The Daughter-in-Law’s Property
Emily gazed at the photo in the lovely frame and sighed. It had been two years since her husband passed away. A freak accident—a heavy snowfall from the roof, a blow, and Tom was gone.
They had only been married for two years and hadn’t had the chance to have children. All that was left of her beloved husband were memories, photographs, and his mother, Margaret Sylvia.
Margaret would visit Emily, crying, lamenting, and even blaming her for not giving them a grandchild.
“If you were a proper woman, we would have had a child by now…” she would say. Emily just shrugged. It was hard for her to cope with the loss, but she didn’t blame herself. Before having kids, she and her husband wanted to sort out their housing situation and were preparing to move. But Tom didn’t live to see it.
After her husband’s death, Emily threw herself into work to keep busy and distract herself. She worked hard, took on extra projects, and within a year, for her thirtieth birthday, moved from a rented flat into her own. It was small, but it was hers.
Her father helped a little; he was proud of his daughter and supported her in everything. But a year later, he was gone too. His heart gave out.
Emily lost her only family member. She was left all alone, with only Margaret continuing her attempts to offer “condolences” and sympathy for her grief.
Margaret visited Emily after the funeral and immediately announced:
“Write a will, Emily, while there’s still time,” said the mother-in-law.
Emily almost dropped her cup.
“Yes, yes, I’m serious. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Today you’re healthy, but who knows what tomorrow brings?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“You’re thirty now, with no family. You should think about others.”
“Don’t worry, Margaret. I’m no millionaire; my savings will cover a simple funeral,” she joked, trying to brush off the irritation growing inside her, thinking her mother-in-law had lost it due to the stress of another funeral.
“You’re joking, but it’s true. Were I in your place, I’d put the flat in your nephews’ names.”
“Really? You suggest I hand over all my assets to your grandchildren?” Emily raised her eyebrows. Margaret had a younger son, Greg, with whom Emily didn’t maintain relations. Even Tom, Emily’s husband, hadn’t been on good terms with his brother; they were polar opposites. Greg had married young, had daughters, divorced, remarried, had a son, and divorced again. And six months ago, Greg found himself a new wife.
“There’s no need to sign over everything now, but draft a will. Otherwise, all your assets will go to the state!”
“Margaret… I think it’s time for you to go home. You seem tired.”
“Greg and his wife Lucy asked to stay at my place,” she admitted. “I don’t want to get in their way, you understand.”
“Well, don’t get in their way. What does this have to do with me?” Emily didn’t understand.
“I was counting on you. Since your father’s flat is empty now, I thought I could stay there until Greg gets his affairs in order. They’re planning on getting a mortgage once he finds a job. I’ve already packed my things, and all I need are the keys from you. Don’t worry; I’ll only take one room. The other can be rented out. I’ve already found someone interested. Rita and her son are looking for a place…”
“Rita—Greg’s second wife?”
“Yes, do you remember her? She’s a good girl. We get on great… Let her stay. I look after my grandson anyway, so it’ll save on travel.
“And how much are you willing to pay for rent?”
“Me?!” Margaret flared. “I’m like a mother to you! And you would charge me? I never thought Tom would marry someone like…”
“Margaret, I’m sorry, but I won’t let you stay, not for free or for a fee. If I write a will, it will be for my own child, who I’m sure I will have. My whole life is ahead of me.”
“Ha! At thirty, it’s already late to have children! And with whom? You’re all alone! Dream on… greedy Just wait, you’ll lose everything! You’ll remember my words with tears!” Margaret curled up, resembling a wicked witch. Emily wanted to show her out and never let her back in. She suddenly thought all her troubles stemmed from Margaret’s envy, who always disliked Emily and insisted to Tom that happiness wouldn’t find them.
“Leave, Margaret. I’ll sort everything out. I’m thirty and have a good head on my shoulders. And if anything happens, better the state gets everything than you.”
Margaret muttered something under her breath and left, slamming the door. The next day, Greg called Emily, shouting and accusing her of being the reason his mother felt unwell after visiting her.
Emily realized that if she wanted peace, she needed to cut ties with her in-laws. She put her flat up for sale. Buyers came quickly. She then handled the paperwork for her inheritance and sold her father’s flat. With the money, she bought a bigger place and moved into her new life without the “family” hanging over her. None of them knew her new address, giving her the freedom to plan her future uninterrupted.
Do you think Emily did the right thing? Should she have let her mother-in-law stay in her father’s flat?
