I thought proposing to Natalie would mark the beginning of our forever. After two years of what seemed like a perfect relationship, I was confident in my decision. So, one evening, I knelt down and asked, “Natalie, will you marry me?” Her eyes widened in surprise, then softened as she smiled. “Yes, yes, of course, yes!” she cried, throwing her arms around me. I slipped the ring on her finger, and we embraced, imagining the life we’d always dreamed of.
The first week of our engagement was everything I’d hoped for. We shared the news with our families, discussed wedding plans, and dreamed about our future together. Everything felt right—until it didn’t.
One evening, I came home from work to find six women in our kitchen, lounging around and eating my expensive food—caviar, fine cheeses, snacks I had saved for a special occasion. Confused, I asked, “Who are they? I thought I knew all your friends.”
Natalie smiled, almost too casually. “These are my inner circle. I didn’t introduce them earlier because I wanted to wait until we were a ‘sure thing.’” They barely acknowledged me, and one of them even scooped the last of my caviar onto a cracker. My stomach tightened.
I pulled Natalie aside, frustrated. “I was saving that for a special night. Why didn’t you ask me first?” She waved her hand, brushing it off. “Don’t be such a buzzkill. It’s just food. We can buy more.”
I bit my tongue, not wanting to start a fight, but I felt a simmering unease. This wasn’t how I imagined our life together. A few days later, the same group of women was back in our living room, and more of my expensive snacks were gone. I waited until they left before speaking up. “Maybe next time, we could plan this out? You didn’t even ask me.”
Natalie sighed, rolling her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous. They’re my friends, and this is my home too now.” Her tone made it clear she didn’t care about my concerns.
After a few more unannounced visits from her “inner circle,” I snapped. “I’m locking up the fridge, Natalie. I’m serious.”
She just laughed. “You’re no fun,” she said, brushing it off.
Then came the dinner with her friends at a fancy restaurant. I agreed to go, hoping it might help smooth things over. But as soon as I walked in, I regretted it. The women were already seated, sipping cocktails and dressed in expensive clothes. The interrogation began almost immediately.
“So, David, what exactly do you do again?” one asked, leaning forward with a sharp smile.
“I work in finance,” I replied, trying to keep things neutral.
Another woman chimed in, “Finance, huh? That must be good money. What kind of house do you have?”
I blinked, surprised by the directness. “I have a place just outside the city.”
“Must be nice,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “How much did it cost?”
I hesitated. “I’d rather not discuss that.”
They exchanged glances, then changed the subject. But every time I tried to ask them something, they dodged it. The conversation felt off, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were scrutinizing me, my money, and my future plans. Natalie sat there, smiling as if everything was fine, but I was growing more uncomfortable by the minute. This wasn’t the woman I had fallen in love with.
The conversation took a disturbing turn when they started talking about “evolving dynamics” and polyamory. One woman said, “Polyamory is so misunderstood. It’s all about love without limits.”
Another added, “Yeah, and staying friends with exes. It’s just being mature, right?”
I looked at Natalie, hoping for some sign of discomfort, but instead, she nodded along. “I mean, we shouldn’t be too hasty about these things,” she said lightly.
I stared at her in disbelief. “What? You’ve always been clear about wanting monogamy. And you’ve never been into staying friends with exes.”
She gave me a tight smile. “People can change, David. It’s important to keep an open mind.”
The ground beneath me felt like it was shifting. This wasn’t the Natalie I knew, and I didn’t know what to say. I stayed quiet, trying to make sense of what was happening.
When the bill came, one of the women slid it toward me. “You can cover this, right?” she said, almost like it was an order.
I stared at her, then at Natalie, hoping for some support. But she just shrugged. “Come on, you’re the guy.”
I couldn’t believe it. I paid for my part and stood up, feeling utterly disrespected. “I’m done here,” I said, walking out without looking back.
The next day, I tried to talk to Natalie, but she brushed it off. “You’re being fragile and toxic. It’s just work stress.” But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously off.
Then, I got an alert on my phone from my Nest Doorbell. I watched the footage and saw Natalie and one of her friends carrying my golf clubs out of the house. My expensive set, the one my dad gave me.
I called her immediately. “Natalie, why are my golf clubs leaving the house?”
She sounded irritated. “Oh, I told you I was lending them to Emily’s boyfriend, remember?”
“No, you didn’t,” I said, trying to stay calm. “Get them back here now.”
She argued, but I was done. “If they’re not back in an hour, I’m calling the cops.”
Forty-five minutes later, they were back, dumped carelessly on the living room floor. No apology, no explanation. I was furious. When I confronted her, she called me “toxic” again. “If this is your true self, maybe I made a mistake,” I said.
She begged for another chance, but I was done listening to her excuses.
The final straw came when she planned a party at my house without asking. I told her no, but she ignored me. So, on the day of the party, I changed the locks and went to a friend’s place.
When she called, furious, I told her, “We’re done.” I hung up and walked past the confused guests standing outside, locking the door behind me. I blocked her number.
The engagement was over. The woman I thought I knew was gone, replaced by someone I couldn’t trust. I felt a strange sense of relief as I locked the door behind me, reclaiming my life.
Sitting in the living room, the silence was jarring. The engagement ring sat on the coffee table, a reminder of what I thought we had. I stared at it, then leaned back, feeling peace and clarity for the first time in weeks.
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