**Diary Entry**
One evening, my husband came back from his mothers house, sighed deeply, and suggested we get a paternity test for our two-year-old daughter. Not for me, he said quickly. For Mum.
Six months before our wedding, shed constantly tell him, Dont marry hershe doesnt deserve you! recalled Emily, now thirty, her voice shaking with hurt. Shes too prettyshell stray! Back then, we laughed it off, joking that Daniel shouldve picked a mermaid insteadno room for doubt. But now, neither of us finds it funny. Not one bit.
Emily doesnt consider herself some stunning beautyjust an ordinary girl from the outskirts of Manchester who takes care of herself like anyone else. Slender, well-groomed, and modestly dressed, shes always had high standards in relationships and commands respect. Why her mother-in-law, Mrs. Winthrop, decided she was flighty and unfaithful remains a mystery. But that woman turned Emilys life into a nightmare.
Married four years, with a daughter, Emilys on maternity leave, her days an endless cycle of cooking, cleaning, and nappies. The only people she speaks to are other mums at the playground. Yet her mother-in-law wont relent, convinced Emilys cheating, watching her like some cheap soap opera detective.
Shes always spied on me, Emily sighed, tears welling up. Calls to check, drops by unannouncedcontrols every move. At first, I brushed it off, told Daniel, and wed laugh. But its exhausting! Ive lost my temper more than once. Shed quiet down briefly, then start again, worse than before.
The first scandal hit months after the wedding. Mrs. Winthrop showed up unannounced at Emilys officeno warning, no reason. She just had to confirm: Did her daughter-in-law *actually* work there? Or was she lying to Daniel, sneaking off with lovers instead?
Ive no idea how they even let her in! Emily recalled, voice trembling with indignation. The building has securityvisitors need appointments. I nearly fell over when the receptionist brought her to my desk: Youve got a visitor. I asked, Mrs. Winthrop, what are you doing here? She just said, Came to see where you work, while eyeing everyone! The office is open-plancomputers, desks, nothing hidden. God knows what shed have done if I had a private office.
Later, the receptionist, Claire, admitted Mrs. Winthrop had grilled her. How long had Emily worked there? Was she ever late? Who did she talk to? Any special colleagues? She even said, Shes married, you know! Claire added, baffled. Emily was livid. That evening, she snapped at Daniel: Your mothers crossed a line! Talk to herthis isnt normal! Short of checking under my desk for a lover, shes done everything else!
Daniel seemed to have a stern word with his mother. A truce followed. Mrs. Winthrop called only in the evenings, asking after them, sending homemade cakes. Emily dared to hope the storm had passed. She was wrong.
The next incident struck when Emily was pregnant but still working. Off sick with a cold, shed turned off her phone to rest when violent knocking and relentless doorbell ringing jolted her awake. I thought it was a fire or an emergency! she remembered. Peeked through the peepholeit was her! Face like thunder, kicking the door, jabbing the bell. I was too scared to answer. Called Daniel: Get here nowI dont know whats happening! He took twenty minutes. She waited the entire time.
They both confronted Mrs. Winthrop. Emily threatened to call the police and a psychiatrist if it happened again. Keep her away from me! she demanded. And again, things settled.
Emily gave birth to a girl, but her mother-in-law barely glanced at her granddaughter. The reason soon became clear: she didnt believe the baby was Daniels. Of courseIm off gallivanting, so how could it be his? Emily laughed bitterly. Why? Because Daniels family only had boys. A girl, to Mrs. Winthrop, was proof of betrayal. I ignored the madness, Emily said. I dont speak to her. Daniel visits once a monthalone. Maybe its for the best. Id never trust her with our daughter.
But the worst was yet to come. One afternoon, Daniel returned from his mothers, took a deep breath, and hesitantly proposed the paternity test. Not for me, EmilyI swear! he defended, waving his hands. Its for Mum. Shes lost the plot, and Im sick of hearing it!
Emily let out a hollow laugh. For your mother? she repeated, voice quivering with rage. Just admit you believe her! You know shell never stop. We could do three tests at different clinics, and shed say the doctors were bribed or the results fake! I wont dance to her tuneenough!
Its just a test, Daniel insisted.
Why bother? Emily stared at him, holding back tears. I know who her father is. Do you? If you need the test, fine. But first, we file for divorce. I wont live with a man who doesnt trust me.
Her words hung in the air like a verdict. Trust in their family was shatteredall because of a mother-in-law whose suspicions poisoned everything. Emily stands on the edge, unsure how to salvage their marriage from this madness.
*Lesson learned: When distrust takes root, even love struggles to grow.*
