Laptop Smashed, Mother-in-Law Blamed Us

The laptop was smashed, and my mother-in-law blamed us

Daniel and Emily decided to celebrate their anniversary at a cosy café in central Manchester. They didn’t get home until well past midnight.

“Finally decided to show up, did you?” Daniel’s mother, Margaret, greeted them at the door, arms crossed. “Where on earth have you been? I’ve been stuck here looking after your nieces all evening!”

“Mum, what’s wrong?” Daniel frowned. “You adore Laura’s kids.”

“Was it really so hard to watch them for a few hours?” Emily added, hanging up her coat.

“Oh, off you go gallivanting while I’m run ragged here!” Margaret snapped. “And where’s their mother, eh?”

“She’s busy, apparently—but you two get to relax!” Margaret jabbed a finger toward the kitchen. “Now go wash the dishes. You’ve had your fun; time to pull your weight!”

Daniel scowled and opened his laptop. Then his hands froze on the lid. His face went pale as he saw something that made his blood run cold.

After the wedding, Daniel and Emily had rented a flat. But money grew tight, and soon they had no choice but to move in with his mother. Emily’s parents lived in a cramped one-bed with her younger brother—no space for the newlyweds. Daniel had changed jobs; the pay was worse, but there was talk of a promotion.

“Em, it’s only temporary,” he assured her. “We’ll save money living with Mum. She’s alone most of the time—just the odd visit from my sister, sometimes with the kids. We’ll manage.”

“I could pick up extra work, and you could too,” Emily suggested.

“What, grind ourselves to the bone?” Daniel snapped. “I’m in the office all day, then I’m supposed to rush off somewhere else? Come home just to sleep? When do we actually live?”

“And living with your mum is ‘living’?” Emily sighed.

“Look, we don’t have the money! If we stick it out, we’ll save faster for our own place.”

Emily said nothing. The idea of living with her mother-in-law made her stomach twist. She’d only met Daniel’s nieces—his sister Laura’s rowdy, spoiled girls—once at the wedding. But they had no other choice.

“Well, what’s the big deal?” Margaret greeted them. “Better than wasting rent on strangers. We’ll split the bills three ways—you two cover two-thirds, I’ll take the rest. Food costs divided the same. I’ll handle shopping and cooking. You do the cleaning.”

“Fair enough, Mum,” Daniel agreed. “Em, sound good?”

“Fine,” she muttered.

At first, it wasn’t terrible. Dinner was ready when they got home, breakfast waiting in the mornings. Emily took on freelance work after hours, but weekends were ruined by the nieces’ visits. Laura barely stayed—just dumped the girls from Friday to Sunday.

Cleaning was impossible with them there: chaos followed in their wake, toys strewn everywhere, no respect for privacy. More than once, they barged into the bedroom while Daniel and Emily slept.

“Dan, can’t your mum take them back?” Emily pleaded one morning. “We’re exhausted!”

“They’re just kids,” he waved her off. “My nieces—your family too. Deal with it.”

“I was working half the night!”

“Nobody forced you. Fine, I’m up. Meeting the lads for fishing. Be back by evening.”

“What about me? Left alone again?”

“Mum’s here. Want peace? Give them your laptop to play with.”

“Brilliant idea! Give them yours,” Emily shot back.

“I’ve got work files on mine,” he said flatly. “What’ve you got, more important?”

“I’ve got a deadline today!” she snapped. “Go on, I’ll sort it.”

This became routine. Daniel was always off with his mates—fishing, barbecues, pub crawls. Today was no different.

Margaret was feeding the girls when Emily walked in.

“Sit down, Emily,” she said without looking up. “Not many pancakes left, but you’ll manage. Daniel said the girls could use your laptop.”

“That’s not true!” Emily bristled. “I never agreed. I’ve got work due today.”

“Stingy, aren’t you?” Margaret scoffed. “We’re family! Laura won’t let them near hers—too expensive.”

“I’ve got a week’s work on there!” Emily snapped.

“Clear the dishes first,” Margaret said, picking up her phone.

Emily scrubbed plates angrily. No one in this house cleaned up after themselves. Margaret was already chatting away:

“Yes, Susan, we’ll meet! An hour at the shopping centre. Who’s making noise? The girls. Don’t worry, Emily’s watching them. Good practice, since she’s got none of her own.”

Emily nearly dropped a plate. Quietly, she packed her laptop and left. Margaret said nothing—probably planning to announce her outing at the last second.

Emily headed to an internet café where she often worked. Settling in a corner, she ordered coffee and focused. Half an hour later, Daniel called:

“Em, where are you? What’s going on?”

“Working,” she said calmly. “Deadline today.”

“Mum’s panicking! Where’d you vanish to?”

“I can’t focus with that noise.”

“You ruined her plans with Susan!”

“Invite Susan over, then.”

“With those two terrors? Be serious!”

“Then you watch them and let your mum go. They’ve got a mother!”

“You’re making things up,” he grumbled.

“Or are you?” Emily shot back. “Your mum was so generous, and we’re paying for it. This month, she ‘ran short’ and took extra from us. Have you even noticed?”

“You’re petty!”

“And where’s your money going?” Emily fired back. “Not a penny to your mum—I cover it all. But always enough for pints with the lads! Twelve days a month, your nieces eat our food. Your mum buys them sweets, ice cream—nothing for us. Laura takes them home with bags full. When we rented, we spent half as much! Call this saving? Want this forever? I’m finishing this job and leaving. Your choice: come with me or we’re done.”

“Em, just tell me where you are,” Daniel’s voice wavered.

“Why?”

“Fishing fell through. Don’t want to go home. Let’s spend the day together.”

“I’m working.”

“I’ll sit quietly. That place near the station?”

“Fine. An hour and I’m done. Couldn’t have done this at home.”

Daniel arrived with flowers.

“What’s this for?” Emily blinked.

“Anniversary of our first date,” he smiled. “I’ll order your favourite cake and coffee.”

“Oh. I’d forgotten,” she admitted. “Let me just send this file.”

They stayed out late, making plans to move. Emily had been right: Margaret had been milking them, turning Daniel against her, calling her cheap.

They returned home after midnight.

“About time!” Margaret hissed. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been saddled with these brats all night!”

“Mum, you love them,” Daniel said flatly.

“I’ve had it!” she barked. “Susan wanted to meet at the café, but I had to invite her here. She hated it! Where was Laura?”

“Busy,” Daniel shrugged. “If she saw us out, she could’ve taken them.”

“Dishes. Now,” Margaret ordered. “You’ve lazed about enough!”

Emily changed, heading for the kitchen, but Daniel stopped her. He opened his laptop—and froze. The screen was cracked. Files were gone.

“What the hell?” he whispered. “Em, I left this on the shelf!”

“I didn’t touch it,” she said. “Ask your mum.”

“Mum!” Daniel yelled. “What happened to my laptop?”

“Keep your voice down!” Margaret snapped. “I’m worn out!”

“Why did you take it? Where are my files?”

“The girls were bored,” she muttered. “It’s just a crack. At least they were quiet.”

“They deleted everything!” Daniel exploded. “They’re ten and eight—they knew what they were doing!”

“Your own nieces!” Margaret sneered.

“Enough!” he roared. “Em, start flat-hunting. I’ll sort this mess.”

“What about the dishes?” Margaret demanded.

“The eaters can wash them,” Daniel shot back. “We weren’t here.”

Emily searched for flats, watching Daniel rage. She’d never seen him like this. The laptop had cost him years of savings.

“Dan, we’ll get a new one,” she soothed.

“No, I’ll fix it,” he said tightly. “Left the password on the case—my fault. Never thought Mum would do this. You were right this morning. I almost gave them yours. I’m sorry. WeThe next morning, they packed in silence, leaving the keys on the table without looking back.

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Laptop Smashed, Mother-in-Law Blamed Us