Semua Bab Your Generosity Came at My Expense: Bab 1 - Bab 8

I scrolled through the entries one by one.Coffee and pastries for Jenna: 500 dollars a week for two months. Group meals during her internship: seven meals averaging 500 dollars each. A cake from her favorite bakery: 80 dollars every week.He had spent nearly 50,000 dollars on Jenna alone.I kept scrolling. At the bottom was a category labeled "Household Expenses."The mortgage was paid on time each month. Groceries and daily necessities were tracked down to the dollar. My allowance had fallen from 1,000 dollars to 200 dollars.Everything he saved from our household budget went to Jenna.I looked up at Adrian, anger flaring. "You've spent nearly 50,000 dollars on Jenna alone. Even counting all the discounted products close to expiring, you've spent less than 20,000 dollars on me. Adrian, is this what you call being frugal?"Adrian leaned back against the couch, his eyes still on his phone. "Jenna is an orphan and she's young. It's hard for her to live alone in a big city. As her superv

That night, I packed my bags and moved back in with my parents.For four days, he didn't come looking for me.I got a job offer from a design firm in another city.The night I booked my flight, my parents were still trying to change my mind. "Nina, are you sure? A man who saves is better than one who spends recklessly. Can't you two talk this through?""His frugality was always at my expense, Mom. Adrian and I have nothing left to talk about."On the day I left, Adrian texted me. "Today's your follow-up appointment, isn't it? Should I pick you up this afternoon?"I didn't reply, so he called. "Nina, can we talk?""There's nothing left to talk about.""I promised I'd limit my contact with Jenna. This time, I wanted to ask for your opinion. Jenna is still short on moving funds. I'd like to cover the difference. Her new place also needs furniture, so I'll pay for that, too."Even now, all he wanted to talk about was Jenna.I laughed, no longer willing to argue. "Do whatever you want."A l

I saw Adrian again three months later.I had just left my office when I saw him outside with a bouquet of flowers.He ran toward me, delighted. "Nina, these are for you.""Adrian, I don't like them."He froze. "You always asked me to buy you baby's breath for your birthday. I'm sorry. I thought you liked it.""I like tulips. I only asked for baby's breath because it was cheaper."His expression faltered, but he quickly recovered. He took out a bank card and held it out to me. "There's 200,000 dollars in this account. Take it and buy whatever you want. I'll never restrict your spending again."I didn't take it. "Adrian, do you think this is about money?"He continued as if he hadn't heard. "If you like this city, I'll apply for a transfer here to be with you. Okay?""We're never getting back together." I looked at him coldly. "Go home. Don't come back.""Nina, I've explained everything. There really is nothing between Jenna and me.""Adrian." I cut him off calmly."I don't care if there

The divorce went more smoothly than I expected. Adrian didn't contest anything.When the divorce decree arrived, we saw each other for the first time in a month.He had lost a lot of weight, with deep dark circles under his eyes.He pushed an envelope toward me. "This is all the salary you handed over to me during our three years together. I added the interest it would've earned in the bank. The rest is compensation. Take it."I looked at the envelope, then at him. "What I wanted was never money. Even now, you still don't understand that."He was silent for a long time before he laughed. "Yeah. I never understood it."We talked for a long time. Before leaving, he turned to me. "Nina, remember to eat properly."After a pause, he added, "I'm sorry. Not just about the money. I'm sorry for everything."It was the most he'd sounded like a husband in our three years of marriage. Too bad he wasn't my husband anymore.Three months after the divorce, a friend messaged me. "Nina, Adrian quit his