When Michael’s salary doubled, he suggested we split all expenses equally. I agreed, but on one condition: we would make it official in writing. What he didn’t know was that my agreement was part of a larger plan.
Years earlier, Michael had encouraged me to reduce my working hours after the birth of our daughter, Olivia. He painted a picture of the ideal life, but I didn’t realize at the time that he was subtly urging me to step back from my career. I loved my job, but I put it on hold for our family because I believed we were a team.
Over the years, I watched his career rise while I managed the household. Still, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. Then Michael got promoted again and his salary doubled. He suggested that we split everything equally now.
I was shocked by his sudden insistence. “You want me to take care of Olivia, manage the house and still contribute half of everything financially?” I asked. “It’s only fair”, he replied: “We are a team”. I agreed, but only if everything was formalized. He readily agreed, unaware of the consequences.
We signed an official agreement and soon Michael’s behavior changed. He spent a lot of money on himself and his behavior towards me became more and more arrogant. The last straw was when he told me about an exclusive event he was attending but hinted that I wouldn’t fit in.
So I took action. I used my old professional contacts and helped Michael get his promotion. But when he showed his true colors, I withdrew my support. I told him that I had accepted a higher position in his company, his position.
After that, the marriage quickly fell apart, and when we divorced, Michael’s “fair” arrangement came back to haunt him. I made sure Olivia learned a valuable lesson: a real partnership is about mutual respect and support, not just sharing costs.