“Did we really build a big house for no good reason?”
“Well, it seems we built a grand house for nothing!” snapped the mother-in-law. “Then give back half its value!”
“I need to have a serious talk with you,” said the short-haired woman, sitting across from Emily. “Before you started seeing my son, there are a few things you should know.”
The slender blonde stared in surprise at her future in-law, whom shed only met three times in her life.
“So, if you want to be part of our family, understand thisthe most important people to James are his parents!” declared Margaret proudly. “We dont need a daughter-in-law who thinks she can control my son.”
“Am I controlling him?” Emily interrupted.
“Hold your horses, let me finish!” the woman replied sharply.
Emily lowered her eyes and flushed red. She didnt want to upset Jamess mother. Theyd only just begun dating, and she didnt want to risk it.
“Yes,” Margaret continued, “our family has a plan: once James marries, well all move into the house thats nearly finished. Well live together as one happy family!”
“Brilliant!” Emily forced a smile.
Margaret raised an eyebrow, surprised her future daughter-in-law agreed so quickly.
“Im so glad youre on board! I think well be great friends,” Margaret said with a sly wink.
Immediately, she began praising Emily to her son, calling her kind, clever, and caring.
Seeing this, Emily decided to win her over further. She brought small gifts, with or without occasion, to show her thoughtfulness.
A year later, worried James and Emily might not marry, Margaret began pressing him to propose.
“When are you going to ask her?” she nagged almost daily. “Shell leave if you wait too longyoull regret it!”
After some thought, James agreed and proposed. Emily happily accepted.
Since his parents paid for the wedding, Emily felt even more certain shed chosen the perfect man.
For the first three months, the newlyweds lived in a rented flat. Then Margaret announced the house was ready.
“Pack your thingswere moving in together!” she cheerfully told her son and daughter-in-law.
“Why? Were fine here!” Emily frowned, unwilling to live with her mother-in-law.
“Why?” Margaret gasped. “We agreedonce the house was done, wed all move in!”
“Move in if you like, but leave us out of it!” Emily scoffed, her attitude shifting abruptly.
Margaret was so stunned she fell silent for a moment.
“Waityou promised,” she said quietly.
“Things change. I dont want to live with you now!” Emily snapped. “Well stay separate. In fact, since youve moved out, well take your flat!”
“What? Cheeky little” Margaret hissed. “This is a betrayal!” She hung up in fury.
Emily held the phone, listening to the dial tone before setting it down.
A moment later, she heard her husbands phone ring in the kitchen. She overheard Margaret complaining bitterly to James.
Half an hour later, when he finally hung up, Emily walked in. His face was dark with anger.
“Whats going on?” James demanded.
“What do you mean?” Emily crossed her arms.
“Mum called. She wants money back.”
“What? What money? For what?!” Emily was shocked.
“For the house. Did you promise her wed all live there together?”
“Dont be silly,” Emily played dumb.
“You agreed to her plan, didnt you?” James pressed.
“So what if I did? Ive changed my mind,” she muttered.
“And I only went along because I thought she was being ridiculous! That house sat half-built for three years. She finished it after our weddingfor you!” he snapped.
“Well, good for her,” Emily shrugged. “Whats the big deal?”
James didnt answerhis phone rang again. But this time, he handed it to her.
“Talk to her yourself.”
The moment Margaret heard Emilys voice, she exploded.
“Pay back the money for that house!”
“What money? Are you mad?” Emily sneered.
“So we built it for nothing? Then return half its value!”
“Half? Not a chance!” Emily snarled.
“Five hundred thousand! You owe me five hundred thousand!” Margaret shouted. “Or else”
“Or what? I never signed anything!” Emily gloated.
“Then well cut you off!” Margaret threatened.
“Oh, please!” Emily laughed and hung up.
Margaret immediately demanded James pay her backfifty thousand pounds a month.
“At this rate, itll take you a decade!” she fumed. “Either move into the house or pay more.”
James couldnt afford to increase the payments, so he agreed.
But Emily refused. Six months later, they divorced.
