Sarah had been married to Adam for two years. Their relationship was filled with love, but tensions often flared due to Sarah’s interactions with her mother-in-law, Margaret.
Sarah was kind-hearted and always tried to win over Adam’s family, wanting to be in their good books.
Despite her efforts, she felt a chill in the air whenever Margaret was around. The older woman never said anything overtly, but her looks and subtle hints made Sarah feel unwelcome.
After visiting Margaret, Sarah would often return home distressed.
“Adam, I feel like your mum doesn’t like me,” she would confide, anxious.
Adam would sigh, set aside his book, and grumble, “You’re imagining things, Sarah. Mum respects you. She’s just reserved and has been through a lot raising us alone after Dad passed away.”
“I get that she’s had a hard time, but why do I feel like she criticizes me behind my back?”
“That’s just in your head, Sarah…”
“No! I mentioned hearing your mum talking to your gran about me. She called me useless and said she didn’t like me,” Sarah reminded him.
“You don’t know for sure who they were talking about. Let’s discuss something pleasant. How about catching that new film tomorrow?” Adam suggested to change the subject.
But Sarah couldn’t brush off her doubts so easily. She knew Margaret didn’t like her family, though never openly admitted it.
After their next visit, Sarah decided to challenge her niggling doubts outright.
The next time they visited, Sarah planned to bring a voice recorder with her.
She discreetly slipped into the kitchen and tucked the small recorder she used for university lectures into the tea towels.
Then she continued as usual, assisting Margaret with dinner preparations.
Once home, Sarah kept silent about her plan, and went straight to bed.
The following day, she made an excuse to visit Margaret once more to retrieve the recorder.
Finding it where she left it, Sarah hurried home, trembling with apprehension.
That evening, as Adam came back from work, Sarah approached him with a mysterious air.
“Adam, listen to this,” she said, gripping the recorder.
“What’s this?” he asked, puzzled, taking off his coat. “A recorder? What’s on it?”
“Just listen, please,” she insisted, playing the recording.
Initially, there were mundane kitchen sounds: running water, clinking dishes, weather chit-chat.
Then Margaret’s irritated voice broke through, clearly on a call. Her tone sharp and loud, she complained, “What was my son thinking, marrying her? She can’t even cook properly! Where did she come from? Can’t even boil a kettle right! And her mother is no better!”
Margaret’s remarks grew harsher, criticizing Sarah’s looks, manners, and family.
Finally, she ended the call warmly and returned to her TV.
Sarah pressed stop. She looked at Adam with hopeful yet frightened eyes.
“Now you see I was right?” she asked, holding back tears.
Adam was silent, his gaze lowered. He felt awkward and unsure.
He knew his mother behaved inappropriately, yet found it difficult to accept Sarah’s underhanded recording of her.
“Mum’s always been straightforward,” he eventually said, meeting his wife’s eyes. “Maybe she didn’t mean it…”
“Mean it?! She’s insulting my family and me! Some excuse you’ve got there!”
“Perhaps she’s stressed… Let’s speak to her, calmly…”
“No, Adam! I won’t endure these insults! If you can’t stand up for me, we need to rethink our relationship!” Sarah cried, leaving the room, leaving Adam deep in thought.
He knew they needed to sort things out quickly, but wasn’t sure how.
Later that evening, when emotions had cooled down, Adam called his mother.
He explained the situation and asked Margaret to apologize to Sarah for her hurtful words.
“Mum, it’s not right… You’ve gone too far…”
“She was eavesdropping? Recording me? Who gave her the right?! I could report her! And you want me to apologize? She should be groveling!”
“Mum, stop!” Adam interrupted harshly.
“I hear you! I’ll check my house for recorders next time! That girl’s not welcome, and you better not take her side!” Margaret sobbed. “I might even tell her university!”
“Don’t you dare!” Adam shouted into the phone, realizing his mum had crossed a line.
“I don’t need your permission!” Margaret retorted and hung up.
Adam tried calling back several times, but there was no answer.
Determined to prevent further trouble, Adam went to see her.
However, Margaret didn’t open the door, knowing the conversation’s likely subject.
After cooling down, Margaret decided not to report it but swore to never allow Sarah in again and to poison Adam against her.
Adam quickly noticed this, so he rarely visited them thereafter.
