A 32-year-old woman found herself in a recurring predicament months into her relationship: every time she and her 35-year-old boyfriend took his two children out to eat, he would mysteriously “forget” his wallet, leaving her to pick up the bill. What began as occasional absent-mindedness grew into a troubling pattern that left her questioning not only his motives but the future of their relationship.

At first, she brushed it off. Anyone could forget their wallet once or twice. She didn’t mind covering the meal, especially since the children seemed to enjoy these outings. But as the months went on, the “forgetfulness” became predictable—so much so that she almost expected the awkward pause, the patting of his pockets, and the sheepish grin when the bill arrived.

The financial strain became real. She had just taken on a second part-time job to make ends meet, and yet she found herself footing the bill for expensive dinners week after week. What stung even more was his dismissive attitude whenever she brought it up.

One afternoon, before yet another planned dinner, she texted him a lighthearted reminder: “Don’t forget your wallet tonight.” He replied with a laughing emoji, brushing her off.

That night, as his children eagerly ordered the most expensive dishes on the menu, she decided she was done being the backup wallet. Casually but firmly, she asked him across the table, “You did bring your wallet this time, right?”

His performance was almost theatrical. He patted his jacket, checked his jeans, then sighed: “Guess I left it in the other pair I thought I was going to wear.”

When he leaned closer with that same grin and whispered, “Can you just cover it one more time?” something in her snapped.

She put down her fork, gathered her things, and said clearly, “No. Not anymore.” Then she stood up and walked out.

Her boyfriend sat stunned, his kids staring in confusion as she left him to deal with the check he had never planned to pay. Later that night, he called her in anger. He accused her of humiliating him in front of his children, of leaving them hungry, of being “selfish” and unfit to handle the responsibilities of dating a man with kids.

She fired back. “This isn’t about your children. This is about you using me. And I won’t let it continue.”

Conflicted but needing clarity, she turned to Reddit to share her story. The responses poured in. Strangers overwhelmingly sided with her, pointing out the manipulation, the pattern, and the emotional guilt-tripping. Many warned her that if she tolerated this behavior now, it would only escalate into bigger issues—financial and otherwise—down the road.

As she read through the comments, she realized the real issue wasn’t the money. It was respect, trust, and the kind of partnership she deserved. She had carried the burden long enough.

Now, she faced a hard truth: was she willing to remain in a relationship where she was expected to sacrifice constantly while being gaslit into thinking she was wrong for standing her ground? Or was it time to walk away for good?