When Olivia receives a $2,500 bonus, she thinks her hard work is finally paying off. But her joy turns to shock when she notices her mother-in-law showing off a brand new iPhone — the very one her unemployed husband secretly bought with Olivia’s money! Now Olivia is preparing a lesson he will remember for a long time…
When Aaron was courting me, he was attentive, hard-working and kind. I felt like the happiest woman in the world when he proposed to me!
But as soon as we returned from our honeymoon, he began to change before my very eyes.
At first, it was little things. He started skipping our dates to play video games. He ‘forgot’ to wash the dishes, leaving them to pile up in the sink for days. Then our morning coffee ritual disappeared.
A year before the wedding, he would wake me up every morning with a cup of coffee, a gentle hug and a silly joke. It was one of many small gestures of care that made me feel loved.
But three years later, I couldn’t remember the last time he did something nice just to see me smile.
Now, looking back, I realise I should have talked to him sooner. But isn’t that always the case? You convince yourself that everything will work out, that it’s just a phase, that marriage is about supporting each other through difficult times.
So I kept quiet, hoped for the best, and pretended that everything was fine.
Until one ordinary Tuesday, when our life suddenly went off the rails.
Aaron came home from work and collapsed onto our grey sofa with a loud sigh.
‘Those idiots at work don’t appreciate me at all!’ he complained, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to all his problems. ‘I did a fantastic analytical report, and no one even thanked me!’
I put down my laptop and moved closer, ignoring the voice in my head reminding me that this conversation had been happening at least twice a week for the past month.
‘I know it’s hard for you, honey, but everything will be fine.’
He shook his head.
‘Only if I do something about it.’
And he did. The next day, he walked into his boss’s office and told him where he could stick his job. Very mature, right? And, of course, he didn’t have a new job lined up or any kind of plan.
I took over paying all the bills, telling myself it was temporary. We’re a team, right? That’s what I kept telling myself when I showed him where the stash was in the bedroom — in case he needed something urgently while he was looking for a job.
‘This is only for emergencies, okay?’ I warned him. ‘We need to be careful with money until you find a new job. So no generous gestures from you, Aaron.’
He nodded and promised he understood.
Aaron always loved to spoil his loved ones… although I haven’t been on that list for a long time. Instead, his mother and sister received lavish gifts from him every birthday.
Months passed. His job search consisted of endless video games and watching YouTube videos about making quick money with cryptocurrency.
Sometimes he mentioned some ‘brilliant opportunities’ that he was supposedly exploring, but it never came to actual interviews.
Meanwhile, I was working overtime to feed us both, coming home to a mess and a husband who was more interested in his gamepad than in me.
When my boss called me into his office on Friday afternoon, I braced myself for the worst.
I sat down across from Mr. Peterson’s massive oak desk, my hands trembling slightly.
‘Olivia, you are an incredibly valuable employee,’ he said, smiling unexpectedly. ‘We want to reward you for your hard work.’
He slid a cheque towards me. My heart nearly stopped: £2,500!
I was literally floating on my way home, imagining Aaron’s reaction. Maybe this would be a wake-up call for him, a reminder that hard work pays off. Maybe he would finally get serious about looking for a job.
‘You deserve it, sweetheart,’ he said, hugging me.
But there was something in his voice… sticky. Too sweet. Like a child who is behaving suspiciously well.
I dismissed the feeling.
And then there was dinner with Ruth, my mother-in-law.
Imagine the worst mother-in-law you can imagine, multiply that by ten, and you’ve got Ruth.
She burst into our house, immediately began inspecting it, ran her finger along the windowsills and shook her head disapprovingly.
— Olivia, you need to use less salt. It’s bad for Aaron’s heart.
(No one was bothered by the fact that he had just added a bunch of salt to his own portion without even tasting it.)
I clenched my fork, trying my best not to stab it into the table.
And then I saw it.
A brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max, gleaming on the table under the lamps.
‘Oh, wow, a new phone? Who’s so generous?’ I asked, trying to keep a neutral expression on my face.
Ruth beamed.
‘Aaron bought it for me! He knows how to take care of his mummy!’
I felt everything inside me break. I rushed to my bedroom and opened the drawer where I kept my stash.
It was empty.
Two days later, I had my chance to strike back.
When Aaron mentioned again that he wanted a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, I was ready.
‘You’re right, sweetie,’ I smiled. ‘I’ve already ordered you the best one on the market!’
His face lit up.
‘When will it arrive?’
I paused.
‘Oh, it’s already here. I sent it to your mum. Let her play Candy Crush!’
The colour drained from his face.
‘You sent my laptop to my mum?!’
I crossed my arms.
‘Oh, you don’t like that? But you did the same thing!’
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
‘You’ll give me my money back. And you won’t have access to my finances anymore.’
Two weeks later, Aaron suddenly found a job. It’s amazing how quickly motivation can be found when the financial cushion disappears.
What next? Maybe marriage counselling… if he agrees to work on himself.
But one thing is clear: he will never touch my money again.
