“Did we really build a massive house for no good reason?”
“Are you saying we wasted our time on this enormous house?” snapped the mother-in-law. “Then hand back half its value!”
“I need to have a serious chat with you,” said the short-haired woman, settling into a chair opposite Emily. “Before you started dating my son, there are a few things you should know.”
The petite blonde blinked at her future in-lawa woman shed only met three times in her life.
“So, if you want to join this family, understand this: the most important people in Olivers life are his parents!” declared Margaret proudly. “We dont need a daughter-in-law who thinks she can boss him about.”
“Am I bossing him?” Emily cut in.
“Hold your horses, let me finish!” Margaret huffed.
Emily dropped her gaze and flushed bright pink. The last thing she wanted was to ruffle Olivers mothers feathers. Theyd only just started dating, and Emily wasnt about to rock the boat.
“Right,” Margaret continued, “weve got plans. The moment Oliver marries, were all moving into the nearly finished house weve been building. One big happy family under one roof!”
“Brilliant!” Emily forced a smile.
Margarets eyebrows shot up. She hadnt expected such quick agreement.
“Im so glad were on the same page! I think well be great friends,” Margaret said, flashing a knowing wink.
She promptly praised Emily to Oliver, calling her thoughtful, clever, and kind. Flattered, Emily doubled her efforts to impress, showering Margaret with little giftssome with excuses, some without.
A year later, fearing the wedding might never happen, Margaret started nudging her son.
“When are you proposing?” she nagged almost daily. “Shell lose patience and leave you, then youll regret it!”
After some calculating, Oliver agreedand proposed. Emily, thrilled, accepted.
The wedding was paid for by Olivers parents, which only confirmed Emilys belief shed picked the perfect match.
The newlyweds spent three months in a rented flat before Margaret cheerfully announced the house was ready.
“Pack your bags, lovebirdswere moving in!” she trilled.
“Why? Were fine here!” Emily frowned, having zero intention of living with her mother-in-law.
“Why?” Margaret gasped. “We agreedonce the house was done, wed all move in!”
“Move in if you likewhos stopping you?” Emily scoffed, her attitude doing a full U-turn.
Stunned, Margaret gaped for a moment.
“Waityou promised!” she said quietly.
“Promises, promises. Ive changed my mindIm not living with you!” Emily snapped. “In fact, since youre moving, Oliver and I will take your flat.”
“Excuse me? Cheeky mare!” Margaret spat before hanging up.
Emily listened to the dial tone, baffled, then set the phone downjust as Olivers rang in the kitchen. She eavesdropped. Margaret was ranting.
Half an hour later, Oliver emerged, scowling.
“Whats going on?” he demanded.
“What do you mean?” Emily crossed her arms.
“Mum called. She wants money.”
“What? What money? For what?!”
“For the house. Did you promise her youd all live there together?”
“Dont be silly,” Emily said airily.
“You agreed to her plan, didnt you?”
“So what if I did? Ive changed my mind.”
“I *never* agreed because I thought she was being ridiculous! That house sat half-built for three yearsshe only finished it after we married. For *you*!”
“Oh well, her choice,” Emily shrugged.
Oliver said nothinghis phone rang again. Cleverly, he handed it to her.
“Your turn.”
The second Margaret heard Emily, she exploded.
“Pay us back for that house!”
“Pay *what*? Are you mad?”
“Because we built it for nothing, didnt we? Hand over half its value!”
“Half? Dream on!”
“Five hundred thousand! You owe us half a million quid! Or else”
“Or else *what*? I never signed anything!”
“Then well cut you off!”
“Goodness me,” Emily snorted, hanging up.
Margaret demanded Oliver pay her £5,000 a month.
“At this rate, itll take you a decade!” she fumed. “Either move in or pay more!”
Oliver couldnt afford more, so he agreedbut Emily refused. Six months later, they split for good.
