ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband recently screwed over his business partner by taking significantly more of the profit for himself. I feel so appalled this is the man I married. I knew my husband was ambitious and very competitive, but I never thought he would intentionally take advantage of someone he had built a business with. His business partner trusted him, and now their relationship is completely falling apart because of what my husband did.

When I confronted my husband about it, he told me he did what he had to do and that his business partner should have been more careful about protecting his own interests. He doesn't seem to feel guilty at all, which honestly bothers me even more than what he did. I keep thinking about how easily he was able to justify taking money that I believe he knew he had not earned. Now I am questioning what this says about his character and what it means for our marriage. If he is willing to treat someone he has worked closely with this way, I can't help but wonder whether he would ever do something similar to me if it benefited him. Am I overreacting by allowing his business decisions to change the way I view him as a husband, or should I take this as a serious warning about his character? -- Dubious Character

DEAR DUBIOUS CHARACTER: You have every reason to question whether your husband would think twice about screwing you over since he did it to his business partner. You may want to take a close look at your finances to see what's in your name, how well you are protected in case of emergency, etc. You may even want to speak to an attorney to gauge your rights to property and assets just so you know where you stand. Beyond that, take a moment to think about the health of your marriage. Is there a way you can talk more deeply with your husband about this egregious act of deception and how it impacts the two of you?

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom has been estranged from her sister for years due to my aunt making poor life choices. She moved to a rough neighborhood and often prioritized her own relationships over her children and their needs. Although my mom doesn't speak to my aunt, I sometimes do, and, to my knowledge, my aunt is in a much better headspace than she once was. She has a job now, left her ex and is prioritizing her kids. The other day my mom asked me to share with my aunt that a relative had passed. I told her I didn't think that was appropriate, especially since I didn't know the relative. My mom agreed, and I gave her my aunt's contact information. My mom texted her to tell her and that's about it. I asked my mom if she will speak more with my aunt, and she brushed it off. Am I overstepping for wanting them to fix their relationship? -- Overstepping Son

DEAR OVERSTEPPING SON: Try to bring them together. Tell your mom that her sister is working hard to improve her life. Plan a gathering where you bring the two together. Encourage them to talk and see if they can heal. Urge your mother to give it a try.

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(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

Copyright 2026, Harriette Cole

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