By D. M.
The check was returned. The money never came. The story didn’t hold. And I was left holding the weight of a man’s manipulation disguised as love. It wasn’t just financial, it was emotional warfare. Every apology felt scripted. Every “I love you” carried a hook. And even in my exhaustion, I still held space , until the moment I realized I was dying in it.
This is what happened next. This is how I finally said no, and meant it.
The Way You Made Me Feel
I told him how it made me feel like a sitting duck when i told him the money wasn't in my account any longer, and i got an email saying it was a Fictitious check. My heart dropped. I was at work and I wanted to scream. He tried to soothe me to make me feel he knew nothing about it. I still received no clear clarity.
His words were full of sorrow. But sorrow doesn’t undo damage. I needed clarity, not comfort. And love without truth is still deception.
The Manager Again
I clicked on the managers page accidentally thinking I was replying back to Chinedu after seeing his notification. I responded that my heart was heavy, but I would be alright. When I realized I had typed that to the manager and not Chinedu I was mortified. I quickly deleted the message and then the managers whole account on Whatsapp.
Chinedu said not to message anyone that claimed to be him or the manager. He was planning something. What? He didn't say.
He said all of this was the cause of his manager.
The Money Was Returned
Chinedu wanted me to call the bank to find out about the money. I told him the funds were returned. He was blaming the fact of the money being returned on being my account wouldn't be able to accept the $10,000. I would later find out the true reason. I got that Remitly removed. He never addressed how it got there.
The more I questioned, the more he deflected. First the banks. Then the manager. Then me. Love without accountability is not love, it’s manipulation in costume.
I Know Why The Check Was Returned
Chinedu blamed the returned funds on my account “not being able to receive large sums.” But that was never the issue. I would later discover the truth: this wasn’t a failed deposit, it was part of something darker. And he never once explained how the money got there in the first place.
Every answer led to more confusion. Every explanation created more questions. I wasn’t just dealing with heartbreak. I was now dealing with the possibility of being set up, financially and spiritually
