The Three Hundred Dollar Wife

From the back cover

Each month, Carter hands his wife Elena three hundred dollars and wires the rest of his ten-thousand-dollar salary to his mother, Loretta, who runs the household finances. After a year of silence, Elena snaps: she keeps the cash and announces that her own paycheck will now go to her mother instead. Carter and Loretta are outraged, insisting a man's mother should manage his money while a wife's place is to obey.

Elena appears to surrender, apologizing sweetly and letting Loretta believe she has won. In secret, she gives her debit card to her mother, who vows to guard every cent. The next morning there is only plain oatmeal, and Elena calmly explains the allowance is gone to utilities. When Loretta demands an expensive dinner for Aunt Debbie's family, Elena claims she is broke, and Carter transfers five hundred dollars with the order to make it last.

Elena fills the fridge and plays the gracious host, but when Aunt Debbie asks Carter to help cousin Jason with a house down payment, the real test begins.