marriage Archives - Betrayal and Acrimony

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022

Por Un Galon De Leche

Isabel owned and operated a hair salon in Republica Dominicana for seventeen years. During this time, she managed to marry well based on societal standards. Isabel had two sons and was pregnant with a third. Although established, Isabel sought greater upward mobility. Isabel secured a visa to America while her husband was adamant about never leaving his homeland. With two young boys and pregnant, she left behind the only land she ever knew. Isabel migrated to Union City NJ given its proximity to New York City. Temporarily she settled in an apartment along with her cousin. While working tirelessly in a salon, her cousin assisted with child care. The salon owner offered to sell the business to Isabel with a two-year repayment plan. Isabel accepted the offer and forged ahead. She managed to purchase a home, providing greater comfort for her children while hiring a nanny. Although legally married, her husband resided in Republic Dominicana, and never provided any financial support. Isabel’s oldest son received top honors academically and a full scholarship to attend Brown University, eventually becoming an economist. Her other sons also attended and graduated from their respective colleges. Isabel’s discipline and determination allowed her to forge ahead in life. Her dream created a way for her. Isabel preferred to live life on her terms and not succumb to the whims of a man for her sustenance. Her greatest fear was bringing a man into her home who could potentially compromise her children. So, Isabel never cultivated a romantic relationship. she mentions the importance of companionship even if only to watch a movie and provide commentary.

March 29, 2022March 29, 2022

Unrequited Love

Noelia was born and raised in Miches, Republica Dominicana. Her family was among one of the most affluent in town. They made their money in real estate. As a young adult, Noelia traveled to America often until deciding on a change of pace and stayed in the states. Noelia took up residency with her uncle and auntie, who had a business renting rooms to boarders. One of the boarders was from Noelia’s hometown, who had entered the country illegally. Mateo was looking to marry someone solely for papers. Young, vibrant, and smitten by Mateo. Noelia jumped at the opportunity. Mateo and Noelia took up residency. Noelia was aware Mateo had a wife and child back in Miches to whom he was devoted. Noelia turned a blind eye. Mateo’s actions were telling. Noelia was never regarded as someone valued or respected. Mateo treated Noelia as a roommate with benefits. Household expenses were split down the middle. When engaging in sex, Mateo took all precautionary measures not to impregnate Noelia. Once Mateo was married long enough to obtain a green card, he divorced Noelia. Mateo’s goal was to bring his wife and child to America. Noelia and Mateo never physically separated. Every summer Mateo traveled to Miches for a month to be with his child’s mother. Still, Noelia held on tight and refused to let him go. While in Miches, Mateo married his child’s mother and quickly filed paperwork so she can join him in America. Noelia now felt threatened given it was a matter of time before his wife would join him in the states. When Mateo’s wife was finally able to enter the country legally, he got her an apartment in Queens, NY. Mateo kept paying half the rent in the apartment he shared with Noelia however every weekend he now spent with his wife in Queens, NY. Mateo then decided to move his wife into another apartment just blocks away from Noelia given it made things easier. Mateo informs Noelia he will continue to pay half of the rent for another six months. Noelia decides she will leave the state and move near her relatives in Florida. During this time of transition, Mateo moves out and is living with his wife full-time. Every day at 5 am on his way to work, Mateo stops in Noelia’s apartment for a cup of tea.

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

Boomerang

In their twenty-six-year marriage, much had occurred. Zulady and Josue had three beautiful boys. Zulady deeply loved her husband and still felt enamored by him. She had a happy home life until she discovered Josue’s indiscretions. Zulady equates her feelings to the irreparable shatter of a crystal vase. Things were never the same. She chose to stay in the marriage given her convictions. Zulady felt betrayed by her husband. As the years passed, she forgave Josue and put it all behind her. Somehow they managed to rekindle things. One day Zulady and Josue had an outing and invited his best friend along with the brother of the best friend. While dining at a restaurant, Zulady excuses herself and goes to the restroom, on her way back to the table, his best friend grabs and kisses her. Although riddled with guilt, Zulady returns his advances.
Texting and phone calls become the norm. An agreed-upon time and location are decided. The affair is consummated. Zulady thoroughly enjoyed the experience although felt shame in its aftermath. She asked if I thought less of her given her infraction. I assured Zulady, I was not in a position to judge. While sharing guilt and shame are a complete waste of time.

September 9, 2021September 9, 2021

Keeping Appearances

She asks Freddie if I am legit to share the story. Freddie nods in approval and, the story begins. She introduces herself as Aldi, a demure older woman. Aldi confesses she was born a male. Looking at Aldi, there is nothing that would imply she is not female. Her speech, demeanor, appearance, gestures are precise and scream woman. Nothing contradicts the obvious. Aldi comes across as affable, warm, endearing, a kind soul. She laments the passing of her lover of fifteen years, who was brutally murdered a year ago when visiting his homeland of Honduras. Aldi met her lover when she was fifty and he twenty-one. They were together for seven years when her lover announces it was time to have a family. At twenty-eight, Reynaldo met and married a young girl, within two years, a baby boy was born. Reynaldo devised a plan, so Aldi can meet and befriend the wife and become a part of the family. When the wife was to head home from the hospital, Aldi posed as the cab driver and slowly a friendship blossomed. The wife never suspected anything, besides Aldi was significantly older. Aldi grew to love the child as though he were her very own. Having a relationship with the wife allowed Aldi to be included in familial events. Reynaldo had a longer and deeper connection with Aldi than the wife. With Reynaldo’s passing, Aldi felt tremendous remorse for the ongoing relationship during the marriage and wanted to confess everything.

February 9, 2021February 9, 2021

In Pursuit of a Green Card

Camila is the epitome of a Colombian bombshell. When she walks her hips glide in unison, every man, woman, child take notice although strikingly beautiful, she is quite shy. Like many Camila entered the country legally and overstayed her visa. She managed to secure a job as a waitress in a Spanish restaurant without the command of the English language, default looks, minor cosmetic enhancements, she has a steady stream of tips. She embodies what many men desire gorgeous and helpless, a show stopper. Manolo was her customer, an established business owner with an appetite for extremely young and needy women. Camila, beautiful and fifteen years younger, limited schooling, and super needy is what men like Manolo desire. Fast forward several weeks, Camila moves in, quits her job, making a mad dash into motherhood. The first attempt ends in miscarriage, two months later deal is sealed. Pregnant with a baby girl. As to be anticipated, Camila puts on weight, Manolo quickly loses interest and is adamant about not touching her given he has someone else far more nimble vying for his attention. During the pregnancy not once did Camila have sex, unlike Manolo. Since Camila was pregnant, in the country illegally Manolo decided to marry her to secure her immigration status. While Camilla was in-love with Manolo, he grew increasingly bored by her affections. Camila lived the life every girl thought she wanted, upscale neighborhood, every comfort provided, marriage, looks, a daughter, secured green card although the love and affection of her husband fleeting. Once Paola was born, Manolo refused Camila alledging fear of another pregnancy. Upon Paola’s second birthday, Manolo musters up the courage to tell Camilla he wants a break from the relationship. Although Camila doubted Manolo’s love, she needed him to confirm his position as though his actions did not scream loud enough. Manolo felt he upheld his responsibility as a provider, husband, father, although his love was never on the table.

December 7, 2020April 9, 2021

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

Leonora looked like the stereotypical Latina. Waist-length curly hair, hourglass figure, inherited from the ancestors. Beautiful smile, all-around a looker. A very personable and sweet girl. A ton of fun to be around. Leonora recently completed her master’s in nursing, single, and living her very best life. Leonora was 27 and beginning to feel the pressures of not being engaged or married unlike many of her sorority sisters. Leonora had a lover, whom she worshipped and delighted in his nectar. She and her lover were involved well beyond the expiration date of the average affair. Her lover would call her late into the night when he was certain his wife was asleep and they would speak for hours. Leonora’s family was entirely against the relationship given Mateo was married although keeping appearances superseded how they felt about him. There was nothing Leonora’s family could do to sway her into ending things with her lover. The constant familial scrutiny only compelled her to keep the relationship a secret and pretend it was over. Leonora met Solano through her childhood friend. Solano had done exceptionally well for himself in investment banking and by all appearances had quite the future ahead of him and was ready for marriage. Upon meeting Leonora, Solano was immediately smitten, within six months they were engaged. Throughout the courtship, Leonora maintained allegiance to Solano. A wedding was planned while no attention to detail was spared. The wedding was scheduled at a cathedral with a year-long waitlist. The veil alone was 100 feet long. Two hundred and fifty guests confirmed. White Beach, Boracay Aklan, Philippines was confirmed as the honeymoon destination. The evening before the nuptials, Leonora was nowhere to be found. She had decided to spend the evening with her lover.

November 2, 2020

Love via a Green Card..

Monica and Oko met on an online dating website. Oko seemed quiet, reserved, and pleasant, not Monica’s usual type. They made arrangements to meet up. Throughout the courtship, Monica was treated well. As things got serious in the relationship, finances were discussed and Monica learns of Oko’s migratory status in the country. Monica is established, unlike Oko, working under the table and living in the country illegally although a very hard worker. Monica agrees to marry Oko and hires an attorney to help resolve his immigration status. Within 90 days of being married Oko has temporary working papers. By all standards, the marriage was successful. Oko obtains a college degree in record time and quickly works his way up the corporate ladder. All financial responsibilities within the household were handled by Oko. Oko ensured Monica was provided for. By all accounts, Monica was happy, she kept it sexy while adhering to all her wifely duties. On the very day, Oko received his permanent green card, which was five years into the marriage, everything shifted. Oko would now pick and choose which bills he was going to pay. Going out to dinner, as well as outings now became a chore and deemed frivolous, by Oko. He would not come home for days and when he returned the indifference was palpable. The nuances of the marriage dissipated. Initially, Monica felt she was the reason everything changed although could not quite understand why. Months went by before Monica confronted Oko about the break within the marriage. Oko’s instinctive reply, I did not marry you for a green card. That’s when Monica realized it was all a labyrinth. She was solely Oko’s come up. She paved the way for his upward mobility. Monica understood why someone would go to such great lengths however had there been any transparency she would have happily agreed to marry for monetary compensation instead of heartache.