Now, I watched calmly as he played his part, wondering what his angle was this time.
I was barely up on Saturday morning when a text from Zach popped up.
He was all: [Make sure you dress up today; we're having lunch with my folks.]
Flashback to my previous life. Zach rushed to introduce me to his parents, and we got hitched right after graduation. But after that, he showed his true colors.
Just the thought of my ex-mother-in-law was enough to make me queasy.
Last time, I gave it all up for love—no dowry, brought property and a car into the marriage.
I figured my sacrifice would make him appreciate me, but it only led to deeper deceit.
And his mom was just the same.
Before the wedding, she couldn't praise me enough.
Once I was part of the family, she flipped like a switch—always had me slaving away or berated me for not popping out grandkids.
She was head over heels for Heather, always praising her as the perfect daughter-in-law.
Her blatant favoritism made my insecurities worse.
Desperate for her approval, I used my dowry to help out financially, only to be repaid with betrayal and my eventual demise.