Edward, hurt by his mothers behaviour, made up his mind to live separately from her.
“You dont respect me at all!” The angry echo of his mothers voice stretched down the phone line, overwhelming Emma with its sharp, demanding tone.
She sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the womans unreasonable demands. Emma remembered the moment just before her wedding, when it seemed fate itself had decided to interfere. Her future mother-in-law, a woman of strict principles and unwavering opinions, had caught nothing more than a common coldyet she spoke of it as if it were the plague itself, capable of ruining everything.
The call had come that morning, just hours before Emma and her fiancé, Edward, were due to begin their new life together. Shock quickly turned to frustrationthis was absurd, completely against all common sense. His mother insisted the wedding be postponed for weeks.
“What do you mean, *postpone*? Weve arranged everythingthe reception, the guests! My parents are flying in from York just for this!” Emma protested.
Edward listened in silence, knowing full well he was about to have the most difficult conversation of his life. No one had ever dared oppose his mother beforebut now, it was time.
“Mum, a cold is just a cold. I get that youre worried, but we cant cancel the wedding over something so minor.” His voice was firm, stronger than shed ever heard him speak to her before.
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end, as if she couldnt believe what she was hearing. Then came a stifled sob, as though she were fighting back furious tears.
“Fine. If neither of you care about my health Then have it your way. But mark my wordsif anything goes wrong, itll be on *your* heads.”
A sharp click ended the call. Silence filled the room, broken only by the nervous tapping of Emmas fingers against the table.
Edwards mother clutched the phone, her hands trembling slightly as she scrolled through her contacts. Her heart pounded, but her mind was clear: she couldnt let them celebrate while she suffered.
“Lillian? Its me. Im so sorry to call like this, but the weddings been postponed. Ive come down with the fluwell have to move it back a few weeks. Oh yes, Edward agrees, of course. Hes worried sick about me.”
A pause, then a sympathetic murmur. “Oh, you poor thing! Of course, get well first!”
She exhaled, relieved. Lying didnt sit right, but she had no choice.
Next call. “Hello, Margaret? Yes, you heard right. Weve had to postpone the wedding. Im dreadfully illthe doctor says I must rest.”
Margaret gasped. “Oh, what a shame! Get well soon, darling!”
One by one, the calls continued, each repeating the same lie. Every friend and relative reacted the sameoffering sympathy, support. Only the voice in her head whispered that she was making a terrible mistake, that she was hurting her son, his family, herself.
When the last call ended, she sank onto the sofa, exhausted. The phone buzzed in her hand, demanding confirmation. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
That evening, as guests gathered for the ceremony, only Emmas closest friends, a few of Edwards colleagues, and distant relatives who rarely spoke to his mother were present. The rest had vanished, having heeded her warningsthough no official cancellation had been sent.
For a moment, Emma felt dizzy with shock. Then came anger, sharp and bitter.
Yet despite it all, the celebration was joyous. The guests laughed, danced, and toasted the couple, creating a warmth that filled the room.
Meanwhile, miles away, Edwards mother sat alone in her house, weeping quietly. Bitterness twisted inside her.
*To them, my illness is nothingjust an old womans nonsense. Was it so hard to show me a little care?*
When the truth came out, Edwards relatives felt betrayed. Some openly criticised her; others stayed silent, fearing a fallout.
Edward, wounded by her actions, made his choice. Soon after, he and Emma moved awayfar from his mother, far from the bitterness she had sown.
