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404words
Feigning confusion,I asked,"What's wrong,honey?"
He grumbled,"I went to buy some groceries,and the machine showed that there’s not enough money left in the card.I checked—you sent it all to your mom.What're you doing?"
I sneered silently,not answering.
Some 50/50 split.I had thought we each paid our share,trading chores.
But he'd been using my money all along.
No more leniency.
Coldly,I said,"We agreed to split costs.I'll cook my own food.Don't use my money for groceries."
He exploded,upset at losing his advantage."You can't send it all to your parents!We're the ones building a life together."
I laughed."Didn't you give your money to your parents?I'm just following your lead."
He went silent at once.
He hadn't expected the cheap walls he insisted on building to betray his secret.
Done talking,I hung up.
As my due datecame nearer,the money he asked his mom for never reached me.
Without the money in my card,he grudgingly used it to buy his own groceries.
He tried reconciling,but I rejected every attempt.
After too many rejections,he stopped trying,and we stopped talking to each other.
The home we shared felt like two strangers renting a place together.
My friend scolded him on my behalf more than once.
I smiled calmly."No need to be mad.I'm not that naive girl anymore.I won't waste my life on this leech.Once things are settle,I'll get a divorce."
She nodded,still upset,and took me to my final prenatal checkup.
Even during delivery,James and his family didn't show up.
Only my parents and friend were there.
They sensed something was wrong but,fearing asking the wrong questions hurt me,stayed silent.
Seeing their care,tears welled up again in my eyes.
After a grueling labor,I gave birth to a healthy son.
On my last day at the hospital,James finally appeared.
Not to see his newborn son,but to scowl at me on the bed."Your friend says you're doing postpartum recovery and won’t go back to work until at least a month later.What about the money I borrowed from my mom?"
His shamelessness made me laugh.
My parents,unaware,looked confused.
Not wanting them to see us fight,I signaled my friend.
She led them out of the ward.
Facing James,my face held no trace of past love,only calm defiance."You used that money yourself,didn't you?Repay it yourself."
He panicked,trying to argue,but I cut him off."Prenatal checkups,delivery,and hospital stays—I used my bonus my boss gave me in advanceNot a cent of yours."
