When I first met Daniel, he seemed like an average guy—kind, funny, and sweet. We met at a coffee shop when he offered to buy me a latte after I forgot my wallet. He wasn’t flashy or arrogant, and I liked that about him.
After a few months of dating, he invited me to his apartment for the first time. I was excited, expecting a cozy little place, but when I arrived, I was shocked. The apartment was… tiny. The furniture looked old and mismatched, and there was barely enough room for a bed and a small kitchen table.
I didn’t mind, though. I wasn’t dating Daniel for his money—I was dating him because I genuinely liked him. So, I smiled and said, “It’s cozy.”
Daniel watched me carefully. “You really think so?”
“Yeah,” I replied, settling onto the couch. “It doesn’t matter where you live. It’s about who you’re with.”
For the next few weeks, I visited his apartment often. I never once complained, though I did offer to help him decorate or find secondhand furniture to make it more comfortable. Every time I suggested improvements, he’d just smirk and say, “Maybe someday.”
Then, one evening, he took me out to dinner at a fancy restaurant—a place that seemed way out of his budget based on where he lived. As we ate, I finally asked, “Daniel, how can you afford this place when your apartment is so small?”
He chuckled, leaned back in his chair, and said, “I think it’s time I tell you the truth.”
I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
Daniel pulled out his phone and showed me a photo of a massive penthouse. “That’s actually my real apartment.”
I blinked, thinking it was a joke. “Wait… what?”
He nodded. “I come from a wealthy family. I rented that tiny place to see if you were with me for the right reasons.”
My stomach dropped. “So… this was all a test?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “I had to make sure you weren’t after my money.”
I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or furious. “So, you lied to me?”
“I had to,” he said. “I’ve been burned before.”
I stared at him, my appetite suddenly gone. “Daniel, relationships are built on trust. You could’ve just talked to me instead of playing games.”
He looked guilty. “I know. But you passed the test.”
I sighed. “It shouldn’t have been a test in the first place.”
That night, I told Daniel I needed time to think. He might have been rich, but his deception made me question everything. I wasn’t with him for his money—but now I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be with someone who didn’t trust me from the start.
