My ex-husbands son from his second marriage got ill, and my ex asked me for financial help. I told himabsolutely not!
Im 37, and have been divorced for agesten years, to be precise. My ex cheated with another woman, and I wasnt about to forgive that. Now he lives with her.
She got pregnant, had a baby, and the man actually married her, like some sort of tragic fairy tale but with far more laundry. After all that, I decided avoiding him was my best option. So whatever goes on in their castle of bland domesticness, I frankly dont know.
Fortunately, Im not struggling for cashmy salarys rather lovely. Then, last week, my ex turns up at my door. Hadnt clapped eyes on him for years, so you can imagine the shock. I was preparing to deliver a classic What on earth are you doing here? but he beat me to it. First thing out of his mouth was about his son being diagnosed with cancer. And the treatments going to be pricey. He and his wife dont have that kind of money, so, naturally, he thought hed pop round to see me.
Now, I do have a fair bit put asiderecently sold the house Grandmother left me. He obviously heard the news and thought his luck was in. Couldnt be more perfectly timed for him, really. The universe practically rolled out a velvet carpet.
I hadnt decided what to do with the money yet. Was thinking about splashing out on a decent car, although Id have to learn to drive firstI know, embarrassingly late in life. Just never found the time. And the sums not exactly chicken feed. I had zero desire to part with it. Honestly, if Id fallen ill, do you think hed cough up for me? I doubt it would even cross his mind.
Hes there, nearly wringing his hands and saying, You have no idea how desperate we are! The irony! He never once considered my feelings. Nor did his wife, if memory serves. Lets not forget he swapped me out for her without even hesitating. We split everything fifty-fifty during the divorce. He argued he needed all of it for his new family, and even had the nerve to ask me to reimburse him for the flatnever mind that Id bought it long before our wedding. That financial detail turned out to be my saving grace. Oh, the drama! And now hes here, demanding cash and talking about how hard done by he is.
He even said hed bring medical documents to prove its real if I didnt believe him. But I dont need his paperwork. Im not even going to think about it. So what if he swears theyll pay me back? Theres rehabilitation after treatment, tooanother mountain of costs. Honestly, I doubt hed return a single penny.
Why dont you try the bank? I suggested, entirely straight-faced.
Said all this to his face. He shouted, threatened to get on his knees. But this isnt what I wanthumiliating him achieves nothing. I simply dont want to see him, dont want him around. He traded me in without a flicker of remorse. Betrayed me. So, frankly, he can jog on. He muttered hed come back once Id calmed down and reconsidered. Fat chancetheres nothing to reconsider.
Some might say I have no heart. But honestly, Id rather manage my own money. Im not sharing it; its mine. After the conversation, I did feel a smidge guiltymaybe Im not entirely heartless. Still, I wont help them. Perhaps it can be a lesson in karma, a bit of well-deserved payback.
