**Diary Entry**
The other day, my husband came back from his mothers house, sighed, and suggested we get a paternity test for our two-year-old daughter. Not for me, he muttered. For Mum
For six months before our wedding, shed nagged her son: Dont marry hershes not right for you! Emily, now thirty, told me, her voice shaking with anger. Too prettyshell cheat on you! We used to laugh it off, joking that Oliver shouldve married a bloody hedgehog if he wanted to avoid drama. But now? The laughters gone. Completely.
Emily doesnt see herself as some stunning beauty. Just an ordinary young woman from a Manchester suburb, tidy like most. Slim, well-kept hair, dressed simplyshes always had standards in love and self-respect. Why her mother-in-law, Margaret, decided she was some flighty temptress is beyond me. But that womans turned Emilys life into a nightmare.
Theyve been married four years, with a daughter. Emilys on maternity leave, her days spent cooking, cleaning, and nappy changes. The only people she sees? Other mums at the park. But Margaret wont let up. Shes convinced Emilys unfaithful, stalking her like some bargain-bin telly detective.
Shes always watched me, Emily sighed, eyes glistening. Phoned to check up, showed up unannounced, tried to control every move. At first, I laughed it off. Told Oliverwed have a giggle. But its exhausting! Ive snapped more than once, weve rowed. Shed back off then come back worse.
The first proper scandal came months after the wedding. Margaret turned up at Emilys office without warning. No call, no reason. Just to check: Does she *actually* work here? Or is she lying to my son while running off with lovers?
No clue how she even got in! Emily fumed. Theres securityvisitors sign in. Nearly fainted when the receptionist brought her over: Someone to see you. I asked, Margaret, what are you doing here? She just said, Wanted to see where you work. While scanning the room! Our office is open-plan, everyone at their desks. God help me if Id had a private office
The receptionist, Lucy, later told Emily the odd woman had grilled her: How longs she worked here? Is she punctual? Who does she talk to? Anyone *special*? I said you were married! Lucy added, baffled. Emily was livid. That evening, she blew up at Oliver: Your mothers crossed a line! Sort her outthis is insane! Shed have checked under my desk for a secret lover. Then again, who knows
Oliver seemed to have a stern word with her. A fragile peace settled. Margaret called evenings, asked after them, sent cakes. Emily hoped the storm had passed. She was wrong.
The next incident came during her pregnancy. Off sick, she was napping at home, phone off, when a racket startled herbanging on the door, the bell ringing nonstop. I jumped up, thought the building was on fire! she said. Peeked through the peephole Margaret! Face twisted, hammering the door like a madwoman. Too scared to open it. Called Oliver: Get here now, I dont understand! He took twenty minutes. The whole time, she waited outside
They screamed at Margaret. Emily threatened to call the police or a psychiatric hospital if it happened again. Keep her away from me! she demanded. Calm returned briefly.
Emily gave birth to a daughter, but her mother-in-law refused to even see the baby. Why? In Olivers family, theyd only had boys. A girl, Margaret insisted, *proved* infidelity. I didnt even entertain that rubbish, Emily said. I dont speak to her now. Oliver sees her once a month, alone. Fine by me. Id never trust her with my child.
The worst came later. One evening, Oliver came back from his mums, grim-faced, and suggested a paternity test. Not for me, Emilycome on! he stammered. Its for Mum. To finally put this to bed! Shes losing it, and Im stuck in the middle
Emily let out a bitter laugh. For *her*? Her voice trembled with rage. Or do you believe her nonsense? Shell never stop. Even with three tests, shed say we faked them! I wont play her game. Full stop.
Its just a test Oliver pressed.
Why bother? Emily stared him down, fighting tears. *I* know who my daughters father is. Do *you*? If you need it, fine. But first, we divorce. I wont stay with a man who doesnt trust me!
Her words hung like a guillotine. The trust between them was crumbling, poisoned by his mother. Emily felt on the edge, unsure how to save their marriage from this madness.
**Lesson**: Some wounds arent just between two peopletheyre family-wide. And no amount of love can fix a crack if someone keeps hammering at it.
