When I found out my husband had invited his mother to join our two-week trip without even asking me, I was furious. I understood that they lived in different countries and missed each other, but he was already planning to spend two months with her afterward. The trip was supposed to be our time as a couple — just us and our dog — and instead, I was left completely out of the decision.

I tried to explain that as a married couple, decisions like this should be discussed together. If he’d simply asked, I might’ve suggested she stay for one week instead of two. But he didn’t even give me the chance. It felt like my opinion didn’t matter, and that he’d do whatever he wanted regardless of how I felt. That lack of respect hurt more than the trip itself.

During dinner, I confronted him calmly but firmly, telling him how disrespected I felt. Instead of apologizing, he got defensive and angry — even took off his wedding ring and said, “Either you accept my mom or we go our separate ways.” Later, he added that if we divorced, we’d share custody of our dog. His reaction shocked me. It was manipulative, cruel, and showed how quick he was to threaten our marriage over a disagreement.

When I shared my story online, most people sided with me. They called his actions controlling and disrespectful, warning that using divorce as a weapon is a major red flag. Now, I’m left questioning whether this marriage is built on mutual respect or control — and whether staying with someone who uses love as leverage is worth it.