My Greedy In-Laws Tried to Get Rid of Our Sick Mom, but She Brilliantly Taught Them a Lesson

When Lexie’s husband’s parents are left to give up their home due to losing their jobs, they are left stranded. Seeing her husband’s distress at being unable to help, Lexie allows her mother to welcome them to stay with her. Things start off okay, but then the tables start to turn. Instead of being grateful, they start to complain about everything, resulting in a call to social services.

Not long after Cameron and I got married, his parents were faced with unfortunate circumstances. His mom, Jessica, and dad, Roger had no choice but to give up their home because Roger had lost his job.

An elderly couple sitting on a bench | Source: Unsplash

An elderly couple sitting on a bench | Source: Unsplash

Cameron and I didn’t have the space to take them in. But they were desperate, and so were we. We couldn’t let them just try and figure it out for themselves.

When they realized that my mother lives alone, they asked her to let them move in with her. My mom had a double-story house, but due to being wheelchair bound since a car accident a few years ago, she had a live-in nurse to care for her.

A broken windshield | Source: Pexels

A broken windshield | Source: Pexels

“Please, Tanya,” my mother-in-law said when we were all at my mother’s house for dinner. “We don’t have anywhere else to go. And we don’t have any money available at the moment.”

I knew that this entire thing affected my husband because there was only so much we could do in our own capacity. When my mother agreed, Cameron gripped onto my hand tightly and sighed in relief.

A woman in a wheelchair | Source: Midjourney

A woman in a wheelchair | Source: Midjourney

“Of course, you can stay here. You can stay for as long as you need to,” my mother told them.

At first, things were okay.

My mother-in-law cooked meals, and my father-in-law mowed the grass and took care of the basic upkeep of the house.

A person cutting oranges | Source: Pexels

A person cutting oranges | Source: Pexels

But then, things changed and social services got involved. It was a nightmare.

This is what happened.

My in-laws began complaining that my mom was occupying the whole first floor, something that was obvious. Since her accident, my sister and I had converted the first floor into an entire house by itself for my mother.

A wheelchair beside a bed | Source: Pexels

A wheelchair beside a bed | Source: Pexels

She needed her space, and we were going to give it to her. The second floor was for our space when we visited Mom.

Instead of being grateful, my in-laws complained that they couldn’t put their stuff there. They mumbled about the simple food my mother had in her fridge.

An open fridge | Source: Pexels

An open fridge | Source: Pexels

“It’s such basic foods. There’s nothing new or different here,” Roger would say.

But still, even though they complained, they didn’t try to buy their own food or food that they would have liked to eat on occasion.

An elderly couple shopping | Source: Pexels

An elderly couple shopping | Source: Pexels

Nothing changed when Jessica got a job as head librarian at the local library or when Roger got a job as a proofreader for the local newspaper.

“Don’t you think they should start looking for a new place?” Cameron asked me when we were taking a walk one evening.

An elderly woman in a library | Source: Pexels

An elderly woman in a library | Source: Pexels

“I’m sure your mom cannot wait to have the house back,” he said.

“Actually,” I replied. “I think she enjoys having people there. She always said that it was too quiet with just her and Linda.”

“Yeah, I get that,” he said. “But my parents can be a lot.”

A couple taking a walk | Source: Pexels

A couple taking a walk | Source: Pexels

It was as if my husband had spoken it into existence.

One day, as I went over to my mother’s house with pastries, I found her looking upset.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her immediately.

Pastries in a box | Source: Pexels

Pastries in a box | Source: Pexels

“Cameron’s parents,” she began slowly. “They’ve been hinting about a nursing home for me. I heard them talk about it last night, too.”

“Mom, do you want me to ask them to leave? They’re crossing the line,” I said, worried about her well-being.

A woman holding her face | Source: Unsplash

A woman holding her face | Source: Unsplash

“Oh, honey,” she said, a mysterious smile forming on her face. “I’ll take care of everything, don’t you worry.”

A few days later, my mother-in-law called us crying.

“How could Tanya do that to us?” she asked.

A crying old woman | Source: Pexels

A crying old woman | Source: Pexels

Apparently, my mother had told them to pack their things and move to the first floor because she was ready to move into a nursing home. She said that she needed the help and that she wanted to live a little easier.

Cameron’s parents thought that they had won the battle they created.

A healthcare facility | Source: Unsplash

A healthcare facility | Source: Unsplash

Instead, my mother had called social services, telling them that she had two individuals who were living with her temporarily but needed the help.

The next day, people from social services arrived at my mother’s doorstep, ready to take Jessica and Roger away to their social housing facilities.

A person holding a phone | Source: Pexels

A person holding a phone | Source: Pexels

They were livid.

Cameron and I met them at my mother’s house because they demanded an audience.

“This is outrageous! We thought we were moving downstairs, not out of the house!” my mother-in-law shrieked.

An angry old woman | Source: Pexels

An angry old woman | Source: Pexels

“How dare she trick us like this! We have done everything for her these past few months,” my father-in-law added.

Beside me, my husband flinched. He was caught in the middle, not knowing what to do or how to react.

“You took advantage of her kindness and tried to push her into a nursing home. You got what you deserved,” I retorted, barely containing my own anger at their words.

An angry old man | Source: Pexels

An angry old man | Source: Pexels

“You can’t just throw us out like this!” my mother-in-law protested.

“You’ve got a little place to live now,” my mother said, smiling. “But also, that’s not my problem. I helped you out, and you did nothing but complain. You didn’t want to be here. You were just here because you had no choice. Now, you can learn to fend for yourselves.”

Jessica was appalled. I don’t think she expected my mother to retaliate in that way.

A smiling woman in a wheelchair | Source: Unsplash

A smiling woman in a wheelchair | Source: Unsplash

It was true, social services housed them in a little apartment which was close to both their jobs. They would be absolutely fine until they chose to move elsewhere.

As they left, they continued to curse, but it was clear that they had been defeated by the whole episode.

A small apartment | Source: Unsplash

A small apartment | Source: Unsplash

“I’m sorry,” my husband told my mother when we settled her down again. “This was all my fault.”

It took a while for my mother to calm him down and make him realize that nothing was his fault.

“Your parents needed a place to stay, and they were welcome to do so here, but they continued to complain. They made life difficult here. Everything was a problem,” she said.

An upset man | Source: Unsplash

An upset man | Source: Unsplash

I continued to work my way around the kitchen while they spoke. I knew that my husband needed a pick-me-up, so I made his favorite Indian dishes, hoping that it would do the trick.

If I had to admit it, I also felt like it was my fault. I should have objected to the move in the first place. But I knew that my in-laws needed a place to live when they lost their homes. And maybe it was because of guilt.

A plate of food | Source: Unsplash

A plate of food | Source: Unsplash

Guilt born from the mere fact that Cameron and I couldn’t do it ourselves, that we both had allowed them to live with my mother.

As we got into bed that night, I told my husband that we needed to see his parents. We needed to make sure that they were okay, despite their horrible behavior, they needed to know that we still cared.

A couple lying together | Source: Unsplash

A couple lying together | Source: Unsplash

The following day, we met them at their new apartment. It was a quaint little place, but it was just enough for the two of them. As we walked in, there were boxes lying everywhere and the smell of burnt toast permeated the air.

“I didn’t check the toaster setting,” Roger said, as his way of explaining.

Opened cardboard boxes | Source: Midjourney

Opened cardboard boxes | Source: Midjourney

We ended up taking them to a café for lunch, where they admitted to their behavior.

“We were in the wrong,” my mother-in-law said. “We know that now. We saw an easy way to live with Tanya, and we just wanted more. But now, we have to make it work for ourselves.”

An interior of a coffee shop | Source: Unsplash

An interior of a coffee shop | Source: Unsplash

I dug into my pancakes while Cameron let his parents have a piece of his mind. He went on about how they needed to be responsible for their actions and that nothing would make up for their behavior toward my mother.

“You embarrassed me. And you took advantage of my wife’s mother,” he said. “Do you know how that makes me feel?”

A stack of pancakes | Source: Unsplash

A stack of pancakes | Source: Unsplash

I allowed him to talk his way through it, while his parents continued to eat their eggs benedict in silence.

As we drove home, my husband stopped to get my mother a bouquet of flowers.

“She deserves it,” he said.

A bouquet of flowers | Source: Unsplash

A bouquet of flowers | Source: Unsplash

What would you have done?

If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |

When Katie discovers that her mother-in-law has been making strange dolls for her daughter, she confronts the old woman, only to discover that she has been holding onto grief for her entire life. But what does that mean for the mysterious dolls? And the little girl who plays with them?

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Man Finds Out about His Bride’s Betrayal – He Goes to the Altar with a Remote Control in His Hands

Man Finds Out about His Bride’s Betrayal – He Goes to the Altar with a Remote Control in His Hands

Daphne is in the middle of her brother’s wedding. As a bridesmaid, she has an obligation to Denise. But when Liam surprises them all with a video revealing Denise’s ultimate secrets, Daphne has no choice but to choose her brother—even if what he did was humiliating for Denise.

As my brother’s wedding approached, excitement buzzed through the air, filling everyone with anticipation. My brother, the groom, was a notorious prankster, and his hints at a major surprise had us all on edge.

I thought he was just creating the drama for effect—Liam was that person.

A smiling man looking at the camera | Source: Pexels

A smiling man looking at the camera | Source: Pexels

Liam and his fiancée, Denise, had been dating for so long that it didn’t come as a surprise when she asked me to be one of her bridesmaids.

“Please, Daphne,” she asked, gifting me a box full of goodies. “I need you to be there with me on our big day—you’re not just Liam’s little sister, but mine, too.”

Two gift wrapped boxes | Source: Unsplash

Two gift wrapped boxes | Source: Unsplash

Of course, I accepted. Denise did feel like a sister to me—in fact, she was the one who planned my 21st birthday party instead of the friends that I thought would do it.

So, when it came to wedding planning, I think Denise spent more time talking about their wedding to me than Liam.

Gold 21st foil balloons | Source: Unsplash

Gold 21st foil balloons | Source: Unsplash

“I’m just wasting my time with Liam,” she said. “You can make notes for us. And we can do the wedding cake tasting.”

Liam, on the other hand, seemed like he was doing the bare minimum with the wedding—but the reality is that he was busy putting together a beautiful video for the wedding.

A wedding planner and notebooks | Source: Pexels

A wedding planner and notebooks | Source: Pexels

“I’m going to have it played just before we do our vows,” he said when I went to visit him.

He showed me a folder on his laptop where he was saving all his and Denise’s videos and photos, ready to create the video.

A man using a laptop | Source: Unsplash

A man using a laptop | Source: Unsplash

“Do you think Liam has cold feet?” Denise asked me when we went wedding shopping.

“No,” I replied honestly. “He’s planning something for you, that’s taking all his time at the moment.”

“What?” she asked enthusiastically.

“I’m sworn to secrecy,” I said. “Now, go and try on dresses!”

A row of wedding dresses | Source: Unsplash

A row of wedding dresses | Source: Unsplash

On the morning of the wedding, I got to the hotel suite early. I wanted to see Liam before getting ready with Denise and the other bridesmaids.

“You have no idea what’s coming,” he teased, sipping on a glass of champagne as he got ready.

“Oh boy,” I said. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve got planned.”

Two glasses of champagne |  Source: Unsplash

Two glasses of champagne | Source: Unsplash

The ceremony was perfect—and everything had gone exactly to plan as Denise wanted.

From the flowers to the music to the scented candles that perfumed the venue. It was all perfect.

When the time came for the vows, my brother told the priest to wait.

A couple kneeling before a priest | Source: Unsplash

A couple kneeling before a priest | Source: Unsplash

“I have something to show you all,” he said. “This is Denise and my love story from the beginning to right now.”

He pulled a remote from his pocket with a flourish, while two of his groomsmen wheeled a TV screen to the middle of the altar, just in front of where Liam and Denise were standing.

“Watch this,” he said, stepping back to join his groomsmen. And then he pressed play.

A person holding a remote control | Source: Unsplash

A person holding a remote control | Source: Unsplash

The screen came alive with their love story—their first kiss, snippets from trips together, cozy nights in, dinners cooked together, and so on.

The montage tugged at heartstrings, and all the guests were enthralled.

A close-up of a couple | Source: Unsplash

A close-up of a couple | Source: Unsplash

But the real shock was still to come.

As the video ended, the priest went back to his position, ready to continue the ceremony from where he left off. He called for Denise and Liam to resume their positions, too.

He solemnly asked if anyone objected.

A couple at the altar | Source: Pexels

A couple at the altar | Source: Pexels

Before anyone knew what was happening, Liam dropped Denise’s hand and stepped away, back down the aisle.

“I do,” he declared.

“What?” Denise hissed. “Liam, this isn’t the time for one of your pranks.”

“This isn’t a prank,” he said.

Bride and groom at the altar | Source: Pexels

Bride and groom at the altar | Source: Pexels

He held up the remote control again and pressed another button—the air was thick with tension as music began to fill the room.

This new video was a stark contrast—it showed his bride in their shared home, but Denise wasn’t alone.

Instead, she was wearing lingerie and depicted in a compromising situation with another man.

An intimate photo of a couple | Source: Pexels

An intimate photo of a couple | Source: Pexels

The room fell deathly quiet, every eye glued to the screen, then slowly turning to gauge her reaction at my brother’s reveal.

Denise turned around slowly to face her guests, her face ghostly pale, her eyes wide with horror.

“This can’t be happening,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Then, the same man from the video swore loudly—he was seated at the back of the venue, dressed in a suit.

A man in a suit | Source: Pexels

A man in a suit | Source: Pexels

“This is why I won’t be marrying Denise today,” Liam said, his loud voice breaking the silence, his tone even but heavy with emotion.

“I couldn’t let us all be here, witnessing what was supposed to be love, without the truth being known.”

The ceremony was ground to a halt, and the festive atmosphere evaporated into a thick, awkward tension.

Denise staggered slightly, looking around as if seeking an escape or an ally. She kicked off her shoes and picked them up.

A bride holding her shoes | Source: Pexels

A bride holding her shoes | Source: Pexels

“It’s not what it looks like,” she said. “Liam, please, not here. Let’s talk about it outside.”

I wanted to be able to look at Denise and feel sorry for her—we had been so close for so many years. But the evidence had been in the video. As close as we were, she was just another cheater.

A woman who had hurt my brother.

She pleaded with Liam again, louder this time. Tears fell down her face.

But the damage was done. My brother’s gaze never wavered from the woman he was supposed to marry.

A crying bride | Source: Pexels

A crying bride | Source: Pexels

“How long?” he asked, his voice a low growl.

“Not long,” she managed to say, her composure breaking. “I’m so sorry, you were never supposed to know about it.”

“In our own home, though? Seriously, Denise?” my brother retorted sharply, his hurt palpable to all watching.

“You brought him into our home,” he said.

The crowd murmured, some guests shaking their heads, others unable to look away from the unfolding drama.

A couple lying in bed | Source: Pexels

A couple lying in bed | Source: Pexels

The priest stepped back. I wondered if he was thinking about taking Liam and Denise in for couples’ counseling—something that they had refused when they booked the priest in the first place.

Liam walked out first, abandoning his wedding and all the guests he and Denise had chosen.

Denise ran out behind him, calling out to Liam, but he refused to acknowledge her presence. Her mother ran out behind her.

A bride running | Source: Unsplash

A bride running | Source: Unsplash

Later, I walked around the hotel to find my brother. I found him sitting at the bar, drinking his feelings away while eating a bowl of olives.

“Did you know?” he asked me.

“No, of course not,” I said quickly.

It turned out that when Liam was going through the videos and photos on his laptop, he ended up looking through Denise’s, too.

A hotel bar | Source: Pexels

A hotel bar | Source: Pexels

“I just wanted to see if there was anything else that I could add to the video,” he said sadly.

I ordered myself a drink and got comfortable next to my brother—from the looks of it, we were going to be there for a long time.

“I went through the first folder,” he admitted. “And it was incredible because she had all these photos that I hadn’t seen before. But in the next folder, there was the video of Denise with that man. It wasn’t even a locked folder, Daphne,” he said.

A cocktail on a tray | Source: Unsplash

A cocktail on a tray | Source: Unsplash

We were both silent for a while, and Liam gulped away his drink.

“Do you think I was wrong to expose her?” he asked.

“No,” I said honestly. “But maybe you should have spoken to her privately. There’s no knowing how this could wreck her. Or what she’ll do next.”

I sat back in my seat and helped myself to the bowl of pretzels that the bartender had left out for us.

“I have no intention of checking on her,” Liam said. “I don’t care.”

A bowl of pretzel sticks and nuts | Source: Unsplash

A bowl of pretzel sticks and nuts | Source: Unsplash

I didn’t have any intention of getting Liam to forgive Denise. There was no point in trying to get him to forgive her after what she had done—Liam had always been sure of one thing. Cheating was the absolute deal breaker in a relationship.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s go eat some wedding cake. That can’t go to waste, too.”

I followed my brother out to the dining room that had been set up for the wedding reception.

I knew that as much as I wanted to check on Denise—Liam needed me in his corner.

A white wedding cake with fruit | Source: Unsplash

A white wedding cake with fruit | Source: Unsplash

What would you have done?

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