I had a really unpleasant experience at a restaurant recently. My husband invited me to join him and his friends for a meal. We arrived at the restaurant, greeted his friends, and placed our orders. Little did I know, something unexpected was about to happen.

During the middle of the meal, my husband leaned in and whispered to me that I would be paying for not only my portion but also for everything his friends had ordered. I was completely taken aback and infuriated by his demand. I whispered back, “noooo,” hoping he would understand how unreasonable his request was.

But it seemed like my husband was counting on me to keep quiet and avoid causing a scene in front of his friends. He responded by saying, “you have enough money, you could pay for everyone’s food, remember? 30%?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My anger was brewing inside, but I knew reacting negatively or losing my temper would only worsen the situation.

I decided to bide my time and wait until the bills arrived. Thankfully, they were already split from the beginning when we placed our orders. I paid for my portion and then excused myself to go to the restroom. However, instead of returning to the table, I discreetly left the restaurant, got into my car, and drove home.

It was a difficult decision to make, and I still felt a mix of emotions as I left. But in that moment, it was the best choice for me to protect my own peace of mind.