When Jeremy and I got married, we agreed to split everything 50/50, including rent. He found the apartment, said it was $2,000 a month, and every month I handed him my $1,000 share while he supposedly sent it to the landlord.
For two years, I thought everything was normal.
Until one December evening.
I got stuck in the elevator with one of my neighbors. We chatted until she casually mentioned something that made my stomach drop:
“Oh, you live in Mrs. Lorrie and Jeremy’s apartment, right?”
Mrs. Lorrie. As in Jeremy’s MOM.
Confused, I asked what she meant. The neighbor, completely unaware of the bomb she’d just dropped, happily explained:
“Yeah, Jeremy’s mom bought that apartment years ago! Rented it out for a while, then he moved in with his ex. And now, you guys!”
My blood ran cold. I wasn’t paying rent. I was paying Jeremy and his mom.
For TWO YEARS, I had unknowingly handed over $24,000 straight into their pockets.
I barely made it inside before the rage took over. But I didn’t explode. No, I called Jeremy instead.
“Hey, babe,” I said sweetly. “When’s rent due again?”
“December 28,” he answered casually.
Perfect.
I spent the next two weeks acting normal — laughing at his jokes, cooking dinners, etc.
But behind the scenes? I was plotting my revenge.
When Jeremy and I got married, we agreed to split all expenses evenly, including rent. He found our apartment and told me the rent was $2,000 a month, so I paid my $1,000 share faithfully for two years, working two jobs to make ends meet.
Everything changed one December evening when I learned from a neighbor that the apartment wasn’t rented from a landlord—it was owned by Jeremy’s mother. All this time, I had been paying money directly into their pockets, unknowingly handing over $24,000.
I stayed calm, but secretly began planning my exit. I packed my things, withdrew my savings, and confronted Jeremy. He denied everything, but the truth was clear. The lease was fake, and I was deceived.
I filed for divorce and charged Jeremy with fraud. The court ruled in my favor, ordering him and his mother to return the $24,000. I left the courtroom feeling relieved and empowered, learning the importance of transparency and trust in financial matters.
