When I lost my job, I thought my husband Gregor would be the one person to lean on. I imagined he’d hold me up until I got back on my feet. But I was wrong. And I only found out how wrong I was on his birthday, in front of a room full of people.
I never usually share my life online, but what happened shook me so much, I think it deserves to be told. So here’s the story of how my husband tried to humiliate me—and how I turned the tables on him in a way he’ll never forget.
I met Gregor later in life, when I was already in my forties. Honestly, I’d given up on marriage. After a toxic relationship in my thirties, I had convinced myself that love and marriage just weren’t for me.
“Come on, Abby,” my mom used to say. “It’s never too late. Don’t you want to be married and settle down?”
I’d smile and shake my head, pretending I didn’t care. But deep down, I did want that. I just didn’t believe it could happen for me anymore.
Then Gregor came along.
He was charming, attentive, and seemed genuinely interested in me. He wooed me in ways I hadn’t experienced in years. One night, he showed up at my house with a huge bouquet of roses and an engagement ring hidden in his palm.
“I’ve waited my entire life for you, Abby,” he said with tears in his eyes.
I couldn’t say no.
Our first year of marriage was like a dream. We traveled, laughed nonstop, and shared everything. Gregor was a successful executive, I had a career in marketing that I loved, and life felt perfect.
Even my mother admitted it. One afternoon, while we were making dumplings together, she smiled at me.
“I told you, Abby,” she said knowingly.
I laughed. “I know, Mom. I should’ve listened. But hey, I finally got it right, didn’t I?”
“As long as you’re happy,” she said, patting my hand.
I was. Until everything changed.
One morning, I walked into the office only to hear the devastating news: the company was bankrupt. Just like that, I was unemployed.
It wasn’t just the financial hit—it was the loss of confidence. I had always been proud of being independent, of contributing equally. Now, I felt small and powerless.
I tried to pep talk myself while packing up my desk. “It’s okay, Abby. You’ll find something else. Gregor will understand.”
At first, he did seem understanding. But then, the cracks started showing.
“What? Now I’m the only breadwinner?” he snapped one night.
“It’s just temporary,” I told him. “I’ll find another job soon. I promise.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, not like I have a choice, do I?”
That stung. But I kept pushing forward. I applied to dozens of jobs, sat at my laptop until my vision blurred. To help in the meantime, I took a cleaning job at a nearby restaurant. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest work, and it kept us afloat.
One evening, I came home with leftovers from the restaurant—steak and veggies.
“At least your boss sends you home with food,” Gregor said, unwrapping it.
“Yes, he doesn’t like wasting it. Better for our families to enjoy than throw it out,” I replied, trying to stay positive.
Gregor chewed slowly, then smirked. “It’s good food. But Abby… cleaning tables? Wearing aprons instead of heels? That’s not you. Our friends are used to you being polished, not… this.”
I froze. Was this really my husband? The man who once told me he’d waited his whole life for me?
Months passed. Then came Gregor’s 45th birthday.
He decided to throw a massive party at an upscale restaurant—lavish decorations, expensive champagne, the works.
When I told my mom, she wasn’t impressed.
“So he can complain about supporting his wife, but he has no problem wasting money on spoiling his friends?” she scoffed.
I sighed. “I don’t know, Mom. But I just want to enjoy myself. I finally have a weekend off, and I need to unwind.”
That night, I tried to focus on having fun. I even arranged for black and silver balloons to decorate the table. “Happy birthday, my love,” I said, kissing him on the cheek.
At first, everything was great—delicious food, plenty of drinks, laughter filling the air. Then came the speeches.
Gregor’s sister Natalia raised her glass. “You’re lucky to have Abby, brother. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you.”
My heart swelled at her words.
Then Gregor stood up. With a champagne glass in one hand and a smug grin on his face, he started laughing before he even spoke.
“Oh, Nat, you’re right. But let’s be real here—Abby’s lucky too! She’s basically my dependent now. I’d have kicked her out long ago if she wasn’t so obedient. Shame, really, after all the money I invested in her over the years.”
He burst out laughing. Some people forced chuckles, but most just looked down, uncomfortable. My face burned.
But instead of shrinking, something inside me hardened.
I rose slowly, keeping my voice calm. “Well, Gregor, since you’re talking about investments, let me remind you of a few things.”
The room went silent. Gregor stopped laughing.
“You see,” I said clearly, “the money for this big celebration? It didn’t come from your account. It came from mine.”
Gasps filled the room.
“I saw the bank notification,” I continued. “You drained my savings to pay for tonight. You only covered the deposit. The rest of the bill is still waiting.”
Gregor’s face paled. “No…” he muttered.
I nodded. “Yes. And guess what? I brought the money with me, right here in my purse, because I wanted you to have a good birthday.” I paused, looking him straight in the eye. “But you know what? I think I’ll keep it. Along with my dignity.”
The room erupted in whispers. Gregor opened his mouth but no words came out.
I straightened my shoulders, turned, and walked out of that restaurant.
I don’t know how he paid the bill that night, and I didn’t care. When I got home, I packed as many clothes as I could fit in my car and drove straight to my mom’s.
I had survived one toxic relationship before, and I wasn’t going to repeat that mistake. This time, I chose myself.
