I was folding baby clothes when I got the call: my grandmother left me $670,000. It was overwhelming. That evening, Elijah seemed unusually happy—he already knew about the money.
Behind my back, Elijah quit his job. The next morning, he lounged on the couch, saying, “You had your maternity leave; now it’s my turn to relax.”
I didn’t argue. Instead, I made a schedule for his “retirement,” listing all the duties of caring for Sophie. Elijah laughed, thinking I was joking.
I left for the gym, telling him, “You’re with your daughter. You’ll be fine.” When I came back, the house was a mess, and Elijah looked frazzled.
At a barbecue, I gave him a glittery apron that read, “RETIRED: Living Off My Wife’s Inheritance.” The guests laughed, and Elijah turned red.
Later, I told him the inheritance was locked in a trust for Sophie and me. He was stunned but accepted it.
He tried to get his old job back but ended up working at a coffee shop. I learned that setting boundaries is strength, and sometimes a firm lesson is necessary.
