Lacey first met Aidan at a beach bonfire one crisp October night. She was drawn to the warmth in his eyes and the way his laughter rose above the crackle of the fire. He noticed the smallest details about her—how she liked her coffee light with no sugar, how she microwaved muffins for exactly eight seconds so the chocolate chips would melt, how she always reached for homemade soup when feeling under the weather. Those thoughtful gestures made her believe she had found someone rare.
Two years later, they married. At the time, Lacey was thriving in her marketing career, and Aidan’s software engineering job was going well. He often talked about starting a family and encouraged her to leave her job so they could “do things the right way,” promising to take care of them both. Against her better judgment, she agreed, believing it was part of building their future together.
But soon after she left her job, things changed. The morning coffee and gentle goodnights faded away. Their life began to revolve around his rules. Every morning, Lacey found chore lists on the fridge—groceries, mopping, laundry, elaborate dinners. When she suggested taking freelance work for her own independence, he dismissed the idea, insisting, “You’re home now. We agreed.” In truth, it had never really been her choice.
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