The guard informed me that Jonathan hadn’t worked there for over three months. My heart sank. I was certain he went to work every day. Embarrassed and confused, I left the building, wondering what was really going on.

The next morning, I watched Jonathan get ready for “work” as usual. Before he left, he sat on the sofa, absorbed in a message on his phone. I casually asked about a potential promotion he had mentioned before. He barely looked up, replying that he was still working on it, with lots to do. After he left, I called a taxi and instructed the driver to follow his car.

We ended up in a run-down part of town where Jonathan parked in a sketchy lot and entered a small café. Through the window, I saw him sit down with an older woman, followed by several other women. My curiosity turned to suspicion.

I approached one of the women as they left and asked how she knew Jonathan. She scowled and dismissed him as someone who didn’t appreciate talent, then walked away without further explanation.

That evening, I confronted Jonathan with the photos I had taken. His face went pale when he realized I had followed him. He confessed that he had quit his job months ago to pursue his dream of directing a play. Shocked, I demanded to know how he planned to support our family. Jonathan admitted he had used $50,000 from our savings to finance the play, insisting it was an investment in his future.