When Susan and her family came for dinner, everything seemed normal, but during the meal, I noticed something alarming about her husband, Stan. Two days later, I urged her to leave him.
Susan married Stan three years ago, and I thought he was perfect for her—handsome, rich, and charming. Together, they seemed like the ideal couple. But over time, small cracks appeared. Last Sunday, I saw something troubling at dinner. Stan’s treatment of Susan was controlling and disrespectful. He gave her orders, belittling her in front of us, as if she were a servant.
After dinner, I pulled Susan aside. She confided that Stan was gradually eroding her confidence, criticizing everything she did and pressuring her to leave her job to focus on being a full-time mother. She felt suffocated and like she was walking on eggshells at home.
I told her what I saw wasn’t love, but manipulation. Over the next few weeks, Susan began planning to leave him. Stan mocked her at first, but she stood firm. She moved in with us, and the divorce is now underway.
I wonder if I did the right thing by encouraging her to leave. But seeing how Stan treated her, I knew she deserved more. Susan and Gabriel deserve better.
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