Laura imagined starting over alone, budgeting every decision, measuring every expense. Independence felt less empowering now. There would be no margin for error. Each choice would carry weight. She pictured herself calculating groceries, delaying repairs, choosing caution over comfort, and survival over possibility.
The betrayal suddenly felt both personal and financial, inseparable. Love and money tangled into one wound. Laura felt exposed, underestimated, and disposable. Her trust was fractured by his quiet planning. It suggested that all along she had been managed, not partnered, and excluded from decisions shaping her future.