I paid every bill in that house—and it still wasn’t enough. My mother-in-law demanded another $5,000. When I refused, she threw hot coffee in my face. I didn’t scream. I just walked out in tears and said one thing… “You’ll regret this.” By morning, the house wasn’t hers to control anymore.

That night, I walked in exhausted, dropped my laptop bag by the door, and saw Diane sitting at the breakfast bar in a silk robe, her red nails wrapped around one of my mugs.

She didn’t greet me.

She said, “I need another five grand by Friday.”

I laughed at first, thinking I’d misheard. “Another five grand for what?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t play dumb. I saw the bonus deposit hit your account.”

My stomach dropped. She had been going through the mail again, maybe even opening banking alerts that still printed to the shared office printer because Eric never fixed the settings.

“That money is not yours,” I said.

“It is if you expect peace in this house.”

I set my keys down carefully. “I already pay for everything.”

“And?” she snapped. “You married into this family. Family helps family.”

I glanced toward the den where Eric was half-watching a game. He had gone completely still, but he didn’t move. That told me everything: he knew this was coming.

I turned back to her. “What do you need five thousand dollars for?”

Diane lifted her chin. “That’s none of your business.”