After returning from the holidays, I was hit with the shocking news that my landlord wanted to raise the rent by $140.

Clutching my phone in frustration, I trembled slightly.

"Don't stress about it." My boyfriend, Kai, wrapped his arms around me and, with a quick fingerprint scan, paid half the increase. "I'll cover $70. This place is convenient for both of us, close to your work and mine."

I turned to explain, but caught sight of a new message notification in his pinned chat.

["Consider the extra rent as part of the engagement. She won't know the property's under your dad's name, anyway."]

It felt like I'd been hit with a sledgehammer—I froze.

To confirm my suspicions, I casually asked Kai about his mother's last name.

"Yasmin," he replied, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"

I remembered seeing the name 'Yasmin's Arrival' in the chat. It hit me that Kai and his mother had kept something from me.

Taking a deep breath, I said lightly, "Your mom sent me a Christmas gift. I thought of getting her a personalized bracelet in return. Funny, your mom and the landlord have the same last name. Maybe they're related?"

Kai's gaze flickered for a moment.

"Silly, lots of people have that last name. If the landlord was really related, why would they raise your rent?"

He quickly switched topics. "Sweetheart, if you want to get a bracelet for my mom, we'll need to check with her first; she's quite particular about these things."

As he spoke, he fiddled with his phone. After setting it down, he smiled at me.

"She says she loves anything from Tiffany's. Any style will do, as long as it's about an ounce."

I didn't respond. Instead, I got up to grab a cold can of Coke from the fridge, letting the chill seep through me. I looked at Kai and spoke with a cold tone:

"Do you know how much money was in the gift she sent me?"

Kai's brow furrowed.

Perfect. His untroubled expression confirmed he knew.

After dating for three years, I had visited his home for the first time over Christmas.

His mother had given me a gift—$0.80 in a card.

When I first discovered the amount, I didn't mention it to Kai. Not wanting it to affect our relationship, I rationalized that it must be a quirky tradition. The amount doesn't matter, it's the thought that counts.

She seemed thoughtful, being very warm and welcoming. During my visit, she introduced me to her family, praised me as pretty and well-mannered, and bragged about how lucky Kai was.

She even pushed for marriage in front of everyone, giving my stomach a lingering look and urging Kai to make an effort. I was embarrassed, yet secretly delighted. Her acceptance led me to seriously consider my future with Kai.

In a moment of impulsive excitement, I worked with a realtor to quietly buy the place I currently live in, using my savings for the down payment.

Kai seemed to love my two-bedroom apartment. More than once, he'd wrapped me in his arms, praising the natural light and convenient location, enthusiastically discussing how he'd arrange the interior. I thought he liked it here and imagined surprising him.

In retrospect, Kai's behavior was likely just a trick to get me to renew the lease. The rent had increased several times, each hike more outrageous than the last, until it was nearly double that of similar places. His pretense of sharing the cost was just his way of keeping me on the hook.

When I signed the purchase contract, I met a man named Kenneth who seemed familiar. I hadn't realized he also shared the same last name—something that initially slipped past me. I simply thought it a coincidence and was curious why my rent transfers went to someone named Yasmin rather than Kenneth, who held the title.

Kenneth hesitated before explaining, "Oh, a relative helps manage the property, so she collects the rent." His expression seemed thoughtful.

Not wanting to pry into their family business, I left it at that.

Since it was over the holidays, the title transfer wasn't immediate. Feeling awkward, I asked Kenneth if I'd still need to pay rent next month. He hesitated, then nodded, assuring me he'd discuss it with his relative.

I hadn't even finished savoring my excitement before I received the news of the rent increase. Kai had been quick to hold my hand and initiate the payment.

Yet, he still looked at me with seemingly genuine affection.

"What's the issue with the gift?" he asked, maintaining his earnest gaze.

I took out the envelope and laid out six single-dollar bills in front of Kai. His eyelid twitched slightly, but he stayed composed. After a couple of seconds of silence, he pressed his lips together and forced a smile.

"Madeline, you’re not upset over this tiny matter, are you?" he asked, trying to sound casual. "This is just how things work around here; I thought you knew that."

Seeing that I still didn't respond, his smile faded. "You know I was raised by a single mom. She doesn't have much income, so whatever was in the envelope, it’s her way of showing she cares."

"If it’s really bothering you, I can make it up. How much do you want, five hundred dollars? A thousand?" He pretended to pull out his phone to transfer money to me.

I continued sipping my espresso in silence, prompting him to return his phone to his pocket. He put on his jacket and stood up to leave.

"Fine, I don’t know what’s gotten into you today. Since you’re not in a good mood, I’ll head out. Get some rest," he said, adding his usual reminder to turn off the lights and keep the heater on at night so I wouldn’t catch a cold.

For the first time, his fake concern made my skin crawl. If it weren’t for the $20,000 loan I had just given him—the money I needed to get back—I would have already kicked him out.

As the door slammed shut behind him, I slumped onto the couch, feeling drained.

The next day, as if guided by instinct, I gathered all the gifts Kai had given me—LV, Chanel, Fendi—and took them for appraisal. When the sales clerk gave me an awkward smile, it hit me—I felt like a complete fool.

My phone rang, showing an unknown number. I answered it, and to my surprise, it was Kai's mother.

"Madeline, Kai mentioned you’re thinking about buying me a gold bracelet. Oh, how can I express how grateful I am? You’re too kind," she said in a sweetly insincere tone. "I don't really have much to give you in return. Why don’t you come over for dinner this weekend? I wanted to know what you like so I can prepare."

It didn’t take long to see through her act. The dinner invite was just a tactic to get the bracelet. Both she and Kai were in on this charade, playing me for a fool. Remembering how she once urged Kai and me to marry quickly, I could almost feel my skin crawling.

I gripped my phone tightly, grinding my teeth as I responded, "Anything is fine."

She didn’t notice my tone and cheerfully replied, "Great! Be sure to come by on Saturday! Oh, and there’s no need for a gift box for the bracelet; they’re expensive, and we shouldn’t waste money on that."

I chuckled darkly to myself. The mask had finally slipped. But I might just have to disappoint her. There won't be a bracelet, but I’ll make sure they return everything they took from me.