**Diary Entry 12th June**
I was halfway to my mother-in-laws with a freshly baked lasagne when my solicitor called, and everything changed. “Come home NOW,” she shouted. What I saw that night revealed the darkest sides of the two people closest to me.
I used to think my life was stable. As a finance director at a well-paying job, I had the independence Id always dreamed of. My bills were paid, my fridge was full, and I could afford little luxuries here and there. It felt like I had everything under controluntil I learned the truth about my husband, William.
We met eight years ago on a hiking trip organized by mutual friends. He was the sort of bloke who could light up a room without trying. I remember his easy grin making everyone laugh, even as we climbed steep hills. By the weekends end, I was sure Id met one of the most interesting people in my life.
But we didnt start dating straight away. For two years, we stayed friendsexchanging messages, meeting for coffee, sharing bits of our lives. William was always cheerful, though I noticed his stubbornness. He insisted things go his way, whether it was picking a restaurant or weekend plans. I thought nothing of it. No ones perfect, right?
Three years after that hike, we married. I believed we were ready, even if our transition from friends to partners had bumps. Yes, he could be pushy about money, often borrowing small sums with promises to repay me next payday. I didnt mind. I told myself it was part of building a future together.
But marriage unveiled another side of Williamone I wasnt prepared for.
Slowly, I realized his mother, Margaret, played too big a role in his life. She was fiercely protective of him, and I often felt I was competing for his attention. William? He always took her side. My concerns were dismissed as “overreacting.”
Once, when I asked why her opinion mattered more than mine, he said, “Shes my mum, Emily. Shes been there my whole life. I cant just ignore her.”
It hurt, but I brushed it off. Family dynamics are complicated, arent they?
I ignored the cracks until they became chasms. The tipping point came when Margaret fell “ill”or so William claimed.
That night, we were supposed to meet our estate agent to finalize buying the house wed rented for five years. Our dream. But William was distracted. “We need to reschedule,” he said. “Mums really poorly.”
“Reschedule?” I asked. “William, weve waited a year for this. Cant we visit her after?”
“She hasnt eaten all day,” he snapped. “Just take her some of your lasagne. You know she loves it.”
Something in his tone felt off, but I pushed the thought aside. He was just worried about his mum, wasnt he?
So I packed the lasagne and drove off. Twenty minutes in, my phone rangSophie, my solicitor. She never called after hours unless it was urgent.
“Come home NOW,” she demanded.
“What? Why?”
“Its William,” she said. “Hes at the house with the estate agent. You need to get back.”
I turned the car around, hands shaking.
Inside, the scene was worse than I imagined.
William stood in the living room with papers hed tried to hide. Margaret, looking perfectly healthy, smirked. The estate agent shifted uncomfortably.
“Whats happening?” I demanded.
Sophie stepped in. “Theyre transferring the house to Margarets name. Your house, Emily. The one you saved for.”
I stared at William. “Why?”
Margaret crossed her arms. “Simple. Williams my son first. Im protecting whats his.”
Sophie interrupted. “Theres more. Margaret arranged for William to marry her friends daughter. They planned to leave you with nothing.”
The room spun. “You were going to erase me?”
William stammered. “Mum thought itd be better”
“Better for who?” I shouted. “I trusted you! I sacrificed for this housefor us!”
Sophie squeezed my shoulder. “Dont worry. The house isnt sold yet. Well fight this.”
Walking out, I felt clarity. This wasnt the endjust the end of a bad chapter.
The next months blurredpaperwork, tears, laughter. Sophie helped me file for divorce. Williams betrayal made it easy. He got the lamp and the blender.
Six months later, I bought a new housethis time, entirely mine. No greedy hands to share it with.
**Lesson learned:** Trust your gut. And never ignore a solicitors call.
