Of all the wild stories we’ve seen on the internet, this one might just take the cake. A mother took to Reddit not to ask for advice, but for something much more fundamental: reassurance. Reassurance that she wasn’t crazy for refusing a “proposal” from her husband that is so unbelievably cruel, it sounds like a plot point in a horror movie.
Her husband of three years gave her an ultimatum so monstrous it has to be read to be believed. He asked her to choose between their marriage and her own six-year-old daughter. The sheer audacity of it left the internet, and us, completely speechless.
Here is the jaw-dropping story for yourself:
My jaw is still on the floor after reading that. I mean, where do you even begin? This isn’t a simple marital disagreement or a bump in the road. This is a five-alarm fire, a red flag so massive it could block out the sun. He is asking a mother to abandon her child.
The most sinister part of this whole nightmare is that he’s managed to make her feel like she’s the “selfish” one. This is gaslighting at its most toxic. He’s twisting reality to make her question her own maternal instincts, making her feel like her fierce love for her child is a character flaw.
The fact that she came to Reddit just for a reality check shows how much he has been messing with her head.
This Isn’t a Request, It’s an Act of Control
Let’s be crystal clear about what is happening here. This husband views his wife’s child as a rival, an obstacle to his own needs. His ultimatum isn’t a negotiation, it’s a declaration of war on the most sacred bond a person can have. He wants his wife all to himself, unburdened by the reality of the child he knew about from day one.
This demand to isolate a partner from their family is a well-known tactic of emotional control. It’s a way of breaking down a person’s support system until the controlling partner is the only one left. In fact, a key tactic used by abusive partners is attempting to cut their partner off from family and friends.
This isn’t just a selfish husband; this is a man exhibiting some deeply disturbing behavior.
As one licensed family therapist might put it, an ultimatum of this magnitude isn’t about finding a solution, it’s about asserting dominance. It’s his way of saying, “Your life, your child, and your love only have value as they relate to me.”
The proposal was never a choice for the mother, it was a test, and thank goodness she passed with flying colors by never once considering it.
The Reddit community was united in their absolute horror.
There was no debate here. Redditors were screaming ‘divorce’ from the rooftops, with many shocked the OP even had to ask.
Many users pointed out the sinister gaslighting at play, with the husband trying to make his wife feel guilty for being a loving mother.
The sheer cruelty of the request led many to label the husband as a monster, someone who should never be near a child.
How to Respond to an Unthinkable Ultimatum.
If you ever find yourself staring down the barrel of an ultimatum this monstrous, the most important thing to remember is that you do not need to justify your love for your child. Ever.
The only correct response is a clear and unwavering boundary. A simple, “My child and I are a package deal. That is not, and never will be, up for discussion,” is all that’s needed. There is no debate to be had.
From there, the priority is to protect yourself and your child. This means seeking legal counsel immediately and leaning on your friends and family for support. A demand like this isn’t something a relationship comes back from. It’s a moment of terrifying clarity that shows you exactly who you are married to.
In The End…
Thankfully, this story has a silver lining. The mother’s love for her daughter is unshakable. She never for a second considered his proposal. In a way, her husband gave her a gift, the gift of showing her his true colors so she could walk away and protect her daughter from a man who sees her as nothing more than an inconvenience.
What do you think was behind this husband’s shocking demand? Have you ever seen a red flag this massive in a relationship? Let us know your thoughts.
