When Abby lost her job, she leaned on her husband, Gregor, hoping he’d be her rock until she found another. She thought he’d support her no matter what. But when his birthday came and they celebrated surrounded by friends and family, Abby discovered exactly how Gregor really felt—and the truth left her shocked.
I usually don’t share my private life online, but after what happened, I knew I had to. This is the story of how my husband tried to humiliate me in front of everyone—and how I turned the tables on him in the most satisfying way possible.
How It All Started
I met Gregor when I was in my forties. At that point, I wasn’t even looking for a husband. Marriage had stopped being a dream for me years ago.
“Come on, Abby,” my mom would say whenever I visited her. “It’s never too late. Don’t you want to find someone nice, settle down, and be happy?”
I would laugh and shake my head. “No, Mom. I’m fine on my own.”
But inside, I did want that. After a toxic relationship in my thirties, though, I had sworn never to go through that kind of pain again.
Then came Gregor.
He was charming, sweet, and thoughtful. He made me laugh. He listened. He cared. He made me believe love was possible again.
“I’ve waited my entire life for you, Abby,” Gregor said once, standing on my doorstep with a bouquet of roses and an engagement ring hidden in his hand.
Our first year of marriage was a dream. We traveled, laughed constantly, and enjoyed every single moment together.
Gregor was successful, working as an executive at a well-known firm. I was doing well too, working at a marketing company that I loved. It really felt like I had it all.
“I told you, Abby,” my mom said one day as we sat at her kitchen table folding dumplings. “You should’ve listened to me. I knew you’d find the right one.”
I smiled. “You were right, Mom. I finally got it right this time.”
“As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters,” she said warmly.
Life Takes a Turn
But then, life hit me hard.
The company I worked for went bankrupt. Overnight, I lost my job.
It wasn’t just the money that hurt—it was my confidence. I had always been proud of my independence. Suddenly, I felt useless.
I tried to stay positive. “It’s going to be okay,” I told myself, packing up my desk for the last time. “Gregor’s here. We’ll get through this.”
When I told Gregor, he seemed supportive at first. But soon, his true feelings slipped out.
“What? So now I’m the only breadwinner?” he asked, his tone sharp with annoyance.
“It’s just temporary,” I reassured him. “I’ll start job hunting right away. Until then, it’s just you running the household. Okay?”
He rolled his eyes. “Well, not like I have a choice, right?”
That stung. Still, I jumped into job hunting immediately.
Days turned into weeks, and I had to take a temporary job cleaning at a nearby restaurant. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest work—and it kept us afloat.
“At least your boss gives us food,” Gregor said one night as I unpacked leftover steak and veggies from work.
“Yes, the manager prefers to give it to families instead of throwing it out,” I explained.
Gregor cut into his steak, then sighed. “It’s good food, but honestly, Abby, this isn’t a good look for you. Our friends are used to seeing you dressed up, not in black slacks and an apron.”
“I know,” I said calmly. “But it’s temporary. I’m still looking for something better. This is just to keep us going.”
He grunted and kept eating, and for the first time, I felt like I didn’t even recognize the man I married.
Gregor’s Birthday Party
Months later, Gregor turned 45 and decided to throw himself a huge birthday bash at an expensive restaurant.
“So he complains about being the only breadwinner but has no problem wasting money on this party?” my mom said on the phone.
I sighed. “I know, Mom. But I’m looking forward to it. It’s my first weekend off in a while. I just want to relax and have some fun.”
When the night came, I greeted Gregor at the restaurant with a kiss. “Happy birthday, my love.”
I had even called ahead to have the staff decorate our table with black and silver balloons.
At first, the night was wonderful. The food was amazing, laughter filled the air, and everyone was in high spirits. Soon, tipsy guests began making toasts.
Gregor’s sister Natalia raised her glass first. “Brother, you’re lucky to have Abby in your life. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
Her words touched me deeply. I smiled, feeling grateful someone appreciated me.
Then Gregor stood up. His cheeks were flushed from champagne, and he started laughing before he even spoke.
“Oh, I know I’m lucky, Nat,” he said, smirking. “But let’s be real—Abby’s the lucky one! She’s basically my dependent now. I’d have kicked her out a long time ago if she wasn’t so obedient. Too bad I’ve already invested so much money in her.”
He laughed loudly, shoving a shrimp into his mouth.
The table fell silent. My stomach twisted in knots. My husband had just humiliated me in front of everyone we knew.
Some guests gave awkward chuckles, but most avoided eye contact, clearly uncomfortable.
Gregor laughed harder. “Come on, guys! That was a killer joke!”
But something inside me snapped.
My Turn to Speak
I stood up calmly, my voice steady even though my heart pounded.
“Well, Gregor,” I said. “It seems you’ve forgotten a few things. Let me remind you—and everyone else—about some investments I’ve made.”
All eyes turned to me. Gregor’s smirk faltered.
“The money you used to pay for this luxurious dinner? It didn’t come from your account. It came from my savings fund.”
Gasps rippled across the table.
“I got the notification,” I continued. “You drained my account to reserve this place. And the rest of the bill? That still has to be paid tonight, right?”
Gregor’s face turned pale. “N-no…”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do I need to pull up the bank statement right now? Because I can.”
He swallowed hard. “Correct,” he muttered, barely audible.
“And just so everyone knows, I brought money with me tonight. I didn’t want you to pay for your own birthday, Gregor. I wanted to cover it.” I paused, then smiled coldly. “But now, I think I’ll just keep my money… along with my dignity.”
I looked around the room. Guests whispered, eyes wide with shock. Gregor sat frozen, staring at me like he didn’t recognize the woman standing before him.
Without another word, I picked up my purse and walked out of the restaurant with my head held high.
The Aftermath
I don’t know how Gregor managed to pay that bill, and honestly, 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 house.
I had been in a toxic relationship once before, and I swore I’d never let it happen again.
This time, I was choosing myself.