MY MIL GIFTED US A HOUSE FOR OUR WEDDING – A WEEK LATER, I DEMANDED WE RETURN IT OR END OUR MARRIAGE
Last month, Sarah and I got married after six amazing years together. At our wedding, her mom gave us the most shocking gift: the deed to a gorgeous five-bedroom house in a super expensive neighborhood. I was blown away. Growing up with little, this felt like a dream come true.
But Sarah’s reaction was… weird. Her smile was forced, and she barely said anything. I thought it was just wedding stress.
We moved in, and the house was perfect—everything I’d ever wanted. But Sarah was distant, disappearing to another room with her phone and brushing off my questions. I tried to be patient.
Then came the dinner.
MIL invited us over to celebrate “starting our new life.” Everything seemed fine, but MIL was unusually cheerful, and Sarah barely said a word. Halfway through dinner, MIL casually said, “So, have you spoken to my lawyer yet? I assume Sarah explained the arrangement?”
I froze. Lawyer? Arrangement?
Sarah’s fork hit her plate, her face pale. I looked between them, demanding an explanation.
At our wedding, Sarah’s mother, Janice, handed us the deed to a beautiful house, and I thought we had hit the jackpot. But soon after moving in, I discovered the house was a trap. When I confronted Sarah, I was shocked by her response.
Our marriage was strong, and the house seemed like a dream—a five-bedroom colonial in a wealthy neighborhood. But Sarah grew distant, and I noticed strange behavior, like avoiding my questions and spending long hours on the phone. A few days later, over dinner at Janice’s, the truth came out: the house wasn’t ours. Janice had placed strict conditions, including no painting, living within 15 miles of her, and even co-parenting rights over our children.
I was furious, but Sarah didn’t seem as upset. She confessed she hadn’t told me because she feared Janice’s control. Things only worsened when I overheard Sarah sabotaging my career to comply with Janice’s demands.
In a heated confrontation, I told Sarah it was either the house or me, and she whispered, “Maybe you’re better off without me.” But when I found Sarah’s diary, I learned the full extent of Janice’s manipulation—how she had controlled Sarah’s life since childhood. Sarah was terrified of her mother, and I realized she wasn’t weak, just trapped.
We decided to return the house. Janice’s threats didn’t scare me anymore. A year later, Sarah and I stood in our small apartment, free from Janice’s grip. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours—and that was enough.
