My Boyfriend Demanded I Pay Him Rent to Live in His Apartment

When Tyler asked me to move in, I thought it meant we were building a life together. But six weeks later, I found an invoice in the fridge for rent, utilities, and a “comfort fee.” Tyler owned the place, so what was I really contributing to? After two years of dating, I had been spending most of my time at Tyler’s, leaving my tiny apartment with roommates behind. One evening, Tyler suggested I move in permanently, saying, “You basically live here already. Why not make it official?” I thought this was a sign of a deeper commitment and agreed. We moved my things in, bought a new sofa, and I arranged my plants and photos, feeling like we were building a home together. But a few weeks later, I found an invoice for \$1,350 taped to the fridge—rent, utilities, and even a “comfort contribution.” I thought it was a joke, but Tyler explained that this was just “what adults do” and that I needed to contribute financially. I was furious. I had been cooking, cleaning, and adjusting to his routines. When I confronted him, he said, “Part of building something is sharing responsibilities.” I realized then that he hadn’t invited me to be a partner, but a paying guest. So, I decided to make a point. I called Jordan, an old friend, and asked him to move in with me as my “roommate.” When Tyler saw Jordan’s bag at the door, I told him, “I decided to sublet since rent was too high. Jordan and I will split it.” Tyler exploded, but I stood my ground, saying, “You wanted a tenant, so that’s what you got. And tenants can have roommates.” Tyler told me to leave, so I packed my things, paid half the rent, and left with Jordan. I never responded to Tyler’s texts, and a few months later, I ran into him with a new partner—someone who understood that a real relationship isn’t about invoices. I wasn’t angry anymore. I had learned that love isn’t a lease; it’s about building something real together