My 17-year-old stepson is disrespectful to me and frequently demands money. I was fed up and ultimately refused. “You’ll regret this,” he said with a chuckle. I couldn’t get rid of the creepy feeling and proceeded to investigate his room. When I lifted his mattress, my blood ran cold.

To my horror, I discovered a stack of receipts and internet orders, all paid to my credit card. Expensive sneakers, gaming consoles, and even meal deliveries that I never authorized. He had been secretly utilizing my information to pay his lifestyle.

I addressed him instantly. Initially, he denied everything, but when I gave him the proof, he simply shrugged. “You’ll get over it,” he replied. That was the final straw. I told him he needed to live with his mother because I couldn’t continue to support someone who disrespected me or my home. My husband was apprehensive at first, but after seeing the amount of the charges, he consented.

My stepson is enraged right now. He accuses me of “ruining his life,” and my spouse feels horrible about sending him away. The tension in our home is awful, and I feel like the bad guy for setting boundaries. I don’t regret protecting myself, but I’m not sure how to resolve the situation without further dividing the family.
I need advice. How can I deal with this without losing my husband’s support?