After the birth of my first children, I hoped that my husband would start choosing us over his mother. But that never happened. This time he sided with her again – and that was the last straw. Then I decided to expose her as a liar and a real tyrant.
It would seem that coming home with newborn twins should be one of the happiest moments in life. For me, it really started out as a dream, but very quickly turned into a real nightmare.
After three days in hospital recovering from a difficult labour, I was finally discharged and ready to go home with my two beautiful daughters, Ella and Sonia. I had imagined this moment for months: Daniel meeting us with flowers, taking one of the girls in his arms with tears of joy….
But instead, at the very last moment, I received a phone call that turned everything upside down.
“Hello, love,” my husband said hurriedly. – I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to pick you up as agreed.
What?” I asked, adjusting Sonja’s nappy. – Daniel, I’ve just given birth to twins. What could be more important?
It’s Mum,” he interrupted. – She’s having severe chest pains. I have to rush her to a hospital closer to her.
Those words hit me like a gush of ice water.
Why didn’t you say so before? Daniel, I need you.
I know,” he sighed. – But it all happened suddenly. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
I clenched my teeth, holding back a cry of frustration and pain, and only replied:
Okay. I’ll take a taxi.
Thank you,” he mumbled, and switched off.
Daniel’s mother lived in another city, so there was zero chance he’d be back the same day. I knew how obsessed he was with his mother, so I wasn’t even hopeful. In my heart, I tried to convince myself that he wasn’t cruel, just putting his mum first again. Inside, though, everything was clenching with resentment.
This is the same mother-in-law, Larissa, who insisted that she had her own keys to the house – ostensibly to help with the children. And now suddenly she was suddenly ‘sick.’
I pushed the thoughts away, put the girls in the car seats that Daniel had brought in advance, and took a taxi home.
But when we pulled up to the house, I froze. Suitcases, nappy bags, even the cot mattress – everything was scattered by the porch and on the lawn. My heart sank. I paid the driver, picked up the kids, and walked to the door.
I called out to my husband, even though I knew he wasn’t home. I put the key in, it didn’t work. I tried again. In vain. The locks had been replaced. Then I saw it – a note taped to the suitcase:
“Get out of here with your little freeloaders! “I know everything. Daniel.”
My breath caught. My hands shook. I reread the note over and over, hoping it was bullshit, that it was someone’s evil joke. But no. It was real.
I rang him straight away – voicemail. I called him again. Panic started to set in. The kids started crying. I rocked the chairs, trying to gather my thoughts.
“Mum…” I whispered and dialled her number.
Gianni? What’s wrong? Are the girls okay?
I could barely get it out:
Daniel… he changed the locks… threw our stuff away… and left a horrible note.
WHAT?! – her voice rose. – Stay there. I’m on my way.
The minutes dragged on like hours. When Mum arrived and saw all this, she knew immediately.
It can’t be… Daniel wouldn’t do that. He loves you.
That’s what I thought. But he’s not answering. What do you mean, ‘I know everything’? – I showed her the note.
Honey, let’s go to my place. ‘We’ll figure it out,’ Mum said and gave me a hug.
We loaded the stuff into her car and drove away. All night I couldn’t sleep. In the morning I left the girls with Mum and drove to the house to get answers. The yard was empty. I knocked. Silence. I went round the house, looked through the window and was stunned.
Larissa, my mother-in-law, was sitting at the table and quietly drinking tea. I banged on the door. She flinched, saw me and grinned.
What are you doing here? – I hissed.
Gianni. Didn’t you understand the note? You don’t live here anymore.
Where’s Daniel?! Why is he–
In the hospital. In my town. Taking care of his ‘sick mother’.
I looked at her in shock:
Sick?! You’re standing in front of me!
Maybe I was getting better. It happens,” she grinned.
‘You… You set the whole thing up! You pretended to be sick!
She shrugged and said with a venomous grin:
So what?
I felt my fingers clench into fists:
Why did you do it!
I told Daniel from the beginning: the family needs a boy. And you? You gave birth to two girls. Useless.
It took my breath away.
I knew you’d ruin his life. So I did what I had to do. I wrote the note myself on his behalf, took his phone before he saw it. I arranged for you to leave. But now you’re still here.
I couldn’t believe my ears. She lied to my son, took him to another city, took away his phone, forged a note… just because we had girls.
Did you… kick us out for that?
Of course,” she replied calmly. – Even bribed the nurse to keep him in the hospital longer. And it worked.
You’re sick! – I exhaled.
I think I’m protecting my family. Daniel always listens to me and understands me, like he always does.
I barely made it to the hospital. When I saw my husband, he was pacing up and down the hall with a worried look on his face.
Zhenya! Where have you been?! I don’t have a phone, and I don’t remember your number!
Your mum took your phone. She lied about being sick. She locked me and the kids outside.
He froze.
What? This can’t be happening.
She set the whole thing up. Including the note. And she’s at home drinking tea like a queen.
Why? – he muttered.
Because we have girls,” I said bitterly.
His face turned pale, then poured with anger. Without a word, he stormed off. I followed him.
At home Larissa met us with the same smirk. But when she saw her son’s face, the smile disappeared.
“Mum,” he said coldly. – What did you do?
I just wanted to…
That’s enough! You made me leave my wife and newborn daughters because of a lie! You took my phone, forged the note, locked Zhenya out on the street!
I wanted to protect you! I didn’t want to–
Protect you from my family?! You think my girls aren’t ‘good enough’?! That’s your problem, not mine. You want a son, go have one yourself!
I looked at him in shock. I’d never seen him like that before. But in my heart I felt proud: he took my side.
Pack your things and leave,” he said firmly.
I am your mother!
And Zhenya is my wife. And Ella and Sonya are my daughters. If you don’t want to respect them, you have no place in our lives!
This time Larissa couldn’t say anything. That same evening she left.
Daniel apologised for a long time, changed the locks, blocked her number and even reported that nurse. It wasn’t easy for us, but we got through it all. And then one evening, when I was rocking the girls, I realised: Larisa wanted to destroy our family, but in the end she only made us stronger.
