Woman Hated Her Mother-in-Law Until One Day When Her Life Was Turned Upside Down — Story of the Day

Mary’s marriage to Ed came with a price: his mother Scarlett who never hid her disdain. From wedding-day insults to constant criticism, Scarlett seemed set on making Mary’s life difficult. Tensions grew with each visit… until something even more shocking unfolded.

Mary and her husband, Ed, drove in silence toward his mother Scarlett’s house. Though they hadn’t arrived yet, Mary was already looking forward to the ride back. Scarlett, after all, simply despised her.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

At their wedding, Scarlett had even shown up wearing a veil; Mary had been grateful she hadn’t arrived in a full wedding dress. Scarlett was one of those mothers who couldn’t let go of her “little boy,” no matter how grown-up he was.

As they pulled into the driveway, Mary reluctantly stepped out, trailing behind Ed. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever latest insult Scarlett had in store.

Forcing a smile, she braced herself, hoping her expression would carry her through this visit. Scarlett opened the door with a wide grin and immediately wrapped her arms around Ed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, my baby! You’re finally here! I’ve missed you more than you know!” she exclaimed, holding him close.

“Mom, it’s only been a week,” Ed replied, easing himself out of her hug.

Scarlett gave Ed a brief look before turning her gaze to Mary, her expression shifting. “Well, Mary, I see you’ve gained a few pounds,” she said with a smirk.

Mary let out a quiet sigh, resisting the urge to respond. She forced a tight smile instead. “Good to see you too, Scarlett.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Dinner felt endless as Scarlett launched into her usual list of complaints. “Mary doesn’t know how to cook. She doesn’t work somewhere respectable. She doesn’t even know how to dress herself properly,” Scarlett declared, taking quick glances at Ed for support.

Mary gripped her fork tightly, biting her tongue. She knew any response would just add fuel to Scarlett’s fire. But then Scarlett said something that made Mary’s patience snap—words sharper than anything before.

Scarlett looked across the table, her eyes fixed on Mary. “Well,” she said slowly, “I think it’s high time you gave me a grandchild. Or maybe,” she added with a smirk, “Mary has… some issues?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary’s heart sank. They had been trying for a baby for six months with no success, and Scarlett’s words stung like salt in a wound. “How dare you!” Mary burst out. “Stop meddling in our lives! Maybe it’s your son who has the problem!”

Scarlett leaned back, eyes narrowing. “That’s absurd! My son is perfectly healthy, thank you very much. But you, Mary… who knows what you were up to before meeting Eddie?”

Mary’s face flushed with anger. “You’re a damn witch!” she shouted, her voice trembling. She turned to Ed, who hadn’t said a word. “Are you just going to sit there and let her say this?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Scarlett shot her son a pointed look. “Yes, Eddie, tell your crazy wife to show some respect,” she said, her tone mocking.

Ed shrugged, still scrolling through his phone. “Work it out yourselves.”

Scarlett leaned toward Mary, her voice low. “My neighbor mentioned herbal teas. She swears they help people like you.”

Mary opened her mouth to retort but felt a sudden wave of nausea. She clenched her stomach, forcing the words out. “Why don’t you… drink your own tea?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Unable to hold it back, Mary bolted to the bathroom. When she returned, still pale, she looked at Ed. “I want to go home.”

“Okay,” he said, barely glancing up.

Scarlett tilted her head, a fake look of concern crossing her face. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

Mary’s eyes narrowed. “You probably poisoned me,” she muttered, too tired to argue further.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

On the way home, Mary’s mind raced. She had to know for sure. “Ed, can you stop at the pharmacy?” she asked quietly.

He sighed but pulled into the parking lot. She hurried inside, grabbed a pregnancy test, and paid quickly. Back at home, she went straight to the bathroom. She held her breath, waiting. Then, the results appeared—two lines. She gasped, feeling a rush of excitement and relief.

She rushed to show Ed, her face glowing. “Ed, we’re going to have a baby!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Ed glanced at the test, his expression unreadable. “Oh. That’s… good,” he mumbled, barely meeting her eyes.

Mary’s heart sank a little. She was overjoyed, but Ed’s reaction felt like a shadow over her happiness.

A few weeks had passed since Mary found out she was pregnant, and she was finally starting to adjust to the idea of becoming a mother. It was their first doctor’s appointment, and she was sitting on the bed, waiting for Ed to finish his shower so they could leave together.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She hoped he’d show some excitement, but he seemed distant lately, preoccupied and withdrawn

As she waited, Ed’s phone buzzed beside her, lighting up with a message. Usually, she respected his privacy. But the way he’d been acting made her hesitate.

Without fully realizing it, she reached for his phone. She tried to unlock it and was surprised to find a passcode. She couldn’t remember him ever using one before. On a whim, she tried his birth date. The screen unlocked immediately.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The message stared back at her: a picture of a half-dressed woman, smiling in a way that made her stomach twist. Below the picture, a message read, “Can’t wait to see you, baby.”

Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the conversation, each word feeling like a fresh betrayal. Ed had told this woman he was wealthy, a construction company owner—a far cry from his real job.

Heart pounding, she took screenshots, saving them on her phone as evidence of his lies and deceit.

When Ed came out of the bathroom, she was waiting, holding his phone. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with hurt and anger.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What is this?!” she shouted, thrusting the phone toward him.

His expression turned hard, and he grabbed the phone from her hand. “None of your business,” he snapped.

Mary’s voice rose, filled with pain. “None of my business? You’re cheating on me! And I’m pregnant, Ed—your pregnant wife!”

His eyes narrowed. “Maybe you’re the one cheating on me,” he shot back, a sneer forming on his face. “How do I even know this baby’s mine?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary felt her whole world spin. “Are you serious? We’ve been trying for six months. Now you’re saying this?” Her voice broke.

Ed crossed his arms. “Six months, no luck, and now all of a sudden it just happens? Convenient.”

“You’ve been seeing this woman for more than six months, Ed. I saw everything. You’ve lied to her, too! Told her you’re rich, that you own a company!” Mary’s voice trembled.

Ed shrugged, coldly unmoved. “Doesn’t matter. I’m filing for divorce. This marriage is over.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“You really think that woman will stick around when she learns the truth about you?” Mary shot back.

“Trust me, she won’t find out. And when this is over, I’ll take this house and everything else you have. Plus, my mom’s money.” He smirked.

Mary’s voice rose in protest. “This house was bought by my father!”

“Yeah? It’s in both our names,” Ed replied with a smug smile.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary’s voice softened as she asked, “What about the baby?”

Ed just shrugged. “You can’t prove it’s mine until it’s born. By then, it’ll be too late.” And with that, he threw her out, leaving her in tears.

Desperate and hurt, Mary made a choice—to go to Scarlett and show her everything. Scarlett had to know the truth about her son.

She sat across from Scarlett, her heart pounding as she told her everything—Ed’s lies, his cheating, his threats to take the house. She held her breath, waiting for Scarlett to dismiss her. But to her surprise, she listened, her face growing pale.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Scarlett looked down, tears welling in her eyes. “He’s been taking money from me too,” she said softly. “Every penny his father left me, everything I’ve saved. He said he needed it for doctor visits because you couldn’t get pregnant.”

Mary shook her head, feeling both anger and sadness. “He never even went to a doctor. Every time I brought it up, he refused. I checked our account, Scarlett. He’s been taking out huge amounts.”

Scarlett clenched her fists. “I can’t believe my son would do this,” she said, her voice shaking. “He lied to both of us.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary’s voice broke as she spoke. “I don’t know what to do. I’m pregnant, and he says he’ll take everything. He doesn’t even believe the baby is his.”

Scarlett’s eyes hardened. “I won’t let anyone hurt my future grandchild,” she said firmly. “We’ll make him pay. You have those messages saved, right?”

Mary nodded. “Yes, I took screenshots.”

Scarlett thought for a moment, then said, “I have one of his toothbrushes here. We can get a DNA test when the baby is born.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary looked at Scarlett, surprised. “You’ve never been on my side before. What changed?”

Scarlett sighed. “I was a mother trying to protect her son. But now I see I need to protect others from him. His father was the same—a cheater. I endured it, hoping Ed would be better. But he isn’t. And I don’t want anyone else to suffer like I did.”

Mary and Scarlett moved forward with their plan. Mary confronted Ed directly, and she showed him the screenshots of his messages.

“I have all your messages,” she said, her voice steady as she held up her phone. “And I’ve already shown them to Scarlett. So you have no more room to manipulate anyone.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Ed looked shaken, but Mary continued, not backing down. “Here’s the deal,” she told him firmly. “Give up your claim to the house, sign these divorce papers, and agree to pay child support. Do this, and I’ll stay quiet. Otherwise, I’ll make sure your lover knows the truth.”

Backed into a corner, Ed reluctantly agreed and signed the papers without a word. He had no idea that Scarlett had the final piece of the plan.

Scarlett went to Ed’s lover herself, revealing everything—his lies, his fake claims of wealth, and his deception. She left nothing hidden, ensuring her son’s lies would come crashing down.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When Ed found out, Scarlett was sitting with Mary, enjoying tea at her house. Suddenly, loud banging echoed from the front door, followed by Ed’s furious shouting.

“You promised you wouldn’t tell if I did everything you asked!” he yelled through the door, his voice sharp with anger.

Mary looked at the door calmly and replied, “I didn’t tell her anything, Ed.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Scarlett raised her voice so Ed could hear. “I did,” she called out firmly. “I taught you that lying is wrong, but you clearly didn’t learn.”

“You’re both insane!” Ed shouted, his voice shaking with rage. “You’ll regret this! I’ll make you pay!”

Just then, the police arrived, alerted by a neighbor’s call. They restrained Ed, leading him away as he continued yelling threats, while Mary and Scarlett stayed inside, unshaken while finishing their tea.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Sixteen-year-old Eric slips away from his foster family on a camping trip, desperate to find his real mother and the answers he’s always craved. But as he faces hard truths about the past and what family truly means, Eric’s journey takes a turn he never saw coming.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

My 5-Year-Old Was Always Whining Around My New Husband — When I Asked Why, He Whispered, ‘He Said I’m a Problem’

Alice’s son had always been a happy child, but lately, he would shrink away whenever her new husband, Sam, walked into the room. At first, she brushed it off as fussiness. But then, her son told her something about Sam that sent a shiver down her spine.

Being a single mother was never part of the plan.

When I married my first husband, Daniel, I had dreams of building a life together and raising our child in a home full of love.

But fate had other ideas.

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

Jeremy was barely a few weeks old when I woke up one morning to find Daniel gone.

At first, I thought he had gone for a walk or stepped out for coffee. But then I noticed his closet was empty and his suitcase was missing.

His toothbrush was also gone.

I panicked and immediately called his phone, but it went straight to voicemail.

Then, I called his best friend, Chris.

A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels

A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels

“Hey, Chris, have you heard from Daniel? He’s not home.”

Silence. Then a sigh.

“Alice, I… I think you should sit down before I tell you what’s going on.”

That’s when I learned the truth.

Daniel hadn’t just left me. He had run away to another country with another woman.

A woman he had been seeing behind my back for months.

I spent weeks in a daze after learning where my husband was. I was unable to eat, sleep, or function properly.

And the worst part was that I blamed myself for everything. Was I not enough? Did I do something wrong? Why did he leave us like this?

A woman looking outside her bedroom window | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking outside her bedroom window | Source: Midjourney

But when I finally gathered the courage to face the truth, I realized it had nothing to do with me. He was the one who was selfish. The one who betrayed our family.

And I refused to let his betrayal define me.

Soon, I threw myself into work, determined to give Jeremy the best life possible. My mother looked after Jeremy while I juggled my job.

Slowly, the pain faded, and I started finding happiness in small moments. I found myself laughing at Jeremy’s giggles and adoring the way he called me “Mommy.”

With time, I realized we were doing just fine.

Then I met Sam.

A man standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

A man standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

It was a hectic afternoon at my favorite coffee shop. Jeremy was at daycare, and I had just wrapped up a long morning at work.

I reached into my purse to pay, only to realize my card wasn’t working.

“Oh, come on,” I muttered, trying again.

Still nothing.

The cashier gave me a polite but tired look, and I felt the heat of embarrassment creep up my neck. Just as I was about to put my coffee back, a deep voice spoke up behind me.

“Let me get that for you.”

A woman holding a cup of coffee | Source: Pexels

A woman holding a cup of coffee | Source: Pexels

I turned to see a tall man with warm brown eyes. He pulled out his card and tapped it against the reader.

“Oh no, you don’t have to—”

“Really, it’s fine,” he said with a charming smile. “It’s just coffee.”

I hesitated before sighing. “Alright. But give me your number so I can pay you back.”

He chuckled. “Deal.”

That was how it started. A simple act of kindness. A number exchanged. A text here and there.

A man using his phone | Source: Pexels

A man using his phone | Source: Pexels

Over time, I learned Sam was an insurance broker. He was two years older than me and didn’t mind the fact that I came with a little boy.

I still remember the day I told him about Jeremy.

“Alice, that’s wonderful!” he cheered. “I love kids.”

For the first time in years, I felt hope bloom inside me. Maybe love wasn’t off the table after all.

We dated for a year before getting married, and Sam was everything I could have wished for. He was attentive and patient and never made me feel like I was “too much.”

A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels

A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels

The best part was that Jeremy bonded with him instantly, giggling at his silly jokes and reaching for his hand whenever we walked together.

That’s when I let my guard down for the first time in a LONG time. That’s when I believed we were finally a family.

But then… my life took an unexpected turn. Never in a million years had I thought I’d experience something like this.

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

It all started the day my mother pulled me aside. She had this look of concern on her face.

“Alice,” she began in a hushed tone. “Don’t you see that he’s always whining around Sam?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Just watch him. Every time Sam’s around, Jeremy looks different.”

At first, I brushed it off as my mother being overly protective. She had always been wary of men after what Daniel did to me.

But later that evening, I started paying attention.

A boy sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A boy sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

Jeremy was his usual cheerful self when it was just the two of us. He laughed, played, and chatted endlessly about his day at daycare. But the moment Sam walked into the room, something changed.

His shoulders stiffened, his voice quieted, and sometimes he would start crying for no apparent reason.

It made me realize I needed to talk to Sam about it.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” I said later that night.

He glanced up from his phone. “Of course.”

“Have you noticed how Jeremy acts around you?”

“What do you mean?”

A man sitting in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney

I hesitated. “He… he gets quiet. Sometimes he even cries.”

“Alice, I love that kid,” he said. “I treat him like my own. Why would he—-“

“I know,” I interrupted, unsure if I had offended him. “It’s just… I don’t know.”

He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Maybe he’s adjusting. It’s a big change for him, right? A new father figure. It’s a lot for a five-year-old.”

I nodded, wanting to believe him. He sounded so sincere. But deep down, something didn’t sit right.

A woman looking away while talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking away while talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney

A few days later, I picked up Jeremy from daycare, and on our way home, we stopped for ice cream. He sat on the bench beside me as he licked his cone.

“Hey, buddy,” I said gently. “Can I ask you something?”

He nodded while enjoying his ice cream.

“Why do you get upset around Sam?”

His smile faded, and he turned the other way.

A boy sitting on a bench | Source: Midjourney

A boy sitting on a bench | Source: Midjourney

“You can tell me anything, sweetheart,” I said, turning him back towards me. “I won’t be mad.”

“I heard Daddy talking on the phone…” He looked at me. “And he said I’m a problem.”

I couldn’t process that.

“Are you sure, sweetheart?”

Jeremy shook his head.

“Yes. He said, ‘Little Jeremy is a problem.’ I didn’t hear the rest because I ran to my room.” He hesitated before asking in a small voice, “Mommy, will he leave like my first daddy?”

Tears welled in his big, brown eyes. I couldn’t bear that.

A woman talking to her son | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her son | Source: Midjourney

I pulled him into my arms, brushing his hair back. “Oh, sweetheart, no. I will never let anyone leave you, okay?”

That night, I confronted Sam.

As soon as Jeremy was asleep, I stood in front of him. “Did you call Jeremy a problem?”

Sam looked up from the couch. “What?”

“Jeremy heard you on the phone. He said you called him a problem.”

For a split second, something flickered in his expression. Something dark.

A close-up shot of a man's face | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney

But then, his face quickly smoothed over.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Alice, come on. He must’ve misunderstood. I was talking about a guy at work. His name is Jeremy. You know, we’ve been dealing with a mess of paperwork, and I probably said something in frustration.”

I studied his face, searching for any sign of a lie. “So, you weren’t talking about my son?”

“Of course not. I’d never say something like that about him. I love that kid.”

I let out a shaky breath, nodding. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe Jeremy really had misheard.

A close-up shot of a woman's eyes | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman’s eyes | Source: Midjourney

“I’ll talk to him in the morning,” Sam promised. “I’ll clear everything up.”

And he did.

The next morning, he sat Jeremy down and reassured him that it was all a misunderstanding. My little boy nodded as Sam explained everything. I was relieved to see Jeremy smile.

But when I told my mother about it, she frowned. “Have you ever been to his office? Do you know anyone he works with?”

“I know where he works,” I told her. “I have the address.”

“That’s not what I asked,” she said. “Do you know anyone he actually works with? Have you met any of his coworkers?”

People working in an office | Source: Pexels

People working in an office | Source: Pexels

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came. The truth was, I hadn’t. I had never been to his office or met any of his colleagues.

“Alice, something isn’t right,” Mom said. “You need to check.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Mom, you’re being paranoid.”

“Am I?” she shot back. “Or are you ignoring the signs?”

The next morning, as I packed Jeremy’s lunch, my phone rang. It was my mother. Her voice was urgent.

An older woman talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

An older woman talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

“Alice, I checked,” she said. “That address he gave you? There’s no record of him working there. No one’s ever heard of him.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

“How do you know that?” I asked in a trembling voice.

“Remember Mrs. Parker? She works there,” my mom replied. “She confirmed, Alice. Sam doesn’t work there.”

At that point, I was sure Sam was hiding something from me. And I had to find out what that was.

That evening, I told Sam I had to visit my mother because she wasn’t feeling well. I told him I’d stay there for a few days with Jeremy.

As expected, he didn’t mind. He told me we could stay there as long as my mom needed.

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

Once we were at my mother’s house, I locked the door behind me and sank onto the couch. I needed to know the truth.

Hiring a private investigator wasn’t something I had ever imagined doing, but desperation pushed me into action.

I needed facts. I needed real, undeniable proof of who Sam was.

Three days later, I got my answer.

“It’s worse than you think,” the investigator said as he handed me a folder.

My hands trembled as I opened it. Inside were phone records, financial statements, and a detailed report of Sam’s past.

His entire life was a lie.

A woman holding documents | Source: Pexels

A woman holding documents | Source: Pexels

The office address he had given me? It was fake. There was no insurance company and no coworker named Jeremy.

The investigator had tapped Sam’s phone and uncovered everything. It turned out Sam had been talking to his mother that night, not a colleague.

The investigator told me they were scammers and this was their game.

“He’s been planning to frame you at work,” the investigator continued. “Your job gives you access to financial accounts, right? He’s been setting things up so that if something goes wrong, you’ll take the fall. Once you’re arrested, he gets access to your assets including your savings and your home.”

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

I gripped the folder as I started to realize how Jeremy was a problem for Sam and his mother. If I went to jail, Sam would either have to take care of him or put him in state custody.

He hadn’t just been scamming me. He had been planning to erase me from the equation entirely.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “What do I do now?”

“Go to the police, Alice,” the investigator said firmly. “As soon as possible.”

I didn’t hesitate.

A police car standing outside a building | Source: Pexels

A police car standing outside a building | Source: Pexels

With the investigator’s findings, I went straight to the authorities. The evidence was overwhelming.

I found out that Sam and his mother had a long history of conning women. They had been moving from state to state under different identities.

But this time, he had gone further by marrying me. And I guess that was because I had something valuable.

Once I told the cops everything I knew about Sam, they reassured me they wouldn’t let him get away with this. All they needed was a few days to ensure they had enough to arrest him.

I wasn’t there when they took him away, but I heard he didn’t go quietly. He screamed, denied everything, and claimed it was all a setup.

But the evidence spoke for itself.

A man in handcuffs | Source: Pexels

A man in handcuffs | Source: Pexels

I will never forget the look on his face as the cops led him away in the courtroom. It was like he was trying to tell me he’d return.

But instead of feeling scared, I straightened my back and smiled while looking into his eyes.

After the trial, I took Jeremy out for ice cream because he was the one who saved me from losing everything. Had he not told me about Sam’s conversation with his mother, I wouldn’t be here writing this story for you all.

I’ll always be grateful to fate for giving me such an intelligent boy like Jeremy.

A little boy | Source: Midjourney

A little boy | Source: Midjourney

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