The Life We Built
When Matt and I met, I was already running a successful tech startup in downtown Chicago — earning more than I’d ever imagined, with a beautiful house in the suburbs.
I was tired of dating men who felt threatened by my independence.
I suspected Matt married me for stability, not love. But I convinced myself we could still make it work.
I wasn’t naive — I had a solid, ironclad prenup. He never argued about it, which told me everything.
For nineteen years, we played the part of a respectable couple: brunches with friends, vacations in Hawaii or Cabo, dinner at trendy restaurants.
People called us “stable,” “mature,” “a perfect team.”
But behind Matt’s easy smile, I always sensed calculation — like he was waiting for my success to become his comfort.
