Harlan Covington

Living in Someone Else’s Flat? Then Pay the Rent! “I don’t even know if my daughter’s wedding will happen. Everyone’s fallen out, and the future son-in-law has gone off the rails. There are only two weeks to go and he’s acting up. I feel so sorry for my daughter,” complains Alina. “Why is everyone arguing?” “You won’t believe it, but it’s over a flat. We wanted to make the young couple happy, so we used all our savings and bought them a flat as a wedding gift. We had to sell our little cottage by the lake and the garage just to afford it. The property is in my daughter’s name. But they’re getting married anyway—so what difference does it make whose name it’s in?” “Exactly…” “That’s what my husband and I think too. Now, the flat’s totally bare. It needs renovating and furnishing, but we’ve got no savings left. My husband suggested to our son-in-law-to-be that we all pitch in to get the place ready so they can move in quickly. But he refuses to help with the renovation!” “Why not?” “Because it’s not his flat! He won’t invest in property he doesn’t own. He said we should do the renovation ourselves. Maybe he’ll buy a few bits and bobs, but he won’t spend any real money.” “So why don’t they just move in as it is?” “They can’t. It’s completely empty and needs new plumbing and electrics, the floors and walls need evening out, the old windows are about to fall out—they need to be replaced. At the very least, it needs basic finishing,” says Alina. “I think it’s impossible to live in such a state, even though I’m not hard to please. How can young people live in a dump like that? It’s embarrassing! My future son-in-law works for a big company and makes good money, but he doesn’t want to spend it. He wants to save up for his own place so he’s not left without a roof over his head. “So it seems he wants to live at our expense. He’s demanding we pay for the renovation. So I told him, if he thinks it’s someone else’s flat, then he should pay rent! He just smiled and agreed,” Alina sighs. “What does your daughter say?” “She’s very upset and cries all the time. She loves him very much, but we can’t add him to the flat’s deeds. Now she says she doesn’t want the flat or the renovation at all. But I dislike that he’s unwilling to invest in their family. What’s going to happen next? They’re not even married and already thinking about divorce and splitting the assets,” says Alina. Do you think my future son-in-law should invest in this flat? He plans to live there, start a family, settle in. Does it really matter whose name is on the deeds? Or is his position logical? What would you do in his shoes?

Living in someone elses home? Pay for your stay! I sometimes wonder if my daughters wedding will ever

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My Husband’s Parents Refuse to Accept His Divorce – They Keep Trying to Reunite Him With His Ex-Wife. “Don’t You Understand, They Have a Son Together!” My Mother-in-Law Complains I am married to a man whose parents have stubbornly refused to accept the fact that their son is divorced—even though it’s been over four years since it happened. They’re constantly trying to reconcile him with his ex-wife. He and I married three years ago and we have a happy life together. My mother-in-law thinks her son acted recklessly and foolishly. She believes he must do everything possible to rebuild his relationship with his ex-wife’s family. After all, his son is still there. When I met Adam, he was already divorced. Supposedly, it was a mutual decision, and his ex-wife happily remarried. Apparently, her affair was the reason for their split. Maybe we made a mistake by getting married. My own mum insisted we wed because she got pregnant, and I wasn’t really in love—I was just dating her. “If she hadn’t been pregnant, I wouldn’t have married her,” my husband explained. I wasn’t intimidated by his ex. At first, I decided to watch him closely. I realised he really wasn’t longing for his old family; he was indifferent to his ex-wife. She wasn’t interested in him either. She remarried, and they only communicate about their son. Only my mother-in-law couldn’t stand things as they were. His father as well. They kept trying to reunite the family, and took our relationship very negatively. “You’re still young, your life is ahead of you. Why would you get involved in someone else’s family?” she asked me when we were alone. I replied that if Adam were married, I wouldn’t interfere. But right now, he’s single. My mother-in-law tried to say more but fell silent when Adam came in. At that moment I knew I’d never have a good relationship with her—but I wasn’t particularly upset. We got married and moved in together. I’ve hardly had any contact with my mother-in-law except for occasional family holidays. That’s when I have to listen to her sigh about my husband’s former family. Adam tries to hush his mum, as he isn’t happy about it either—but then it all just repeats. We’re not rushing to have children. I don’t feel ready to be a mum and my husband already has a son, which my mother-in-law is very pleased about. After the divorce, my mother-in-law stepped in—she kept inviting my husband’s ex-wife for Christmas and praised her for everything. “They made such a lovely couple…” she’d sigh. His ex-wife had nothing to do with it—she was completely indifferent, just showed up and that was that. You could feel the lack of enthusiasm. My mother-in-law even tried to make Adam jealous of his ex-wife and me jealous of him. She’d ring me asking if I knew where my husband was. If I didn’t, she assumed he was with his ex. Or she’d send him on errands to his ex. All sorts of little things. I’m not jealous, but it all gets on my nerves. If you look at Adam and his ex, it’s obvious there’s nothing between them and there never will be. But having a child together doesn’t help. My husband regularly gives his ex money, sometimes talks to his son, and brings him round for visits. His ex isn’t manipulative or greedy, and doesn’t restrict visits. She seems perfectly normal. They behave like civilised adults. It just didn’t work out, and now each has their own life and they respect each other. But my mother-in-law can’t accept that, constantly stirring up drama. When will she stop? When will she wise up? My husband hopes she’ll quiet down once I give her a grandchild, but I don’t believe it.

My husband’s parents refuse to accept reality they keep trying to reconcile him with his ex-wife.

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My Mother-in-Law Offered to Help Look After Our Children Over the Summer Since She’s Retired, But Now My Husband’s Brother Leaves His Kids With Her Too—Without Bringing Food or Money—And I Don’t Know How to Address It Without Causing a Family Row

My mother-in-law offered to help us look after the children during the summer holiday. Now that shes

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My mother-in-law offered to help us look after the children during the summer holiday. Now that shes

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I Paid to Become “Younger.” Years Later, My Husband Discovered the Truth and We Divorced

You know, thinking back, I basically bought myself a younger life. But after a few years, the truth about

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I Paid to Become “Younger.” Years Later, My Husband Discovered the Truth and We Divorced

You know, thinking back, I basically bought myself a younger life. But after a few years, the truth about

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My Husband Only Ever Thinks of Himself: He Eats Absolutely Everything—Not Even Our Child Gets Any Leftovers — “Adam, where have all the bananas gone?” I ask my husband. — “I ate them because I fancied them.” — “Couldn’t you at least have saved one for our son’s afternoon snack?” — “You’re making a fuss over nothing. It’s not like they don’t sell bananas in the shop.” — “Then go and buy some.” — “I’ve got the football match on—how can I go?” This is how it always is in our family: cheese, biscuits, apples—I even have to hide food because with a father like this, my son could go hungry. We’ve been married for five years. Our son is nearly two. We have a mortgage, so money’s tight. My husband believes he’s the provider—he gave us our home. But in reality, he only sold his one-bedroom flat for the deposit; my parents helped too. My mum thinks Adam is a real egotist, and honestly, I kind of agree. One day we were preparing for a birthday party. I’m cooking for our guests, and he keeps wandering in and emptying the plates. The worst part: he got to the cake as well. I left it on the balcony since there was no room in the fridge. Brought it back to the kitchen to slice up—and saw all that was left was a piece of decorated chocolate. Imagine how embarrassed I was! This happens all the time. Yes, he earns money, but surely we can manage things sensibly and think about others. He always says, “Don’t worry! We’ll just buy more.” Okay, don’t care about me—but how can you not care about your own child? Especially when money’s tight and I have to make things last. In a week, we can go through a month’s worth of food. — “Why are you picking on him? He’s a man, let him eat. He earns the money. Instead of complaining, just cook more,” his mum defends him. But no matter how much you cook, he’ll never have enough—he eats everything. There’s no point in buying more, when we have a mortgage to pay, clothes and other household things to buy. Overall, I told my husband that if he does this one more time—I’m filing for divorce. We’ll split the flat, and each go our own way. He was offended and went running to his mum. Now my mother-in-law refuses to speak to me, but I think I’m right. What do you think?

My husband only ever thinks of himself. He polishes off all the food, not leaving anything, not even

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Think Again! The Suitor Who Thought He Could Move Into My Flat and Live Off Me I was incredibly lucky – always goal-oriented, I managed to save up and buy my own place by 25. No help from mum and dad, no relatives pitching in – I did it all myself. When I met and fell for a guy, I was foolish enough to tell him I owned my flat. Still, I warned him I wouldn’t live in his place; if we wanted to move in together, he’d have to rent us something, and I’d let out mine to save up for a car. He agreed, saying he’d have money for rent soon and we’d live together. Six months later, he turned up at my door with a suitcase. Said he’d lost his job and was skint. He asked if he could stay with me for a while. Good thing he’s got parents! No, I didn’t let him move in. I reckon it was just an excuse to sponge off me, nothing more. In the end, I dumped him.

You wish! The cheek of himthinking he could shack up in my flat and sponge off me. I suppose I should

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From the Time I Was a Little Girl, My Parents Told Me No One Needed Me and I Was Worthless – How I Proved My Critical Mother Wrong, Left My Home Town for London, and Built a Happy Family and Thriving Business on My Own Terms

Ever since I was a little girl, my parents would whisper that nobody needed me, that I was useless.

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Natalie, You’ve Been Gone for Five Years—You Never Cared How I Was or What Became of Me Natalie and Ben had lived together for over five years. Ben didn’t earn much—his salary was rather modest, as he was an ordinary labourer. Natalie always dreamed of a comfortable, or even better, wealthy life, so she was thrilled whenever she met men more successful than her husband. One day, Natalie had incredible luck—she caught the eye of a wealthy businessman who promised her a fortune. She fell for his grand promises and left her poor husband to start a new life. Ben was devastated by his wife’s decision. He pleaded with his beloved, begging her not to leave. He promised her everything would change, that he’d work harder, switch jobs, work day and night if he had to, just to make her happy. But Natalie was unmoved—she was already dreaming of sailing white yachts and shopping in Europe’s finest boutiques. Her poor husband could never afford such luxuries. No vow of love or promise could persuade her. Five years later, now thirty-two, Natalie’s rich benefactor lost interest in her amidst a crowd of younger, more alluring women. He told Natalie she was too demanding and quarrelsome, and he lost all affection for her. Having no way to support herself in London, never having had a job in her life, Natalie decided to return to her ex-husband. After all, hadn’t he sworn eternal love and said his heart belonged to her forever? Surely he would be waiting for her. As Natalie approached the flat where she once lived, she heard footsteps and saw a woman open the door, holding a small girl. “Darling, we’ve talked about not opening the door alone,” the woman gently chided the child. “Can I help you?” she asked. Natalie stood speechless on the doorstep. “I’m looking for Ben. Is he home?” Natalie stammered, confused and uncertain. “Ben, someone’s here asking for you! What’s your name?” the woman called for Natalie’s ex-husband, then glanced back at the guest. “Natalie!” Ben said in surprise, then turned to the woman. “Love, could you go inside? I need to talk.” “Who was that?” Natalie asked in astonishment, watching as the woman carried the little girl away. “That’s my wife, Olivia, and in her arms is our daughter, Emily,” Ben replied. “You’re married? You have a daughter? You swore you would never love anyone the way you loved me!” “So many years have passed since that day! I was heartbroken at first, but then I realised life doesn’t end when someone leaves. That’s when I met Olivia, fell completely in love, and she made me happy. She gave me a daughter.” “And me? What about me?” “Natalie, you’ve been gone for five years and never cared how I was or what became of me. You ran after someone else’s money, and all you wanted was wealth and a lavish life. We may never have been rich, but that doesn’t excuse what you did. And now you’ve come back? Did you expect me to sit and wait for you all this time?” “I was foolish! I still love you!” “Natalie, enough of this act. Please go. I don’t need you, and I don’t want to see you. Your boyfriend dumped you, and that’s the only reason you’re here? It makes me sick. Please, just go.” Natalie burst into tears, consumed by her heartbreak and the pain of not being wanted, while Ben was glad to have finally moved on and found happiness—achieving closure and a sense of vindication.

Emily, you havent been around for five years nowyou dont care how Im living or whats become of me Emily