It makes perfect sense. A relationship with a very controlling person is like playing chicken at 110 miles an hour all the time. Say the husband is controlling, and the wife says, without thinking, "One of these days, you'll come home and I won't be here." He knows that she has little in the way of cash, since he controls that. So he says fine, "I don't want you here anyway. Get out of my house." He throws her out for a few days, maybe keeps the kids from her, maybe not, files for divorce, and then when she has begged and cried enough to make him feel good, he lets her come home and drops it. If the husband is controlling, he knows she can't just walk away, the resources aren't there.
I've seen it done many times. More than I care to recount without a stiff drink in my hand. And I'm not saying that's how it happened, jsut that that scenario does happen.