**Diary Entry 15th October**
Emily hid a voice recorder in her mother-in-laws house to eavesdrop on their conversations.
James and Emily had been married two years. They loved each other deeply, but tension brewed over Emilys strained relationship with her mother-in-law, Margaret Whitmore.
Emily was kind and thoughtful, always trying to please everyone, especially her new family. Despite her efforts, she felt nothing but coldness from Margaret. The older woman never criticised outright, but sharp glances, cutting tones, and veiled remarks made Emily feel like an outsider. Every visit to Margarets home left her miserable.
*”James, Im certain your mother dislikes me,”* she admitted one evening, voice trembling.
James sighed, setting aside his newspaper. *”Not this again, Em. Shes just reserved. Raising me alone after Dad passed wasnt easy.”*
*”I understand, but why do I feel she mocks me behind my back?”*
*”Youre imagining things, love.”*
*”No! Remember what I overheard when she spoke to your gran? She called me clumsy and said she couldnt stand me!”*
*”You dont know who she meant. Lets drop itfancy cinema tomorrow?”*
Still, Emily couldnt let it go. She knew Margaret despised her family, though the woman would never admit it.
After another tense Sunday roast, Emily resolved to uncover the truth. On her next visit, she smuggled in a recorder, tucking it between tea towels in the kitchenthe same one shed bought months earlier for university lectures. She helped Margaret prep dinner as usual, unsuspected.
That night, she lay awake, clutching her secret. The next day, she returned under pretence of helping, retrieving the device. Hands shaking, she played the recording for James that evening.
*”Listen to this,”* she said, holding it out.
*”Whata recorder?”* James frowned.
The playback began: clattering dishes, murmurs, then Margarets sharp voice on the phone. *”I dont know what my son sees in her! Cant even make a proper roast! And her family? Their tea tastes like dishwater. Her mothers as careless as she is!”* The vitriol spilled onEmilys clothes, manners, even her roots.
When it ended, Emily stared at James, eyes glistening. *”Now do you believe me?”*
James stayed silent, ashamed. His mother was wrong, but Emilys deceit unsettled him. *”Shes blunt Maybe it was heat of the moment.”*
*”Blunt?!”* Emily cried. *”You call ruining my familys name blunt? If you wont defend me, we need to rethink our marriage!”* She stormed out in tears.
Hours later, James called Margaret. *”You owe Emily an apology.”*
*”She recorded me?!”* Margaret shrieked. *”Ill report her to the police! Get that snake expelled from uni!”*
*”Mum, stop!”* James snapped. *”Hear yourself!”*
*”Oh, I did! That nosy girls banned from my house! And yousupporting her over me? Well settle this tomorrow!”* She hung up. James tried calling backno answer.
He rushed to her house, but Margaret refused to open the door.
Realising her plan to drive Emily away, James chose his wife. For weeks, he visited his mother sparingly, prioritising peace at home. Margaret, furious, barred Emily from her doorstep and gossiped to the neighbours. But James stopped listening.
**Lesson learnt:** Some battles arent worth winning alone. Loyalty should lie where respect is given, not demanded.
