Chapter 3
The next three days, I went to work like nothing happened. Came home. Waited for Marcus to pass out.
Then I tore through his phone.
I’m an accountant. Numbers don’t lie to me.
And the money in that group chat? It told me everything.
September 2019. Marcus posted: “Lily’s lease is up. Getting her a better place.”
Patricia: “Good! She deserves nice things.”
Vanessa: “How much we talking?”
Marcus: “First, last, security deposit. Twelve grand total.”
Vanessa: “Holy shit, that’s expensive.”
Marcus: “Worth it. Great neighborhood.”
Then Patricia dropped this gem:
“Honey, don’t stress about money. Mia handles all our finances anyway, and we barely spend anything.”
We barely spend anything.
My salary that year? Thirteen thousand a month.
Mortgage ate $4,800. I kept $2,000 for groceries and gas. The rest-every last dollar, $6,500-went into what Marcus called our “joint savings.”
Every. Single, Month,
He was using my money to pay her rent.
April 2020. More money talk.
Vanessa’s wedding. Marcus gave her fifty thousand dollars.
Fifty grand.
He told me it was thirty. I wired him thirty thousand from my account.
The other twenty? Pulled straight from “our joint savings.”
The account I funded. Alone. With my paycheck.
January 2021.
Marcus posted a contract photo. Real estate purchase agreement.
“Closed! Lily, you get the keys next week!”
Lily sent back a wall of heart emojis and crying-happy faces.
Patricia: “Finally! Our girl has her own place!”
Marcus: “$320K down payment. $500K mortgage. Monthly payment is $3,400.”
Vanessa: “Where’d you get that kind of cash for the down payment?”
Marcus: “Saved it.”
Saved it.
I stared at those words until my vision blurred.
I knew exactly where that $320,000 came from.
2017 to 2020-I transferred $6,500 every month into that account. Three and a half years. Roughly $270,000. Add my annual bonuses?
$320,000.
Down to the last fucking penny.
He took my money-money I earned, money I saved-and bought another woman a house.
May 2021. Lily posted renovation photos.
Scandinavian chic. Light wood floors. White marble countertops. A flower stand on the balcony.
Caption: “Thank you babe. Thank you Mom. I’m so blessed.”
Patricia: “Sweetie, you’re family. No need to thank us.”
Chapter 3
Family.
I looked around my own living room.
This house? Bought in 2017. My parents paid the down payment. I paid the $4,800 mortgage every month. By myself.
When we moved in, Marcus said “Let’s keep it simple, we’ll upgrade later.”
There’s still a crack running down the wall.
2022, I asked about replacing the couch-it was falling apart.
Marcus said, “It works fine. Stop wasting money.”
Lily’s place had Scandinavian floors and a balcony garden.
Mine had a cracked wall and a seven-year-old couch with a spring poking through
Then I found the anniversary post
October 17th, 2021. Our fourth wedding anniversary.
P
I cooked dinner. Four courses. Set the table. Waited.
Marcus texted: “Work thing running late, don’t wait up.
That same day-3 PM-he posted in the group chat.
Hotel reservation screenshot.
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“Booked the Riverside Hot Springs Resort for the weekend. Surprising Lily.”
Lily: “BABE OMG I’M CRYING I’M SO EXCITED”
Vanessa: “Yo Marcus you’re a whole romantic now huh”
I reheated that dinner three times waiting for him.
He was taking her to a couples’ spa weekend.
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