La vida
013
“What do you mean you don’t want to change your surname?” – my mother-in-law shouted across the Registry Office Ella never planned on getting married. But at 19 she found herself expecting a child with her classmate, whom she had been seeing for three years. She felt she had no choice – she didn’t want her baby to grow up without a father. Even though he was older, he was immature and a total mummy’s boy. He didn’t run from responsibility, though – he agreed they should marry and raise the baby together. So, wedding preparations began. Ella would have been content to just tie the knot quietly, but the families insisted on a big, lavish do. She couldn’t understand why they’d spend a fortune on guests when that money could buy essentials for their baby. No one listened. The restaurant, the wedding dress, the guests – all picked out by her mother-in-law and her sister! When she was sent off for fittings, she didn’t even want to go. She pictured a dress with a million frills and rhinestones—not her style, and her fiancé’s family weren’t known for their taste. When she refused, her relatives labelled her ungrateful and got furious. She didn’t care—she had bigger worries: her A-levels, her exams, and getting ready for the baby’s arrival. At the Registry Office, she wore a simple white dress that suited her and looked great. That’s where things took a turn. Her new in-laws had no idea Ella planned to keep her own surname. The groom was in on it and didn’t mind, but the mother-in-law exploded and shrieked across the room: “What do you mean you don’t want to change your name?” Ella just smiled and stepped aside. Tomorrow was round two – the reception in her husband’s home village, surrounded by his entire family. She needed to save her strength. The marriage only lasted a few years. John turned out to be a useless husband and an even worse dad. Every weekend, he sat glued to his computer, ignoring his family. When Ella’s patience finally ran out, she packed her bags and left. Her mother-in-law wasn’t happy about it. But our heroine breathed a sigh of relief—at last, she felt free and truly happy.
Why on earth wont you take his surname?! hissed my mother-in-law, her voice echoing through the marble
La vida
06
Fate Has Extended Its Hand
Fate reached out Emily Brown seemed to have a decent family at first a hardworking father, a caring mother
La vida
025
My Mother-in-Law Decided to Move into My Flat and Give Hers to Her Daughter – Even Though I Bought Mine with My Own Money and My Husband Didn’t Contribute a Penny
My mother-in-law decided she rather fancied the idea of moving into my flat, handing her own over to
La vida
08
I Promise to Give Everything Back, Just You Wait!
I’ll give it back, I promise. Amelia, I’m really sorry, but I can’t help you with that.
La vida
022
I’ve Had Enough of You Turning Up Every Weekend! How I Finally Stood My Ground When My Brother-in-Law’s Entire Family Started Treating Our Home Like a Hotel—And What Happened When I Stopped Cooking, Hosting, and Changing My Life for Them
I’ve honestly had enough of them turning up every weekend! Perhaps youve come across that particular
La vida
04
We had such high hopes that my mum would retire, move to the countryside, and leave her lovely three-bedroom flat to my husband and me!
Wed held onto this hope for so long that my mother would finally retire, move to the countryside, and
La vida
07
Know Your Place, Woman!
Know your place, love, Daniel shouted, slamming his mug on the kitchen table. Daniel, Ive told you a
La vida
013
She Thought Her Husband Had a Big Appetite, But Discovered His Sister Was Stealing Their Food
Emma stood with her hand pressed to her forehead, staring into the open fridge. Once again, all the food
La vida
08
I Came to Visit Because I Missed You, but My Grown Children Seem Like Strangers Now: A Mother’s Story of Longing, Disappointment, and Family Change
Ive come to visit, I missed you, but children feel like strangers now Parents always care for their children.
La vida
08
Gran Gran Kicked Out Her Grandson and His Wife and Decided to Live Alone at 80: The Family’s Drama Over Her Three-Bed Flat and a Battle for Independence
Gran set his grandson and his wife out on their ear and decided, at the ripe old age of 80, to live on her own.