He came from an extremely wealthy background, the kind of life where money wasn’t an issue, while she had grown up in hardship, struggling through life’s challenges. Perhaps that contrast was what drew him to her so strongly. Her story moved him in a way that nothing else ever had. He was captivated by her resilience and was determined to change her life for the better. He wanted to make her happy, to give her experiences she had never dreamed of, to be the reason behind her smile. That’s what love does to you—it makes you desperate to see the one you care about happy, no matter what it costs you.

That’s exactly how Desmond felt about Irene. He fell hard, and he fell completely. But Irene? She was just there for the ride. She took his love for granted in the worst possible way. Maybe she thought he’d never dealt with someone like her before—someone who had seen the rough side of life. She never cooked for him, not even once. She always insisted on eating out, every single day, indulging in luxuries that Desmond readily provided. She spent his money without a second thought, splurging on outings with her girl group, chasing the lifestyle she’d always dreamed of but never had.

Irene had suffered in life, that much was clear, but now that she had found a wealthy man who loved her unconditionally, she was determined to milk the opportunity dry. She wasn’t interested in building a life with Desmond; she only cared about the life he could give her.

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As his friend, I could see it all happening. I wanted to warn him, but Desmond was madly in love. He couldn’t see what everyone else could—that Irene didn’t love him back. So I stayed quiet, watching as she slowly drained him of everything. He gave her all his money, down to the last penny, and when that wasn’t enough, he’d come to us, his friends, begging for loans to keep her happy. He was miserable, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave her.

One evening, I was over at their place, and I stumbled upon a conversation between Irene and one of her friends. I wasn’t eavesdropping intentionally; their voices just carried.

“Mensah is coming back into the country,” Irene said, her tone laced with excitement.

Her friend responded, “Forget about him, unless he’s bringing you some dollars.”

“You have no idea!” Irene exclaimed. “It’s more than dollars. He wants us to work things out again. He said he’d take me back when he’s leaving.”

Her friend sounded skeptical. “So, you’re going to leave Desmond?”

“I’ve tried,” Irene replied, sounding almost bored. “I just can’t bring myself to love him. It’s better this way.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. This was beyond disrespectful. I wrestled with myself over whether to tell Desmond. He was already so broken—would this push him over the edge? But in the end, I couldn’t keep it from him. He deserved to know.

When I told Desmond, he stayed calm at first, quietly absorbing what I had said. But then the anger hit, and he exploded. He confronted Irene without even confirming the details, lashing out at her for everything she had done to him. Irene didn’t even try to deny it. If anything, she made it worse.

“Yes, yes!” she shouted back at him. “You’re not even as rich as you think you are! You don’t even have a dining table. I’m leaving!”

And with that, she packed her things and walked out of his life. Two days later, her ex, Mensah, arrived in the country. They immediately started living together in a hotel, and I knew Desmond was losing his mind. For a moment, I regretted telling him about Irene’s betrayal. He was devastated, and it seemed like the pain would consume him.

But then something unexpected happened. Mensah, the man Irene had risked everything for, hung out with her for a week—and then married another woman. He didn’t even tell Irene. He just left the country with his new wife, leaving Irene alone and humiliated.

It was almost surreal to watch. She had thrown away her marriage, her stability, and the love Desmond had given her, all for a man who didn’t even value her enough to stay. Karma had come for her with startling speed, and in its own way, it brought Desmond some closure.

He started preparing for a divorce soon after, still hurt but comforted by the poetic justice of it all. In time, he began to heal. He’s better now, and he’s found love again. But this time, he’s taking things slow. He’s learned the hard way that loving someone with everything you have won’t make them love you back. Sometimes, people don’t deserve the love you’re willing to give, and that’s a lesson Desmond won’t forget.