In relationships, finances can be a sensitive topic, and sometimes spouses may engage in certain games or behaviors that can have an impact on their financial situation.
Once upon a time, a couple named Adetutu and Emeka lived in a small town in Ondo state. Adetutu was a talented artist, while Emeka worked as a software engineer. They had been married for several years and shared a deep love for each other. However, their financial situation was far from ideal.
Being passionate about her art, Adetutu dreamed of someday opening her own gallery. She had been saving diligently for this purpose, but Emeka had different ideas. He believed that investing their savings in the stock market would yield significant returns and help them achieve financial stability faster.
The couple had conflicting views on how to handle their finances, leading to a game of financial control between them. Emeka, who was more financially savvy, took charge of managing their savings and investments without fully involving Adetutu in the decision-making process. He justified his actions by claiming that he had their best interests at heart and that his investment strategies were foolproof.
Unknown to Emeka, Adetutu felt sidelined and frustrated by his control over their financial matters. She started secretly saving money from her art sales, feeling the need to maintain some financial independence. Adetutu believed that if she had her own funds, she could eventually open her gallery without having to rely solely on Emeka’s decisions.
As time went by, Emeka’s investment choices proved to be successful, and their savings grew significantly. However, Adetutu’s gallery dreams remained distant and unfulfilled. She became increasingly resentful of Emeka’s dominance over their finances, and their relationship began to suffer. They stopped communicating openly about money, and their once-loving partnership started to fray at the edges.
One evening, as Adetutu was working on a new painting in her studio, she received an unexpected offer. A local art collector, impressed by her talent, approached her with an opportunity to showcase her artwork in a prestigious gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos. Adetutu was thrilled, but she knew she needed funds to cover the expenses associated with such an opportunity.
In a courageous act, Adetutu decided to confront Emeka about her desires, their financial situation, and the control he had exerted over their money. She explained how it made her feel marginalized and expressed her deep yearning to pursue her artistic dreams. Emeka, could not understand why Adetutu felt that way.
He told Adetutu that is how he intends to run his home and he will only release the amount he deems fit for her, to support her passion. Anything outside that will not happen. Emeka felt he will loose financial control if he decides to let Adetutu into their joint financial commitment.
He did not realize the extent of the damage he has caused by his financial game.
Adetutu decided to defer the opportunity she got and she kept saving as much as she can into her secret savings account which Emeka was not aware of.
About two months after, Emeka noticed Adetutu has stopped putting money into the joint account opened by them. He confronted Adetutu about this and threatened to remove her as a signatory to the account if she continues missing her own share of the savings.
Adetutu nodded as if she is in agreement with her husband, Emeka, and she continued putting money aside in her secret savings account.
After a year, Adetutu applied to an International art gallery to enable her to showcase some of her work. She was picked among 50 applicants. She did not say a word of it to Emeka, she told Emeka she was traveling to Lagos to visit her elder sister who was sick and would be staying with her for two weeks. Unknown to Emeka that Adetutu was going for an International Exhibition in Lagos….
To be Continued.
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