My younger wife is nine years my junior, from a modest background, and earns less than $500,000. She has a gentle demeanor and is very domesticated. On our wedding day, her family didn’t gift us any gold jewelry, while my family gave a total of 13 gold rings.
On our wedding night, after tallying the monetary gifts, I realized that most of the cash and gold came from my family, with little contribution from hers. So, I proposed to my wife:
“Let’s keep our pre-marital assets separate. I will contribute to our household expenses monthly. What do you think?”
Expecting her to be upset by my selfish suggestion, I was surprised when she readily agreed, and things proceeded smoothly.
Most of the cash and gold gifts came from my family, with little contribution from my wife’s family. (Illustrative image)
As we prepared for bed, my wife suggested that she be included on the deed for the house I had purchased the previous year. I silently accused her of greed, believing she was finally revealing her true colors. I bluntly responded:
“I worked tirelessly for nearly 20 years to buy this house, forgoing indulgences and even medical care. This is my asset, and I don’t think you should co-own it. If you buy land in the future, I won’t lay claim to it.”
I chose to be upfront with my wife to prevent any future disputes over our assets. Thankfully, she didn’t take offense at my blunt words.
After a blissful wedding night, I fell into a deep sleep. In the middle of the night, I woke up thirsty and noticed my wife sitting by the bed, holding a black bag with a contented smile.
Intrigued by her behavior, I asked about the bag, causing her to startle and instinctively hide it behind her back.
I chose to be upfront about our assets to prevent future disputes. (Illustrative image)
Her reaction piqued my curiosity, so I insisted on seeing what was inside. With some persuasion, she reluctantly showed me the contents.
To my astonishment, the bag was filled with gold jewelry. I asked her where it came from, and she honestly replied that it was her dowry from her parents. I was surprised to learn that her modest parents had given her 20 gold rings. They lived frugally but had saved a substantial amount for their daughter.
I advised her to invest in a modest plot of land, but she had a different idea:
“I suggest we combine my gold and your money to buy a more valuable piece of land. If we don’t sell it, we can pass it on to our children.”
Her words made me realize how selfish and narrow-minded I had been. I apologized for my rigid division of assets, which had saddened her. Her generosity broadened my perspective. In a marriage, trust and sincere love are more important than money. My wife was delighted that I had recognized my shortcomings.
