She Took My Money, Then Slapped Me

“And now? You’ve lied to me about Ryan Foster again. That’s just the part I know about—how many other things have you kept from me? Like all those business trips you’ve been taking for the past six months.”

“Think whatever you want. My conscience is clear,” Emily Carter replied coldly.

“Is it really about what I think? Put yourself in my shoes—would you be okay with it?”

“I’m tired.” Emily closed her eyes, clearly done with the conversation.

“I’m a man; I know exactly what Ryan Foster’s intentions are. I don’t want you ending up in situations like this again.”

“You have a filthy mind. Not everyone is like you,” Emily shot back, sitting up and glaring at me. “If it weren’t for Ryan, would I have been promoted this fast at the company? We just had dinner, and you won’t let it go—don’t you get bored of this?”

“If it weren’t for your lack of ability, would I need to work this hard at the company?” Her voice grew sharper. “Do you think I enjoy lowering myself in front of others?”

“You’re not capable, and on top of that, your parents didn’t help get me a job—everything I have, I’ve earned on my own. Do you know how exhausted I am?”

“And you, as a man, earn less than I do—doesn’t that embarrass you?”

“I just want to get a good night’s sleep right now. Stop bothering me.”

I was about to speak when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, hung up, and walked out with the phone in hand.

“Ryan Foster calling?” I asked.

“Spam call,” Emily tossed back before stepping into the bathroom.

I stayed in the living room in silence. Ten minutes later, she came out. Her face looked much softer than when she was talking to me, but when she noticed I was watching her, she shot me a glare and hurried into the bedroom.

I didn’t follow. Instead, my thoughts drifted back over the years.

I was an orphan. Never went to school.

I met Emily after she graduated high school and was working part-time. Her family was in poor shape—her mother was sick, her father disabled, and they couldn’t afford to send her to college.

After a month of knowing her, I’d fallen for her and worked up the courage to ask her out. We got together, and I paid for her tuition and living expenses. I’d already been working for years and had some savings; I even helped pay for her mother’s medical treatment.

Those early days were sweet. She was gentle and considerate, and my coworkers envied me, saying I was lucky to have a college girl for a girlfriend and that our future kids would have a head start in life.

I thought so too, so I cherished our relationship.

We agreed long ago to marry after she graduated. But when she started her senior-year internship, things changed.

After joining the company, she saw the glamor of the corporate world. She grew increasingly impatient with me.

By the time she graduated, she nitpicked everything about me. It’s only been a year since, but I can’t even remember what it feels like to hold her anymore.

She came from a small rural town where everyone knew me as the dependable, kindhearted guy willing to support her.

I knew she didn’t break up with me partly because of that—she feared people would call her ungrateful.

But I also knew her heart was long gone. Ryan was older than me, but he had money. Even divorced, he could offer her a lifestyle far beyond mine.

Breaking up was only a matter of time; I just couldn’t accept it yet.

Many times, I wondered if I was just being paranoid. After all, I hadn’t caught her in anything concrete. I’d never worked in a big company, so maybe she truly had no choice but to entertain clients.

Some of my anger faded, and I decided to try to salvage the relationship.

I didn’t sleep all night. At exactly six in the morning, someone knocked on my door.