After saving money as if my life depended on it, I thought I was finally ready to go to my late father’s grave to say goodbye.
But what I didn’t know was that my husband would try to foil my plans.
He wanted to steal my money for his own use, but I made him pay dearly for it!
I’ve been married to Ethan for four years.
We are a regular couple with no kids, we have had our ups and downs.
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I loved him, or at least I thought I did, until one day everything changed in an instant.
I had only one dream, to visit my father’s grave in Europe.
He died a few months ago.
I couldn’t say goodbye to him in person, and the thought kept me going.
So I started saving money.
I work as a nurse, and it wasn’t easy, but I managed to accumulate over $5,000 in a small box in my wardrobe.
That money was my ticket to peace of mind, to finally honouring my father’s memory.
Ethan knew my goal and was always supportive – or at least I thought so.
We didn’t have any extra money, and we often discussed how much was missing, so we had to budget carefully.
I had told him I was going to go to visit my father’s grave in three weeks, and now I was eagerly counting down the days.
A few days later, I got home from work earlier than usual and decided to go straight home.
Ethan had to work the night shift that day, but when I pulled up to our house, I saw the light on in our bedroom.
Curiosity and confusion made me creep over to the window to peek inside, and that’s when I saw…MY MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH.
But the strangest part was that he was kneeling in front of our wardrobe.
When I changed my angle to get a better look, I was overcome with shock!
Ethan was pulling money out of MY secret stash!
To catch him red-handed, I decided to call him from the window.
He reluctantly answered only on the fourth ring.
‘Hello darling, where are you?’ – I asked, as if I wasn’t looking directly at him.
‘Why are you talking so quietly? I’m at work, I told you I’m on the night shift!’ – he replied angrily.
‘Oh, I’m sorry sweetie, I completely forgot. I was going to ask you to make dinner because I’m going to be late,’ I lied.
‘No, I’m sorry, I can’t help. I have to get back to work. Love you, see you later.’
He quickly hung up without even letting me answer.
The next thing I knew, he had his jacket on and was getting ready to leave.
I ran to my car and parked in a secluded spot from where I could watch him.
I decided to follow him and five minutes later he left the house and headed towards the bus stop.
I followed him in the dark and after getting off the bus he walked around the shopping centre for another 20 minutes.
I was surprised when I saw him enter a fishing shop.
My heart sank and I muttered: ‘What is he doing here?’
I parked, quietly followed him into the shop and hid.
What I saw made my blood boil!
There he stood, chatting happily with the salesman, holding the biggest inflatable boat I had ever seen!
Next to him was a trolley full of fishing supplies: spinning rods, boxes of lures and everything imaginable!
He looked like a kid in a sweet shop!
Ethan loved fishing, but this just seemed too weird.
My head was spinning as I thought, ‘How is he going to pay for all this?’
And then the truth hit me like thunder!
MY MONEY!!!
My hard-earned, carefully saved money!
He had to take it!
There was no other explanation!
And indeed, he pulled out the bag he had stuffed my money in and paid with it!
I felt anger flood my face, and before I could realise, I rushed at him!
Ethan! What the hell are you doing?! – I almost screamed.
Heads turned and my husband stared at me, his eyes wide with shock.
Lizzie, what are you doing here? – He muttered, trying to shove the boat back on the shelf.
I should be the one to ask you! – I parried.
Did you take my money?
The money I was saving for my trip?
He blinked, his face a perfect mask of innocence.
What? No, Lizzie, you’re just overworked, that’s why you’re reacting like that.
I didn’t take your money.
I’ve been saving up for this for months.
I couldn’t believe my ears!
He was lying to my face!
I felt tears come to my eyes, but I refused to let them.
Not here, not now.
Don’t lie to me, Ethan,’ I hissed.
You know that money was for something important.
Something that really matters.
And you spent it on a boat?!
Lizzie, calm down,’ he said, grabbing my arm, but I lashed out.
You’re just tired, okay?
Maybe you’re not thinking clearly right now.
Why don’t you go home and we’ll talk about this later?
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I turned around and walked out of the shop, ignoring the stares from the other customers.
As soon as I was outside, tears rolled down my cheeks.
I didn’t know what to do.
I felt betrayed, humiliated and completely lost!
Later that evening, my husband came home with the same guilty expression on his face.
He stood in the doorway of our bedroom with his hands in his pockets while I sat cross-legged on the bed, waiting for him to speak.
Lizzie,’ he began quietly, ’I’m sorry.
I took that money, okay?
I just really want to go on this trip.
It’s really important to me.
Slowly it began to dawn on me what was going on here.
A few days ago, he was telling me about this unique opportunity to go fishing with friends and some ‘real pros’.
He was OVERWHELMED by this fishing trip!
I understand, Ethan, but we can’t afford it right now,’ I said then as we sat at the kitchen table that night.
We have bills to pay and my trip to Europe is coming up.
Can’t you just wait until next year?
He looked disappointed then, but nodded nonetheless.
Yeah, you’re probably right.
It’s just… they said it’s going to be amazing, and I don’t want to miss it.
But I understand.
We’ll have to settle for a day trip to the local lake.
I thought that was the end of the conversation, but I had no idea Ethan had other plans!
Now I was staring at him, feeling my heart pounding frantically in my chest.
You KNEW I was going to visit my father’s grave in three weeks, Ethan.
You knew how much it meant to me.
How could you do that!
He sighed:
I know, and I’m sorry.
But I’ll pay you back in a month.
You can postpone your trip a bit, right?
It’s just… this fishing trip is really important to me!
I looked at him in total shock.
He was seriously asking me to postpone my trip to my father’s grave so HE could go fishing!
The anger I had felt before was nothing compared to the rage that was now bubbling up inside me!
‘Unbelievable,’ I muttered and shook my head.
‘You really mean it!’
He nodded, almost hoping I would agree.
‘The trip is scheduled in a few days, and I’ll only be gone for a week,’ he explained.
But I had other plans…
The next day I woke up and a plan began to form in my head.
I called my supervisor and asked if I could take my holiday early.
To my relief, she agreed and said it wasn’t a problem.
While Ethan was at work, I spent the morning packing up his new fishing gear.
I packed the boat, reels, tackle – just everything!
Loaded everything into the car and drove back to the shop.
The salesman who was there yesterday looked at me in surprise.
‘Hello, I’d like to return all of this,’ I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He raised an eyebrow.
‘Return everything? Is there something wrong with the merchandise?’
‘No, I just changed my mind,’ I replied with a strained smile.
The salesman didn’t ask too many questions and processed the return.
When he handed me the money, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
But I wasn’t done yet.
‘Actually,’ I said, leaning a little closer, ’I have some more fishing equipment I’d like to sell.’
His eyes lit up.
‘Of course, we’re always happy to buy used equipment.’
I went back to the car and brought every piece of equipment Ethan owned for fishing.
When I left the shop, I had an additional two thousand dollars in my pocket and a sense of triumph I hadn’t felt in a long time!
Back home, I packed my suitcase with the essentials, cast one last look at our house, and headed for the airport.
I didn’t see the point in leaving a note.
Ethan would find out soon enough!
The flight to Europe seemed like a dream!
I stared out the window most of the time as my thoughts swirled around everything that had happened.
I didn’t know what the future held for my marriage, but at this moment, I didn’t care.
The only thing that mattered was to finally visit my father’s grave and find the farewell I so desperately needed.
The next day I arrived at the cemetery and stood in front of my father’s headstone.
I knelt down and placed a bouquet of daisies, his favourite flowers, at the foot of the stone.
My eyes filled with tears, but this time they were tears of relief.
‘I finally made it, Daddy.’
As I sat there, I thought about my husband and wondered if he would be angry when he came home and saw the empty wardrobe, the missing gear, and the silence in the house.
Part of me felt guilty for leaving him like that, but another part of me felt free.
For too long I had put his needs before my own, but NOW I was doing something for me!
Something I needed to do to heal.
When I got back to the small hotel room I’d booked, my phone vibrated with an incoming message.
It was Ethan.
‘Elizabeth, where are you? I came home and everything is gone. Please talk to me?’
I stared at the message, feeling heavy on my heart.
I knew I would have to confront him sooner or later, but I needed this time now – to be alone with my thoughts, to mourn and figure out what to do next.
I put the phone aside.
The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was certain: I was finally at peace.
