Sara planned to visit her mother after a stroke and asked to borrow her husband Liam’s car. Instead of agreeing, he told her it would cost $65 a day, claiming it was “cheaper than rentals.” Hurt and stunned, Sara arranged for her friend Jess to drive her instead. At her mom’s, she shared the incident and her deeper marital issues — feeling more like a roommate than a partner — and her mother reminded her that marriage should be a team effort.

When Sara returned three days later, the house was a mess, Emma was staying with a friend, and Liam looked exhausted. He admitted he couldn’t handle the household and parenting duties in her absence. Sara then handed him an invoice totaling $28,900 for all the tasks she regularly did, followed by divorce papers, telling him she wouldn’t be treated like a stranger in her own marriage.

Though Liam begged for another chance, Sara stood firm, recognizing the relationship had been broken long before the car incident. Six months later, she drove her own car to her mom’s, feeling lighter and more in control of her life. She explained to Emma that she left because love is about respect and support, not money or possessions.

Rebuilding her independence, Sara embraced a life where her worth was not up for negotiation. She realized the true price of love is paid through kindness, respect, and showing up when it matters most — something Liam had failed to do when she needed him.