In Mexico, surrounded by stunning beaches, my husband Luke’s behavior baffled me. I asked him to take photos, but he constantly refused, saying, “I’m not in the mood.” At first, I thought he was just tired, but it kept happening. One evening, on a beautiful beach, I wore a new dress and asked, “Can you take a picture of me with the sunset?” He snapped, “Not now, Hannah,” and turned away.
I noticed Luke being overly protective of his phone. When he left it unattended, I looked and discovered hurtful messages to his friends. He wrote, “Imagine, guys, at her weight, she still wants me to take pictures of her!” Tears filled my eyes. I felt betrayed by the man I loved and trusted. I cried quietly, not wanting our kids to hear.
I had inherited a substantial amount from an uncle I never met. Planning to share this news during our trip, I hesitated after discovering Luke’s true feelings. When Luke learned of the inheritance through his mother, he apologized with flowers, suggesting, “With your new money, you can hire a trainer and lose weight.” Furious, I replied, “Maybe I will, Luke. But not so you can ogle at me.” I told him I wanted a divorce.
Luke begged, “Please, Hannah, don’t leave me.” His concern was more about losing access to the money than our relationship. I realized how little he valued me. “You love my money more than me,” I said, leaving him. Returning home, I focused on my kids and myself, gaining confidence and support from friends and family. Running into Luke later, I felt no need to engage, knowing I was now free to live my life on my terms.