10/02/2025
As my mother-in-law discovered I was earning $4,000 each month, she insisted on bringing my three brothers-in-law from the countryside to live with us and compelled me to serve them. I silently packed my bags and left for my hometownâand in only a day, the consequences caught up with them...The summer sun streamed through the blinds of our small apartment in Austin, Texas, on the day everything in my life shifted. I had always thought marriage to Daniel, my gentle and hardworking husband, would mean building a simple but happy life together. We both had decent jobs, and though we werenât rich, my $4,000 monthly salary as a financial assistant was enough to cover most of our needs, especially since Danielâs income fluctuated with his seasonal construction work.
Life felt stableâuntil his mother, Mrs. Thompson, found out how much I earned.
At first, she seemed proud, patting my shoulder and smiling with the kind of approval I had longed for since joining their family. But the very next day, her expression hardened into something I hadnât seen beforeâan opportunistic gleam. Without asking me, she called Danielâs three brothersâEric, Steven, and Paulâwho still lived in the countryside of Oklahoma. She told them they could move into our home, since âMary earns plenty, and there will be food and comfort for everyone.â
I stood frozen when I saw them arrive, each dragging worn suitcases through our door. My mother-in-law announced it as though it were a royal decree: âFrom now on, Mary, you will take care of them too. Youâre earning good moneyâitâs only fair you share with family.â
The words struck me like a slap. Overnight, my home transformed into a crowded boarding house. Plates clattered as I scrambled to cook three extra meals, laundry baskets overflowed, and the apartment that once felt cozy now reeked of sweat and ci******es. None of the brothers offered help; they lounged on our sofa, watching TV, while I dragged myself from work to chores withoutâŚ..To be continued in Comments đ
