When Jeremy and I got married, we agreed to split everything 50/50, including rent. He found the apartment and said it was $2,000 a month. I paid him $1,000 every month, believing it went to the landlord. But one evening, I learned that the apartment was actually owned by Jeremy’s mother, and for two years, I had been paying them, not the landlord—$24,000 straight into their pockets.

I called Jeremy casually asking when rent was due, then spent the next two weeks pretending everything was normal. On December 28, I executed my plan. I packed up everything, emptied our joint account (using his money), and moved into a new apartment I had already secured.

By the time Jeremy returned, the apartment was empty, except for a letter. I filed for divorce and demanded repayment of every cent I had paid in rent. Three months later, I sat in my new apartment with divorce papers signed and Jeremy agreeing to repay the money.

When I ran into his mother, I confronted her about their theft and warned her of fraud charges if they didn’t repay. Jeremy and his mother eventually faced the consequences of their actions, and I got the justice I deserved.