What Do You Mean We’re Getting Divorced?” the Man Asked His Wife in Shock. “Because I Gave Money to My Mother?

**The Dream of Pounds and Promises**

*”What do you mean, were over?”* Richard blinked at his wife, baffled. *”Because I gave Mum some money?”*

*”Nineteen thousand pounds!”* Emily flung the bank statement onto the table, watching the white sheets flutter across the surface. *”Richard, wheres the money?!”*

Her husband didnt even glance up from the telly, idly flicking through channels.

*”What money?”* he muttered, indifferent.

*”The money weve been saving for three years! The deposit! Yesterday it was twenty-two thousandtoday its three and a half!”*

Richard finally looked up, shrugging as if it were pocket change. *”Oh, that. Mum and Jane needed help. Was I supposed to say no?”*

*”You didnt even ask me! Thats our savings!”*

*”Chill out, love. Ill pay it back.”*

*”When? In another three years?”* Emily braced her hands on the table, leaning in. *”We agreedno spending from that account without talking first. NO spending!”*

*”Yeah, yeah. But when your own mums begging, what was I meant to do?”*

*”And when your wifes been working twelve-hour days for three years, that means nothing? Thats MY money too!”*

Richard winced and turned back to the telly. *”Dramatic, much? Its just a job.”*

—

Six months earlier, Emily had sat in her travel agency office, meticulously tallying commissions from a recent holiday package sale. The numbers pleased hera big group, good spenders.

Her colleague, Sarah, peeked over the monitor. *”Still crunching numbers? Saving up for that dream flat?”*

*”Another year, maybe eighteen months, and well have our own place.”* Emily smiled, setting down her pen. *”Richards picking up extra shifts at the garage on weekends.”*

*”Lucky you. Mine just promises and promisesnever delivers.”*

*”Yeah, Im lucky,”* Emily agreed, though something uneasy prickled in her chest.

Sarah slid her chair closer. *”How much have you saved, if its not a secret?”*

*”Twenty-one grand. Not far off the twenty-five we need.”*

*”Brilliant! Wheres it stashed? A savings account?”*

*”Course. Tiny interest, but better than nothing.”*

*”Smart. Just dont blow it on nonsense.”*

Emily nodded but didnt mention how Richard had lately been skipping his weekend shifts, complaining of exhaustion.

That evening, she found him sprawled on the sofa, another action film flashing across the screen.

*”Rich, no garage today?”* she asked, toeing off her heels.

*”Going tomorrow. Backs killing me.”*

*”Maybe see a doctor?”*

*”Itll pass.”* He changed channels. *”Mum rang, by the way. Jane needs cash for her beauty course.”*

Emily froze, gripping her handbag. *”How much?”*

*”Fifteen hundred. Barely anything.”*

*”Barely?! Thats my monthly bonus!”*

*”No need to scream. Ill cover it next payday.”*

*”And if your pay doesnt cover it?”*

*”It will. Stop winding yourself up.”*

Emily reheated dinner in silence, appetite gone. How many times had his familys “emergencies” drained their savings?

—

Two weeks later, déjà vu. Richards mum, Margaret, called during supper.

*”Mum? Yeah, go on Leaking? Badly? Seven-fifty? Fine, Ill drop it off tomorrow.”*

Emily slowly set down her fork. *”Richard, we agreedmortgage first, everything else after.”*

*”Oh, so youd let my mums ceiling cave in? Heartless!”*

*”Im not heartless. Your brother Tom lives next doorwhy cant he help?”*

*”Toms unemployed, you know that.”*

*”Since when? Theres jobs everywhere!”*

Richard glared. *”Drop it. Shes my mum. I help her. End of.”*

*”And Im your wife,”* Emily said quietly. *”Does that mean anything?”*

*”Course it does. But Mums got a leak”*

*”And weve got a future.”*

*”Well still have one. Seven hundred quid wont ruin us.”*

—

A month later, Emilys boss, Mr. Thompson, called her in. *”Emily, you handled that Chinese tour group brilliantly. Solid bonustwenty-five hundred.”*

*”Thanks!”* she beamed.

*”Butyoure taking all the overtime, working weekends. Burning out?”*

*”No, its fine. Saving for the flat.”*

*”Admirable. But healths worth more than bricks.”*

Emily nodded but thought: *Without my overtime, well never save enoughnot with Richard “lending” to his family.*

*”Any extra tasks going? Covering holidays?”*

Mr. Thompson studied her. *”There are. But youre stretched thin.”*

*”Ill manage.”*

—

At home, Richard and his mate Dave were cracking open beers, laughing at some blokes joke.

*”Em! Join us!”* Dave raised his bottle.

*”Too tired.”* She fetched water, ignoring their banter about “get-rich-quick crypto schemes.”

Later, Richard found her in bed. *”Sulking?”*

*”Twelve-hour shift today. Youre drinking with Dave.”*

*”Sorry my mate dropped by. Not allowed to relax?”*

*”Relax after work, not instead of it. When was your last garage shift?”*

*”Last week.”*

*”Last week you were hungover after Toms birthday.”*

*”Enough! Dont like it? Divorce me!”*

—

A week later, Jane barged in unannounced. *”Rich! Need cashurgent!”*

*”Again? I gave you money last week!”*

*”This is different! Professional makeup kithalf price! Cant miss this!”*

*”How much?”*

*”Twenty-five hundred! Its an investment!”*

Emily stormed in. *”Twenty-five hundred?! Thats insane!”*

*”Nobody asked you!”* Jane snapped. *”Rich, please! Ill pay you back!”*

*”Were skint”*

*”Always skint with you! Saving like misers!”*

After she left, silence. Richard smoked on the balcony. Emily cooked, fists clenched.

Margaret called an hour later. *”How could you refuse your sister? Shes trying to better herself!”*

*”Mum, were broke.”*

*”For family?! Emilys turned you against us!”*

*”Mum, its not”*

*”She married you and thinks she owns you! Forgotten who raised you?!”*

Emily listened, hollow. Three years of sacrifice, and she was the villain.

—

Next morning, neighbor Edward mentioned seeing Richard at the bank. *”Signing loan papers, maybe? Mortgage finally sorted?”*

Emilys keys clattered to the floor. *”Loan?!”*

At work, she couldnt focus. That evening, she checked their account: £22,500. All there. Reliefuntil three days later.

£3,500.

*”Nineteen thousandGONE!”* she screamed, shoving the statement at Richard.

*”Mum and Jane needed it. Was I meant to refuse?”*

*”You stole our savings!”*

*”Borrowed! Ill pay it back!”*

*”WHEN?!”*

*”Dunno. A few months?”*

She demanded he retrieve it. He laughed. *”They spent it! Roof repairs, Janes courses”*

*”Thats five grand max! Wheres the rest?!”*

*”Mums new kitchen! Janes car! Family comes first!”*

*”MY MONEY TOO!”*

*”Sod your bloody flat!”* Richard yelled. *”Mums rightyouve enslaved me!”*

—

Divorce took two months. Richard reappeared, unshaven, reeking of booze, demanding half their savings. Emily slid him a folder.

*”Heres every payslip, every receipt. Take half your earningsexcept you owe me.”*

He paled. His salary was a third of hers; last year, hed barely worked.

—

Months later, in her new flat, Emily baked an apple piejust because.

Jane called.