**Diary Entry, 12th October 2023**
*”Think whatever you like about me, but youll never prove a thing,”* my mother-in-law hissed, leaving my wife with an impossible choice.
*”Listen carefully, Mary. You can believe what you want, but youve no proof. No witnessesand Oliver trusts me. So if you want to stay in this family, youll keep quiet, cook, clean, and play your part. Understood?”*
Mary married Oliver six years ago. Soon after, they had a sonWilliam, now six. Both worked hard to provideshe as an accountant at a small firm, he as an engineer. Life was modest but peaceful. Then Olivers mother, Margaret, was diagnosed with severe angina. She quit her job, relying entirely on her sons support.
Mary did her dutygroceries, homemade soups, evenings spent caring for the woman, often with William in tow. At first, it seemed natural. But costs piled up: prescriptions, treatments, special diets. Oliver gave part of his salary without question, until their own needs became secondary. Williams shoes wore thin, the washing machine broke, and Marys winter coatfive years oldneeded replacing. *”Hold on,”* Oliver would say. *”Mum comes first.”*
Then came the day Mary heard the truth.
Shed received a modest bonusenough for wine, cheese, an evening with Oliver like the old days. Stopping by Margarets with groceries, she let herself inand froze.
Margaret stood by the window, cigarette in hand, phone pressed to her ear. *”Oh, Ill keep up the act,”* she chuckled. *”Why not? Olivers wrapped around my finger, and Mary jumps when I snap. Wouldnt give this up for the world. Cheers to Veronica for the fake medical note.”*
The bag slipped from Marys grip. Tomatoes and apples rolled across the floor.
*”Marywait!”* Margaret called, but Mary was already down the stairs, heart pounding. A year. A year of lies.
That night, after William was asleep, Mary confronted Oliver. *”Your mother isnt ill. Shes been pretending.”*
*”Thats absurd,”* Oliver scoffed. *”Veronicas her friendshe works at the clinic!”*
*”Exactly,”* Mary said flatly. *”And dyou know how we afforded Williams new coat? My brother James sent money. Every week.”*
Oliver paled. The next day, he visited Margaret unannounced. She was all frail smiles and weak teayet the flat smelled faintly of smoke. *”Had a dreadful night,”* she sighed. *”Couldnt swallow a bite.”*
He played along, but doubt festered.
A week later, while Oliver was away, Margaret cornered Mary. *”Think what you want,”* she sneered. *”But without proof, Oliver will always choose me. So clean, cook, and keep quiet.”*
Mary noddedthen sent Oliver the recording shed made.
When he returned, he went straight to Margaret. *”A year of lies,”* he said coldly. *”Manipulating us. Nearly costing me my family.”*
Margarets mask slipped. *”I raised you alone! You owe me!”*
*”Not like this,”* Oliver said, walking out.
That evening, he came home with roses. *”Im sorry,”* he whispered. Mary criednot from hurt, but relief.
Margaret faded from their lives. Oliver helped sparingly; she eventually returned to work. William barely saw her. And Oliver? He held his family tighter, learning the hard way: real family isnt built on guilt or lies, but love and trust.
**Lesson learnt: The truth cuts deeper than deceitbut only the honest deserve a place at your table.**
