I’ll never forget Sarah, my lawyer, called me that night with an important message. I had already brought my mother-in-law a tray of homemade lasagna and was on my way when Sarah’s worried voice came on the phone. “Demi, go back now!” She yelled, “Go home!” I turned the car around quickly as my mind raced with questions. I was scared and confused. What I found out that night would shake my life to its core.
Now that I think about it, I see that I was living in a bubble. I thought I had it all under control because I had a great job and was married to a great guy called Matt. What Matt did, though, was sending up red flags beneath the surface. He had a strange relationship with money. He would borrow from me and say he would pay it back, but he never did. I often felt like I had to be careful around his mother Linda because she had a strange effect on him.
As my marriage went on, Matt’s behaviour became more and more upsetting. He would brush off my worries, putting his mother’s needs ahead of mine. I always felt like I wasn’t good enough because Linda was always criticising and disapproving of me. I tried very hard to warm up to her, but she stayed cold and remote.
Matt had asked me to bring food to his mother, who was said to be sick, the night Sarah called. But as I drove to her house, Sarah’s warning showed me something shocking. Matt and Linda came to our house to sign papers that put our house in Linda’s name. As I felt my whole world fall apart, the deception hurt very deeply.
Matt stuttered and had a hard time explaining himself when I talked to him about it. But Sarah quickly stepped in and showed how much they were lying. Matt was being tricked by Linda into a plan to divorce me, leave me with nothing, and marry someone else. The news was terrible, but Sarah’s advice and support helped me get through the dangerous times of divorce and betrayal.
In the end, fairness won out. Matt left with almost nothing, but I came out of it stronger, smarter, and more durable. I bought a new house in my own name only and started to put my life back together. I learnt how important it is to be independent, believe my gut, and forgive others through that experience. Even though the pain of rejection is still there, I’ve learnt to use it to get stronger and grow.
