I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me. Gaby stood in the doorway, surprise and fury mixing on her face.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“Setting up a fund for your daughters, like you wanted. From our joint income.”
“And the money from Edith?”
“Stays where it is. It’s non-negotiable.”
Her face twisted with anger. “You think this fixes anything? This is a slap in the face!”
“No, Gaby. This is setting boundaries. We build our future together without taking what’s not ours.”
“You’re choosing your daughters over us. Admit it!” she accused, her voice shaking.
“I’m honoring Edith’s wishes. If you can’t respect that, we have a bigger problem.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but I couldn’t tell if they were from genuine hurt or frustration. “I thought we were partners.”
“We are. But being partners doesn’t mean erasing the past.”
She turned and stormed off. “This isn’t over, Charlie.”
In the weeks that followed, Gaby fluctuated between guilt-tripping me and giving me the cold shoulder. But I held firm.
One evening, while tucking my daughters in, my oldest asked, “Daddy, is everything okay with you and Gaby?”
I hesitated. “We’re working through some things, but don’t worry about it.”
She nodded, concern in her eyes. “We don’t want you to be sad again.”
I hugged her tightly. “I promise, I’m not sad. Your happiness means everything to me.”
After leaving their room, I found Gaby waiting in the hallway. “They’re good kids, Charlie. But my girls deserve just as much.”
“They do,” I agreed. “And that’s why we’re contributing to their fund together.”
She scoffed. “That’s just your way of placating me. It’s not the same.”
“This conversation is over,” I said firmly.
Months passed. While the tension lessened, resentment lingered. One day, Gaby approached me as I watched the girls play. “They look happy,” she said.
“They are.”
“It could’ve been better for all of them if you’d just listened.”
“No, Gaby. It would’ve been unfair. I’m protecting what’s right.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but I raised my hand. “This discussion has been over for months.”
She stormed off, and though sadness washed over me, relief followed. Gaby had revealed her true colors, and while our marriage was strained, I knew I’d done the right thing.
I had made my stance clear: Edith’s legacy was untouchable. Gaby learned she couldn’t manipulate me into doing what she wanted. I’d protected my daughters’ future, and that was all that mattered.
As I watched my girls laugh and play, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I would always stand firm in protecting what was most important—our family’s future and the memory of their mother.