“How dare you block my sister’s card?!” my husband shouted angrily.
Anna was flipping through reports on her tablet when the door flew open with a loud bang and Matthew burst in. One look at his face was enough for her to understand: something had happened. He didn’t even take off his shoes, stopped on the threshold, and his voice cut sharply through the silence of the apartment:
“How dare you block my sister’s card?!” he yelled, waving his phone. “She just called me in tears! She says she can’t even buy groceries!”
Anna slowly set the tablet aside and looked at Matthew. Calmly. Too calmly, considering she was being accused of cruelty.
“Sit down,” she said evenly. “Let’s talk.”
“What do you mean, ‘sit down’?” Matthew stepped farther into the room but didn’t sit. “Do you even realize what you did? Natalie is left without money! Not a single cent!”
“Not a single cent?” Anna raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. Then why did your mother say yesterday that Natalie has been living with them for three weeks now and hasn’t given a single cent toward groceries?”
Matthew fell silent. For a brief moment.
“What does my mother have to do with this? We agreed we’d help Natalie until she found a job. You agreed yourself!”
Anna stood up, walked over to the window, and looked out at the early evening city. The lights were slowly coming on below, and the gray view turned into something cozy, distant. Far away from this conversation.
It had all started two months earlier. Matthew had come home from work in a bad mood, poured himself some tea, and sat silently in the kitchen for a long time. Anna knew it was better not to rush him—he would speak when he was ready.
“Natalie was laid off,” he finally said. “From her job. She says the company is ‘optimizing,’ and they fired half the department.”
Anna set the frying pan down on the stove.
“That’s a shame. Is she already looking for a new job?”
“Of course she is. But you know how hard it is to find work these days…” Matthew rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Anna, I was thinking… maybe we could help her a little. Temporarily. A month or two, no more.”
Anna stopped, still holding the onion in her hand.
“Help… how?”
“I don’t know… rent, groceries. So she doesn’t have to worry about the basics while she’s looking. You know, she rents an apartment, her expenses are high…”
Anna knew she was going to say yes. Not because she was a pushover. But because Matthew rarely asked her for anything, and refusing to help his sister… that wouldn’t have been right. Family is family.
“Okay,” she nodded. “I’ll make a supplementary card linked to my account for her and set a limit. She should just let me know in advance if she needs anything extra, so there are no misunderstandings.”
Matthew hugged her from behind.
“Thank you. Really. Natalie will appreciate it, I know.”
Anna didn’t reply and went back to chopping the onion. But inside, a strange, uneasy feeling scratched at something—one she decided to ignore.
The first month went fine. Anna set a limit that allowed Natalie to pay for her modest studio apartment in the suburbs, buy groceries, and get around. Modestly, but decently.
Natalie occasionally wrote thank-you messages in the family group chat: “Thank you so much, you’re saving me,” “I don’t even know what I’d do without you.” Matthew was satisfied, and Anna was calm. Everything was going according to plan.
Then came that evening at Newport Beach.
Anna had met with a colleague to discuss a new project over a glass of wine.
The restaurant wasn’t among the cheap ones—the average bill per person started at three thousand. It was the kind of place people went to for special occasions or business meetings.
And then, as she passed a table by a distant panoramic window, Anna heard a familiar laugh. Almost reflexively, she turned around. At the table, covered with plates of pasta and seafood and a bottle of white wine, sat Natalie. In a new dress. In the company of three girlfriends. They were talking, laughing, clearly carefree and happy.
Anna froze. For a moment she hesitated—should she go over or not? Then she decided it wasn’t worth it. She simply turned around and went back to their own table.
“Everything okay?” the colleague asked.
“Yes,” Anna nodded. “Everything’s fine.”
But it wasn’t fine.
That evening she didn’t say anything to Matthew. Maybe the girls really needed a little time off; maybe the friends paid. Or maybe they were celebrating a birthday. No need to jump to conclusions.
But the doubt was already there.
The next time she saw Natalie was at the mall. Saturday, noon. Anna was buying bed linens when she spotted the familiar figure at the exit of a clothing store. Natalie was on the phone, two large shopping bags in her hands, and she looked very pleased.
This time Anna went up to her.
“Natalie?”
The girl flinched, then turned around. For a split second something like fear crossed her face, but she quickly pulled herself together and tried to smile.
“Anna! Hi! What a coincidence!”
“Hi.” Anna nodded toward the full bags. “Shopping?”
“Uh… yes, it’s…,” Natalie hesitated. “You know, there was a big sale, I couldn’t resist. T‑shirts for three hundred, and the jeans were practically free.”
“I see.” Anna forced a smile. “Nice. And… have you found a job yet?”
“Not yet,” Natalie lowered her eyes. “But I’m really trying, honestly. I’ve already been to several interviews.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Good luck.”
They said goodbye, and Anna walked on, but inside something tightened into a hard knot. A sale, sure. That store really did have promotions. Only the bags were stuffed full, and Natalie didn’t look at all like someone barely scraping by.
That evening, when Matthew was watching soccer, Anna sat down beside him.
“Matthew, I need to talk to you.”
“Now?” the man didn’t take his eyes off the screen.
“Yes. About Natalie.”
That finally made him turn.
“What happened?”
“I saw her. Twice. First at the restaurant with her girlfriends, then at the mall loaded down with shopping.”
Matthew frowned.
“And?”
“What do you mean, ‘and’?” Anna tried to keep her composure. “We’re giving her money for food and housing, and she’s having lunch at three‑thousand‑per‑person restaurants and buying brand‑name clothes.”
“Anna,” Matthew sighed, like he was explaining something obvious to a child, “maybe the friends paid. You didn’t see who handed over the money. And the shopping… she said there was a sale. Do you want her to walk around in rags?”
“I want her not to lie.”
“She’s not lying!” Matthew raised his voice. “You’re just biased against her!”
“Me?” Anna felt something snap inside. “I’m the one who agreed we should help her, and I’m biased?”
“You immediately assumed the worst! You didn’t ask, you didn’t clarify—you just started accusing!”
Anna stood up.
“You know what, Matthew? Fine. Have it your way.”
She went into the bedroom, closed the door, and sat down on the edge of the bed. It was the first time in their marriage that she felt Matthew was not on her side. If he had to choose between her and his family, he would always choose his family.
The next day, Anna called her mother-in-law. Mary was a straightforward, mostly fair woman. If anyone spoke the truth, it was her.
“Mary, good afternoon. How are you?”
“Hi, Anna, dear. Oh, I’m getting by somehow. And you?”
“I’m fine. Listen, I wanted to ask you something… Does Natalie visit you often?”
Silence.
“Why are you asking?”
“Just curious.”
“Anna,” Mary’s voice grew more serious, “Natalie is living with me. She’s been here for three weeks.”
Anna froze.
“Living with you? You mean… she moved in with you?”
“Of course. She said that you and Matthew didn’t want to help anymore, and she had to move out of her rental. And I… well, I took her in. What else could I do? She’s my daughter.”
Everything inside Anna turned ice-cold.
“Mary, we didn’t refuse to help. I applied for a separate card for her so she could pay for everything she needed.”
On the other end of the line, there was stunned silence.
“You… what did you do?” she finally asked in shock. “What kind of card?”
“For groceries, rent, transportation. Matthew asked that we help, and I agreed.”
“Anna…” Mary’s voice trembled. “She hasn’t given me a single cent. Not for food, not for utilities. She lives with me, eats my food, and hasn’t even offered to contribute. I thought she really had no money!”
Anna closed her eyes. So that was it. Natalie had moved in with her mother, stopped paying rent, cut her expenses to a minimum, and all the while was spending money from Anna’s card on restaurants, clothes, and entertainment.
“Mary, thank you. I’ll… take care of it.”
“Anna, wait. Don’t think I knew about this. I never—”
“I know. Don’t worry. This isn’t your fault.”
Anna hung up and sat motionless for a long time, staring at one spot. Then she opened the banking app, found Natalie’s card, and blocked it. Three taps. Done.
“How dare you block my sister’s card?!” her husband shouted, standing in the middle of the living room.
Anna didn’t get up from the couch. She just looked at him—the man she had lived with for ten years, the father of her child, the man with whom she had built a home together. And now he was yelling at her over a woman who had deceived them.
“I won’t let myself be used,” she said quietly but firmly.
“What?” Matthew was almost thrown off by the answer.
“Your sister lied to us. She’s living with your mother, paying for nothing, and spending the money we give her on entertainment. I called Mary. She confirmed everything.”
Matthew opened his mouth, then closed it. He tried to say something, but no sound came out.
“You… called my mother? You checked up on her?”
“Of course I checked. Because you didn’t believe me. When I told you I’d seen Natalie at restaurants and in shopping malls, you immediately defended her. Not me. Her.”
“She’s my sister!”
“And who am I?” Anna finally stood up, steel ringing in her voice. “Your wife. The mother of your son. The person who has been supporting you for the past six months while you try to get your project off the ground. And instead of listening to me, you chose to defend a woman who cynically took advantage of us.”
Matthew turned pale.
“What are you getting at?”
— That — Anna stepped toward him — is that if you keep defending people who take advantage of us, I won’t just block Natalie. I’ll block yours too.
— You… you can’t do that…
— Yes, I can. This is my account. I earn the money. And I decide who I give it to and what for.
Matthew stood there with his mouth open, unable to say a word. And Anna saw it in his eyes—the pride, the hurt, the anger, and yes, she saw it clearly—realization, all fighting with each other. Slowly, painfully, he understood that Anna was right.
— Natalie deceived us — Anna continued, calmer now. — She lied to you, to me, and to your mother. She didn’t spend the money on what we gave it for. And instead of admitting that, you attacked me. Well, Matthew, I’m not playing this game anymore.
— I… — Matthew rubbed his face. — I didn’t know.
— You would have, if you’d listened to me from the start.
The man sat down on the couch and lowered his head. Anna remained standing, looking down at him. She felt no satisfaction. Only exhaustion.
— What am I supposed to do now? — Matthew asked at last, broken.
— Call your sister. Tell her it’s over. That she needs to apologize to your mother and finally look for a real job instead of just pretending.
— And if…
— If she refuses — that’s her choice. But we’re not taking part in this circus anymore.
Matthew nodded without looking up. Anna sighed, went into the kitchen, and put the kettle on. Her hands trembled slightly—the aftershocks of the confrontation hadn’t faded yet. But inside, there was peace. For the first time in a long while.
That evening, Matthew called Natalie. Anna didn’t eavesdrop—she just sat in the next room and heard fragments of the conversation.
— No, Natalie, we’re not going to anymore… Because you lied… Yes, Mom told me… No, it’s not Anna’s fault, it’s yours… I don’t want to talk about this. The conversation is over.
He hung up and then went over to Anna. He sat down across from her and, after a long silence, spoke.
— She said I’m a traitor — he forced out. — That I chose my wife over my family.
— I am your family — Anna replied calmly. — Our son is your family. And Natalie is an adult woman who should bear the consequences of her own actions.
Matthew nodded.
— I’m sorry — he said. — That I didn’t believe you right away. That I yelled at you.
— I accept your apology — Anna took his hand. — But remember this feeling, Matthew. Remember what it’s like when the person who should be standing by your side suddenly turns against you.
Matthew clenched his fingers.
— I will.
Two weeks passed. Natalie didn’t apologize to either Anna or her mother. But—strangely enough—she found a job very quickly. Apparently, when easy money disappears, motivation suddenly increases.
Mary called Anna and thanked her for opening her eyes.
— You know, Anna, I always thought I was just spoiling her. Out of motherly love. But now I see that I was really raising a parasite.
— It’s never too late to change — Anna replied.
One evening, already lying in bed, Matthew wrapped his arms around her and quietly said:
— Thank you for not letting me become a doormat.
— I’ll always be by your side — Anna answered. — But only if you stand by me too.
The man kissed her temple.
— I will. I promise.
And Anna believed him. Because sometimes a person needs a lesson to understand what truly matters. Matthew got his. And it seemed he’d drawn the right conclusions.
And Natalie remained blocked. Forever.