The Three Hundred Dollar Wife Chapter 1

"Make it last."

Looking at the three hundred dollars my husband, Carter, had tossed onto the coffee table, I actually laughed.

We’d been married for a year. He pulled in ten thousand a month, easy. Yet, every month, like clockwork, I got three hundred.

The rest? Wired directly to his mother.

But today, something inside me snapped. I was done being the silent, suffering saint.

"Sure thing," I said. I picked up the cash, and right in front of his face, I stuffed it into my purse.

Then, I pulled out my own debit card and slapped it down in front of him.

"Carter, this is my card. The PIN is your birthday. From now on, my money goes to my mother for safekeeping."

* * *

"Elena, have you lost your mind?" Carter’s eyes bulged, looking manic. He grabbed my wrist, his grip tight enough to grind bone.

I stared back at him, cold and detached. The sharp pain in my wrist was nothing compared to the hollow ache in my chest I’d been ignoring for months.

"Lost my mind? Carter, you make ten grand a month. I make four. You hand your paycheck to your mother, and I’ve never said a word. So now, I’m sending my paycheck to my mother. Why exactly is that a problem?"

I spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable. My voice wasn't loud, but it was sharp enough to draw blood.

He stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish, his face cycling through shades of red and pale.

"That... that’s different! I’m the man of the house. Mom manages our finances for our own good! You’re a woman. Sending money to your mother? What does that look like? Is your family broke or something?" He sputtered for a moment before finally resorting to shouting.

"For our own good?" I let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "So, 'for our own good' means your mother hoarding your salary while you get a pathetic allowance, and I get tossed three hundred bucks like a charity case? Carter, look me in the eye and tell me: what does three hundred dollars cover in this city? Does it cover groceries? Or is it supposed to pay the electric and gas bills?"

My voice rose, the volume finally matching the year of accumulated resentment boiling over in my gut.

The living room fell into a deathly silence.

My mother-in-law, Loretta, walked out of the kitchen holding a platter of sliced fruit. She’d heard the tail end of my outburst. Her face instantly darkened. She slammed the platter onto the coffee table with a jarring thud.

"Elena, what is the meaning of this? You think I’m not giving you enough?" Her beady, calculating eyes swept over me, filled with judgment. "My son earns that money with his own sweat and blood. I’m his mother. What is wrong with me helping him manage it? I’m just making sure you young people don’t blow it all on nonsense."

"Young people might blow money, sure. But three hundred a month? Are you afraid I’m going to eat this family into bankruptcy?" I met her gaze head-on, refusing to flinch.

"You..." Loretta choked on her own indignation, pointing a trembling finger at my nose. "You are getting more and more out of line! My son must have been blind to marry you! Is it money you want? Fine! Here! Take it! Just stop this constant whining!"

She reached into her bulging wallet, counted out another three hundred dollars, and slapped it onto the table.

"Enough now? Six hundred! That should be plenty for groceries, right?" The look of disdain on her face made my stomach turn.

I looked at the crumpled bills on the table and smiled.

I picked up my purse and tucked my debit card back inside.

"Mom, don't be angry. I didn't mean it like that." My smile softened, taking on a sickeningly sweet, apologetic edge.

Carter and Loretta froze. They were braced for a screaming match, not a sudden surrender.

Carter’s expression relaxed. He reached out and squeezed my hand. "Elena, honey, don't hold a grudge against Mom. She really is doing it for us."

"I know." I nodded obediently, then turned to Loretta. "Mom, I’m perfectly happy with you managing Carter’s money. I was just blowing off steam. Please don’t take it to heart."

Loretta eyed me suspiciously, but seeing my sudden shift to submissiveness, her ego was stroked. She huffed, accepting the apology.

"As long as you know. We’re family. No need to turn the house upside down over a little money."

I lowered my head to hide the glacial look in my eyes.

Yeah, family.

But in this house, I would never be anything more than the help.

After dinner, I lied about an emergency at the office and left early. Carter didn't suspect a thing; he just told me not to be too late.

I drove past my office building and went straight to my parents’ house.

My mom was in the living room watching TV. She looked up, surprised and delighted.

"Elena? What are you doing here at this hour? Have you eaten?"

I didn't say a word. I just pulled my debit card out of my purse and placed it on the coffee table in front of her.

"Mom, I need you to hold onto this for me. The PIN is your birthday."

She stared at the card, confused. "Honey, what is this? Why are you giving me your money? You should keep it."

I took a deep breath and told her everything—the three hundred dollars, the arguments, the year of humiliation.

By the time I finished, Mom was shaking with rage, her eyes rimmed with red.

"They... how dare they treat you like that! That Carter... I thought he was a good man!"

I squeezed her hand, finding myself comforting her. "Mom, don't be mad. I’m not here to cry about it. I just had a wake-up call. Why is his money 'his mom's money,' but my money is supposed to be 'our' money? If they want to play dirty, I can play dirty too."

Mom looked at me, heartbreak warring with pride in her eyes. She gripped my hand and nodded firmly.

"Good! I’ll keep this safe. Why should the money my daughter earns go to feed those leeches? Don't you worry. I’ll save every cent. They won’t see a dime of it."

With my mother’s promise, the last shred of hesitation evaporated from my heart.

Carter. Loretta. This is just the beginning.

Your free ride is over.