Let me make it clear: I never wanted my relationship to feel like a trade-off, but sometimes, you can’t help but wonder if things are truly equal.
My fiancé, Ben, and I? We were far from equals when it came to money. Ben was a pediatrician with his own practice, while I was a hairstylist trying to build my clientele. But that didn’t stop me from going all out when it came to gift-giving.
Especially at Christmas.
Last year, I spent months saving up, working double shifts, just so I could buy Ben something special. He’d been talking non-stop about getting a PS5 for ages. “I just want something to switch my brain off after work,” he would say. Ben loved gaming, but for whatever reason, he never bought the console himself.
I saw it as my chance to surprise him and show him that I paid attention to what he wanted.
But there was a problem. The PS5 was impossible to find at retail price. I scoured online stores, checked every shop in town, and finally found one through a cousin. He was willing to sell it to me, but he tacked on a huge markup for his “trouble.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Ashley,” my cousin said, shrugging. “I went through a lot to get this for you. Honestly, I did you a favor.”
I couldn’t argue. Christmas was coming up, and Ben deserved something nice, especially after all the hard work he’d put into his career. So, I dipped into my savings.
And, honestly? It felt like it would be totally worth it. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Ben’s face when he opened the PS5. I pictured him beaming with happiness, and I’d feel like the best fiancée ever. But that Christmas morning, things didn’t exactly go the way I imagined.
Ben had been so busy with work leading up to Christmas. His practice was booming, and he’d recently moved into a bigger apartment. “It’s perfect for us, Ash,” he said, showing me pictures. “And we won’t have to leave for a while, not until we decide to have kids.”
He even gave his old apartment to his parents as a Christmas gift, fully upgraded with the kinds of amenities only someone like Ben could afford. His brother, Evan, got a shiny new customized Mercedes, and his sister Mandy got diamond earrings and an exclusive art kit. I was genuinely happy for them—Ben deserved it all.
But here’s the thing: all these gifts had been given before Christmas. And I started to wonder, what about me?
It wasn’t just about the gifts. It was the fact that when I casually mentioned what I could use for Christmas, like new scissors for work or maybe a new pair of boots, Ben didn’t ask me what I wanted. He didn’t show any interest in my wishes.
When Christmas morning arrived, Ben’s family came over to his apartment, and the atmosphere was full of cheer. His family’s laughter was contagious, and I felt hopeful that maybe, just maybe, my worries were misplaced.
We all gathered around the tree to exchange gifts. Ben opened the PS5, and the excitement in his eyes made it all feel worth it. He kissed me and thanked me repeatedly, and for a brief moment, I thought, this is it. This is why I did it.
Then it was my turn. Ben handed me a small, carefully wrapped box. His eyes were twinkling, and I could feel the tension in the air. Mandy had her phone out, clearly ready to capture the moment.
I couldn’t wait. My fingers ripped through the wrapping paper, and my excitement dropped like a stone when I pulled out… a pack of toothpicks.
Toothpicks.
I stared at the gift, waiting for him to say something. Anything. But there was nothing.
His sister burst into laughter, her phone zooming in on my shocked face. My heart sank.
“I thought you’d like it,” Ben said, still smiling. “But if you don’t, I can always give it to my niece instead.”
The room erupted in laughter. Mandy’s tears of joy, his mother chuckling, and me? I wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
I tried to stay calm, but the sting was unbearable. I excused myself and locked myself in the bathroom, trying to keep it together. Outside, I could hear them still laughing about it.
A few minutes later, Ben knocked on the door. “Come on, babe,” he said. “It was just a prank. Mandy thought it would be funny.”
“Funny?” I snapped, opening the door. “You think toothpicks are funny? After everything I did for you?”
He shrugged. “You’re overreacting. It’s just a joke. Lighten up.”
“Overreacting?” I was fuming now. “This isn’t funny, Ben! You’re a grown man. You think this is just a joke? After I spent months saving up for the PS5 you wanted?”
His sister was still filming the whole thing, and I could feel the tension in the air as his family watched. It was as if I was being put on display for their amusement.
“You’re overreacting,” Ben repeated, crossing his arms, like this whole thing was no big deal.
“And you’re acting like a child!” I shot back. “How little do you care about me? This ‘prank’ is cruel. It shows me exactly what you think of me.”
There was silence. His mother looked at me like I was the one ruining Christmas. “You didn’t need to blow up like this,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re ruining everything.”
I couldn’t believe it. This family was so out of touch. I grabbed my coat, my keys, and stormed out the door.
I ended up at my mom’s house, where things were quiet, calm, and peaceful. Ben texted me later, apologizing, saying he’d bring my “real” gift the next day.
Apparently, the toothpicks were his sister’s idea, and I should’ve just laughed it off.
My mom was furious when I told her what had happened. “It seems like they don’t respect you, Ash,” she said, shaking her head.
“I think you’re right,” I replied. “Ben’s been doing this a lot lately—always going along with whatever his family says, no matter what. How am I supposed to marry someone like that?”
My mom gave me a look. “You need to think hard about this, Ash. Is there a future with Ben or not?”
The next day, Ben showed up at my mom’s house with a small box, looking apologetic. But I had already made up my mind.
“Here’s your real gift,” he said, handing me the box.
I opened it, but at that point, it didn’t matter.
“Ben,” I said quietly, “I’ve been putting in so much effort, trying to make things work, but I can’t keep pretending that everything is okay.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, his confusion evident.
“I’m calling off the engagement.” My words were final. “I deserve more than this. More than your pranks, more than your disregard. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t respect me.”
Ben’s face went white, and he stammered, trying to talk me out of it. But I was done.
A few days later, Ben’s life took an unexpected turn.
He had been promised a prestigious job as Head of Pediatrics at a well-known hospital. But after I ended the engagement, I found out that he had lost the position.
A malpractice lawsuit had been filed against him, and just like that, his career was crumbling.
I never asked for any of this to happen. But karma? Karma always finds its way.
Ben and his family showed up at my door, angry, accusing me of ruining his life.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said, standing my ground.
When they wouldn’t leave, I called the police. They were escorted off my property, and as I watched them walk away, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.
For the first time in months, I felt relief.
