Jack and Lora used to be our favorite couple—always kind, always splitting the bill with a laugh. But lately, something had shifted. Lora kept footing the tab while Jack indulged like royalty. Then came the night he showed up with eight loud friends, calling it his “treat.” When Lora arrived late, Jack casually slid her the $800 check like it was nothing.

She rushed to the restroom, barely holding back tears. I followed and overheard her venting, “I earn more than him and still pay for all this?!” The frustration in her voice cut deep. When she came out, I quietly pitched an idea: she’d fake a work emergency and slip out. It was bold, but she agreed, eyes burning with quiet resolve.

Back at the table, I told Jack there’d been a booking error—they needed to vacate the booth. He started to argue, but before it escalated, Lora got her “urgent call” and left, head held high. His friends trickled out soon after, leaving Jack alone. When he realized the whole bill was his, his smug grin vanished. “You’re responsible for the charges, sir,” I said firmly.

Lora returned the next day, a new lightness in her step. “You didn’t just save me money,” she said. “You saved me from being a doormat.” She handed me a generous tip, which I gratefully accepted. But honestly? Watching Jack’s little scheme crumble—that was the best reward of all.