Exposed and Exiled: The Man Who Took Me for Granted

I was shocked when I saw that Nathan Cross's spending for the month had reached twenty thousand dollars. Without hesitation, I stormed into the bedroom and called him away from his game.

"What the hell did you do this month? Twenty thousand? Are you forgetting that we're trying to save up for a baby?"

I was beyond angry. Twenty thousand was the total of both our salaries for the month.

Ever since we got married, his mother had been constantly hinting at me to have a baby soon. I want to, too, but how are we supposed to afford it?

I had finally saved over a hundred thousand, and if it weren’t for checking the bill today, I couldn’t even imagine him being so reckless with money.

Nathan was absorbed in his game, and when I called him, his face was full of irritation. "What now? Can it wait? I'm in the middle of a game. I’ll push the tower in a minute."

I was furious. I snatched his phone right out of his hand. "We’re solving this first. Tell me where you spent this eight thousand."

Nathan had two phones. I pulled up his billing records for the month. It was clear—one week ago, at midnight, there was an eight-thousand-dollar transaction.

And at that time, I had been visiting my parents.

Nathan was still trying to brush me off. "It’s nothing. I just took some colleagues out for dinner. The bill was a little high, but I won’t go there again next time."

I raised my voice, my patience thinning. "Do you really think I’m stupid? This transfer was to an individual, and I saw the records—after the money was received, you and the person were no longer friends. If you were really just treating a friend to dinner, wouldn't you have paid through the merchant’s code? Why would you need to add their Facebook to send them money?"

I couldn’t believe he would try to lie to me with such a flimsy excuse.

Was he really so sure I was foolish enough to believe his lies?

Nathan went silent, avoiding eye contact.

"If you don’t explain this today, this won’t be over. You know our plans. We need every penny, and yet you’re throwing it around like it’s nothing. You’re an adult—could you at least think before acting?"

Nathan was getting impatient. He stood up suddenly, his face darkened like he’d just been dipped in ink.

"What’s the big deal? I just spent some money. I won’t next time, okay? You’re always nagging about these trivial things. Doesn’t that annoy you?"

His attitude shifted abruptly, and the words he said only made me want to laugh.

I wasn’t about to let him off easy.

"Annoying? Then maybe you should stop doing shady things like this!"

Before we got married, my mom had pulled me aside and told me time and time again: there’s no such thing as a cat that doesn’t stray. Marriage, in the end, is just about turning a blind eye and tolerating each other to make it work.

I’m no fool. Even if Nathan won’t admit it, I can already guess where that money went.

A large transfer at midnight? It’s either to a mistress or a prostitute.

He sleeps beside me every night. I know all his passwords, and no matter when he finishes work, he’s always home first. So, it can’t be a mistress. That only leaves one possibility.