Lacey once believed her marriage to Aidan was built on love and true partnership. In the early days, he was thoughtful—the kind of man who remembered her favorite coffee order and made homemade soup when she was sick.

But after their wedding, the warmth she had cherished began to fade. At his insistence, she left her career to focus on their home and future family, only to find herself trapped in a cycle of control. Each morning, she woke to chore lists stuck on the fridge, slowly feeling less like a wife and more like unpaid help in her own home.

On Aidan’s 35th birthday, Lacey poured her heart into preparing a beautiful party, hoping to spark joy between them. But instead of gratitude, she was met with humiliation. In front of family and friends, Aidan mocked her, accusing her of “living off him” and not contributing.