Thrifty Husband Suspects Wife is Cheating on Him with His Best Friend For Money — Story of the Day

Alan's frugality strains his marriage, leading to suspicion when he uncovers that his wife, Ellie, is consorting with his best friend, Simon. But their journey to a secret destination unveils the truth, offering a path to mend their relationship and trust.

Ellie was done. She was really done. She knew it was now or never. So, as soon as Simon came home, she broached the subject.

"Alan, we need to talk," she began. "Your obsession to save money… is making me go crazy. We haven't even bought basic things like a washing machine. And when was the last time we went shopping? My phone is about to stop working, and you know it!"

Alan paused, confused. "Obsession? I'm just being smart with our money. It's important to be cautious."

"It's not just about caution; it's about enjoying life! We're missing out because you want to save all the time. A washing machine would save us so much time and money instead of going to the laundry place," Ellie insisted.

"I thought I was doing what's best for our future."

"Oh, really? What kind of future is that?" Ellie retorted. "One where we've saved but have no memories because we were too busy counting pennies?"

"I'm not sure I know how to live any differently," Alan confessed.

"Then maybe it's time you learned, Alan. Before it's too late. Before this," she gestured between them, "is beyond repair."

The room fell silent, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall as Ellie walked away. Alan was lost in his thoughts, thinking about what Ellie had said when there was a knock on the front door. As he answered, he found his best friend, Simon, on the doorstep, looking really worried and upset.

"Simon? What's up, mate?" Alan asked. "All good?"

"Alan, I'm in trouble with money. I made some bad choices with investments. Can you lend me $50,000?"

"That's a lot of money, Simon. You know how I am with finances," Alan said, torn between his habitual thriftiness and helping a friend in dire need.

"I wouldn't ask if I weren't desperate. You're my last hope," Simon pleaded, highlighting the gravity of his situation.

Alan finally decided to help his financially strapped friend but under strict conditions. "Okay, mate. I'll help you, but we need strict terms for this loan. This isn't just about the money. It's about trust, about friendship," Alan stated firmly.

Simon nodded, relieved yet surprised by the formality. "Understood. What are the terms?"

Alan laid out the conditions: "First, the loan will have a 5% annual compound interest rate. If you're late on a payment, there's a 1% penalty per month delayed. And I'll need monthly updates on your financial situation."

It was awkward what Alan was doing. Like, who makes a deal like that with a friend? But despite the awkwardness, Simon agreed, appreciating Alan's support.

The next day, Alan and Ellie visited a car dealership. After much pleading, Ellie convinced Alan to get a new car, and he agreed because he thought it was a good chance to fix the problems between them.

As they entered, a cheerful salesperson approached them. "Welcome! How can I assist you today?"

Ellie forced a smile. "We're considering a new car. Something reliable and economical," she said politely.

But Alan was stiff, critically appraising the vehicles on display. "Economical, indeed. I'd like to see the models with the best fuel efficiency. And your most cost-effective options," he added, emphasizing the words "cost-effective."

"Of course, let me show you some of our options that fit those criteria," the salesman replied.

While browsing, Alan persistently inquired about each car's practicality, which upset Ellie. She just wanted something economical and comfortable.

"Heated seats? We don't need that. It's an extra we can do without," Alan complained, looking at one of the cars.

Noticing their differing preferences, the salesman showed them a car that was both cost-effective and comfortable. "This car is popular among families. It has excellent fuel economy, is very safe, and includes some nice comfort features," he explained.

Ellie turned to Alan. "This looks like the right one for us. What do you think?"

"Comfort is subjective. The real deal maker is value for money."

"Yes, absolutely," the salesman replied, eager to provide more details. "It's designed to maximize mileage, and it has a range of economical features that really set it apart from the competition."

For a short time, Alan seemed slightly interested. He asked a few direct questions about how much it costs to keep the car running and how much it might be worth later.

But as the salesman kept praising the car, Alan's small spark of interest faded, and he went back to not wanting to buy. The final straw for Alan was the salesman talking about affordable financing plans.

"Affordable financing? That just means they want to trap us into paying more than the car is worth," he said sharply, losing any interest he had. He turned to Ellie, "We're not here to make this guy's day by spending all our money on something we don't really need."

Ellie lost her cool. "It's not just about the car, Alan. It's about us making decisions together."

"I'm thinking of us, Ellie. Our future. That's why I'm careful."

"No, Alan. You're just being stubborn. You always wanting to save money is pushing us apart!"

***

Their ride home was quiet and tense, as if they were getting further apart from each other. Later, Alan heard Ellie on the phone talking about "fifty thousand," the same amount he'd talked about with Simon. His heart raced.

He tried to talk to her, saying, "I thought I'd do the laundry. Could use your help. Might be good for us, doing something together."

But Ellie refused. "I've got plans. I'm meeting Mary-Beth for coffee."

Alan could feel something was wrong. As the hours went by, he couldn't sit still. He decided to call Mary-Beth, pretending he was just looking for Ellie.

"Hey, Mary-Beth. Sorry to bother you so late — I'm just trying to track down Ellie. She mentioned she was meeting you for coffee, but she's been gone for hours now, and I'm starting to worry. Have you seen her?"

Mary-Beth sounded confused. "Coffee? No, I haven't seen her today. We had no plans. Is everything okay?"

This lie confirmed Alan's worst fears. If Ellie wasn't with Mary-Beth, she must be with Simon. Why else lie?

In a frenzy, Alan packed Ellie's belongings into a suitcase. When Ellie returned, she found her belongings outside the door.

But before Ellie could fully process what it meant, the front door swung open, revealing Alan.

"Alan, what's this?" she asked, bewildered.

"You tell me, Ellie. Or should I ask Simon?"

"Simon? This is about us, Alan. Why bring him into this?"

"Meeting in secret, talking about fifty thousand? Lying about where you've been?"

Realization dawned on Ellie. "You've got it wrong, Alan. It's not an affair. I was looking at ways to use that fifty thousand for us, to bring us closer."

Alan's skepticism faltered, his anger softening into confusion and a hint of hope. "Together? Us?" he stammered.

"Yes, Alan. I wanted to surprise you with a plan that balances our dreams and financial security. Trust me, please."

Hand in hand, they walked to their old car. During the drive, Ellie explained her plans for the future, where their dreams and money worked together perfectly. When they got to the car dealership, Alan was surprised instead of tense, curious about why they were there.

Then he spotted Simon next to a car with ribbons, smiling. "Ellie told me about her idea of starting something that could benefit not just you two but others as well. This car," he gestured to the ribbon-adorned vehicle, "is the first step towards that.

"The fifty thousand was for this — for a start on a fleet of Uber vehicles. It's an investment in your future, in your freedom to build something together. And, by the way, we traded in that old jalopy of yours — just hand the keys in at the desk when you're ready."

Turning to Alan, Ellie smiled. "I wanted us to see that we can grow and make something ourselves. This is our first step in our own business, our path to making our own money," she confessed.

Alan was moved by Ellie's belief and Simon's help and couldn't find the words to respond. Taking the keys, he felt as if a weight had been lifted. "Ellie, thank you for seeing a future I was scared to see," he managed to say, his eyes welling up. Then he took a deep breath.

"I want to start over, Ellie," he began. "First, I'm buying that washing machine we've needed. Then, we'll get whatever else we've been missing. It's time to spend on our happiness, not just save money."

"That sounds perfect, Alan. I've missed us being us, dreaming and laughing together. This car," she said, pointing down, "is just the beginning, right?"

"Yes," Alan said, holding her hand lovingly.

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If you enjoyed reading this story, here's another one: While walking with her boyfriend, a handsome stranger with a dazzling sportscar proves to be too tempting for Jen to resist. She agrees to spend an evening with the wealthy stranger, never realizing that she's fallen straight into a trap.

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