My Boyfriend of 2 Years Didn’t Want to Get Married Until He Learned I Was Inheriting a Three-Bedroom Apartment — So I Played Along

 

For years, I watched my friends fall in love, get engaged, and start their lives with partners who adored them. Meanwhile, I was always the third wheel, the one taking cute couple photos, joking about becoming a crazy cat lady—even though I didn’t own a cat.

Then, two years ago, Patrick noticed me at a bar. He had this effortless charm, and when he looked at me like I was the most interesting person in the room, I fell hard.

For two years, I ignored the little things—his lack of effort, his dependence on his mom, and his avoidance of serious talks about moving in or marriage. But I told myself love took patience.

That all changed when my aunt passed away suddenly. She left me her entire three-bedroom apartment. I shared the news with Patrick, and that night, he showed up at my door with flowers, wine, and a ring.

I was shocked. Just weeks before, he’d said we shouldn’t rush into engagement. But now, he was proposing. I was confused, but I smiled and said yes.

Things seemed fine at first. Patrick started calling me his queen, and we began discussing our future. But I knew he was only after the apartment. The moment it was in my name, he and his mother started planning to move in.

One day, I came home early and found them inside, measuring the living room. That was the moment I confronted them. Patrick’s proposal had never been about love—it was about the apartment.

I sold the place that morning and showed Patrick the papers. His face went pale. I told him I wasn’t going to settle, and for the first time, I felt free.

I moved to a new city, started fresh, and left all the manipulation behind. Patrick tried to reach out, but I blocked him and his mother. Now, I’m living life on my own terms, happier than I’ve ever been.