her pay off her student debts if she stayed with you. I started paying her monthly payments, expecting to provide her the financial stability she needed to stay in the relationship,’ he said””I felt a surge of rage, betrayal, and disbelief. He bribed her into staying with me. “It wasn’t a bribe,” he replied swiftly. “I saw it as an opportunity for her to clear her mind and focus on your relationship without the weight of her obligations. I thought it was benefiting both of you.”
“I stood up abruptly, unable to hear anymore. “You manipulated my marriage, Dad. You purchased her loyalty. “How could you think that would help?” “Leaving him there, looking crushed and forlorn, I went home in a haze. Linda was in the living room when I rushed through the door, her expression expressing immediate anxiety.” “I know about the money,” I responded, my voice shaking. “My dad told me everything.”
“Linda’s face turned white. She collapsed into the couch, tears streaming down her cheeks.””I never intended to hurt you. I was terrified and overwhelmed by my debt. I wasn’t sure what to do. Your father’s offer seemed like a lifeline. “I thought I could make it work, that I could love you without feeling bad about my financial situation,” she added, her voice shaking.
“‘You were about to abandon me. And instead of talking to me, you struck a deal with my father? “You built our marriage on a lie,” I murmured, the reality sinking in. “I believed I was protecting you. I figured if I could just get through it, we’d be fine. But I was mistaken. “I should have trusted you and been honest from the beginning,’ she sobbed.”
“Her words hung in the air, leaving a crushing quiet behind them. I couldn’t look at her; I couldn’t connect my feelings of love with the betrayal I was experiencing. The days that followed were a whirl of agony and introspection. I couldn’t shake the sense of betrayal from both Linda and my father. “With heavy heart, I filed for divorce. It was the most difficult decision I’ve ever made. What would you have done in my position?