Am I obligated to return the gold to my wife given my harsh circumstances, knowing that she gave it to me willingly and then asked for it when problems arose between us?

If your wife voluntarily gives you gold, you are not obliged to return it, because it is a gift that cannot be retracted, based on the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "It is not permissible for anyone to give a gift and then retract it, except for a father regarding what he gives his child." However, if you asked her for the gold or she gave it to you out of fear, then it is more cautious to return it to her when you are able, because some scholars permit a wife to retract her gift to her husband in such a case, especially if circumstantial evidence indicates that she did not give it willingly.