The day I returned my mother-in-law to my cheating husband and his lover with words that left them speechless
James and I had been married for seven years. From the very day of our wedding, I accepted living with my mother-in-law, Mrs. Margaret, a woman who had suffered a stroke, was paralysed on one side, and needed constant care for every meal and nap. At first, I thought it would be simpleshe was my mother-in-law, I was her daughter-in-law, and looking after her was simply my duty.
But I never imagined the weight of that responsibility would stretch on so long and the hardest part was that it came from the one person who should have shared it with me: my husband, James.
James worked during the day, and in the evenings, he was glued to his phone. He often said, *”You take better care of Mum than I do. If I try, shell suffer more.”* I never held it against him.
I thought that was just life: the wife keeps the home, the husband earns the living. But then I discovered James wasnt just at work he had someone else.
One day, I stumbled upon a message: *”Tonight, Ill come again. Being with you is a thousand times better than being at home.”* I didnt scream, I didnt cry, I didnt make a scene.
I simply asked in a quiet voice, *”What about your mother, the one youve neglected all these years?”* James said nothing. The next day, he left the house. I knew exactly where hed gone.
I looked at Mrs. Margaret, the woman who had once criticised every bite I ate, every nap I took, who said I *”wasnt worthy of being her daughter-in-law,”* and a lump formed in my throat. I wanted to walk away from it all. But then I reminded myself: a person must always keep their dignity.
A week later, I called James. *”Are you free? Im bringing your mother over for you to look after.”*
I packed her medication, medical reports, and an old care notebook into a fabric bag. That evening, I helped her into her wheelchair and said gently, *”Mum, Ill take you to Jamess for a few days. Staying in one place gets dull.”* She nodded, her eyes bright like a childs.
At the small flat, I rang the bell. James opened the door, and behind him stood another woman, in a silk nightgown and dark red lipstick. I wheeled Mrs. Margaret into the living room, arranged the blankets and pillows, and placed the bag of medication on the table.
The flat reeked of perfume, but it was cold and silent. James stammered, *”What what are you doing?”*
I smiled sweetly. *”Remember? Mum is yours. Im just your wife. I looked after her for seven years thats enough.”* The woman behind him paled, a spoonful of yoghurt frozen halfway to her lips.
I stepped back calmly, as if finishing a long-planned task. *”Heres her medical history, prescriptions, nappies, pads, and cream for her sores. Ive written down all the dosages in the notebook.”*
I set the notebook on the table and turned to leave. Jamess voice rose. *”Youre abandoning my mother? Thats cruel!”*
I stopped, not turning back, and replied in a steady, quiet tone, *”You neglected her for seven years whats that, if not cruelty? I cared for her like my own familynot for you, but because shes a mother. Now Im leaving, not for revenge, but because Ive done my part as a decent person.”*
I looked at the other woman, meeting her eyes with a faint smile. *”If you love him, love all of him. This comes with the package.”*
Then, I placed the house deeds on the table. *”The house is in my name only. Im taking nothing. He only took his clothes. But if you ever need money to care for Mum, Ill still contribute.”*
I bent down and stroked my mother-in-laws hair one last time. *”Mum, behave yourself here. If you get sad, Ill come see you.”*
Mrs. Margaret smiled, her voice trembling. *”Yes come visit when youre home again.”*
I walked out, closing the door behind me. The room fell silent, filled with the mix of perfume and massage oil. That night, I slept peacefully, without dreams. The next morning, I woke early, took my son out for breakfast, and embraced a fresh startno tears, no bitterness.
