After the wedding, my wifes parents gave us a flat as a gift. They handed over the keys at the reception, proudly declaring that theyd invested in our future. They also hintedloudly and in front of the entire roomthat they hoped my parents would help refurbish it. That way, both sides of the family would have contributed. My mother-in-law announced it to the guests with a flourish. My mum only smiled and replied that their own gift was already waiting for usbut shed be happy to help with renovation if we needed.
I had absolutely no idea they were going to give us a place to live. It was incredibly generouscompletely unexpected. We dived straight into renovations, eager to make it our own. My dads a builder, so the two of us took on most of the work ourselves. While we redid the flat, we stayed at my wifes parents house. One afternoon, I was hunting for my passport; my wife had put it away somewhere, and I just couldnt find it. I rang her to ask where it was.
Digging through the files and papers in her study, I stumbled across the paperwork for the flat. I leafed through it, curious, then paused. The flat wasnt in our namesit was in my mother-in-laws. I stared at the paperwork in disbelief, reading it over and over.
That very same day, Id planned to go out and buy more supplies for the flat, but something in me snapped. I called my dad immediately, telling him to down toolswe werent going any further until Id figured this out. Clearly, we were renovating my mother-in-laws property, not our own.
When everyone returned home that night, I tossed the folder of documents onto the kitchen table. I needed an explanation.
How am I supposed to take this? I demanded, voice shaking.
Whats wrong with you? my mother-in-law shot back. Whats there to understand?
Why is your name on the flat? You said it was for us!
Well, whose name should be on it? I dont see the issue.
Your daughters. It should be hers, not yours.
If you two ever split up, we wont have to divvy up the flat, will we?
So, weve only just married and youre already anticipating a divorce? Why should my dad and I be putting in all this work when it isnt even ours?
Mum, I told youI was supposed to do my own paperwork, my wife tried to intervene.
So you knew all along and didnt say a word to me? I asked my wife, voice raw.
I did know, she whispered. But darling, I never planned to leave you, never. Please believe me.
I shook my head. I never expected this. How can I trust you, knowing you kept this from me?
I packed my things and left for my parents house, seething with anger and disappointment. How could my own wife betray me like this?
Now I sit, not knowing what to do. I never thought the person closest to me could hurt me so deeply. What on earth am I supposed to do in this situation?
Amid the Piles of Paperwork, I Found Documents About the Flat We Had Received from Our Parents—To My Dismay, I Discovered the Ownership Was in My Mother-in-Law’s Name
