**Diary Entry**
*Well see about that.*
“No! As long as we live in this madhouse with your mum and Lily, there wont be any wedding!”
“Emily, love, no need to be so hasty. We could rent the dresstheres still time. Or postpone it if you want. We can sort this calmly,” Daniel sighed.
“You dont get it,” Emily crossed her arms. “Its not about the dress. Its about feeling like Im in a warzone here. Your sisters old enough to know better, but she still acts like a spoiled brat. And honestly, Margaret is the real problem.”
Daniel didnt like hearing that, though he couldnt deny Emily had a point. At some point, his motherwhether by accident or designhad turned Lily against his fiancée.
Emily and Daniel had met at university. Things moved slowly because neither had their own place back then. He still lived with his family, insisting it was “for convenience.”
“Ive got Grans old flat, but Mums renting it out for now. When we need it, well fix it up,” hed say.
A year later, they finally needed it. Daniel decided it was time to take the next stepboth had graduated and found jobs. No reason to wait.
“Well stay with Mum for now, then marry and move out,” he said. “Six months, tops, and well be on our own.”
At first, Emily was thrilled. It sounded serious. But then she hesitatedtheyd never lived together, and now shed be on the frontlines with her future mother-in-law. Would that ruin everything?
Almost.
Margaret wasnt the classic villainous mother-in-law. She even offered to help with the wedding. She cooked for everyone, never argued, never demanded. The problem was her parenting.
She was strict with Lilytoo strict. The girl was spoiled, needing a gentle hand, but Margaret wasnt gentle.
One day, Emily overheard them. She was making tea while Margaret checked Lilys schoolbookanother set of poor marks and a note about her behaviour.
“Again? Couldnt you be bothered to learn a simple poem?” Margaret sighed. “Hand over your phone and tablet. No distractions until youve studied. Youll get them back when you improve.”
Lily rolled her eyes.
“Fine. Ill just ask Daniel for his,” she snapped.
“Keep dreaming,” Margaret smirked. “You think hell always cover for you? Once he and Emily have their own family, theyll forget about us.”
*”Well see about that!”* Lily flung her gadgets on the table and stormed off.
The door slammed. Emily glanced awkwardly at Margaret. She felt like shed witnessed something private. She knew Margaret had gone too far, but correcting her felt rude.
“Margaret, isnt that a bit harsh?” Emily ventured.
“She needs to learn. Life isnt all fun and games.”
That “lesson” backfired.
Emily had noticed Lily avoiding herskipping meals, leaving when she entered. At first, she thought the girl was shy. Then came the pranks: hiding the remote in a heatwave, tampering with Emilys makeup. When Daniel installed a lock on their bedroom door, Lily threw a tantrum.
“How am I supposed to do my schoolwork without my laptop?” she wailed.
“Youll use it under supervision,” Daniel said calmly.
“You never locked things before!”
“Before, I lived alone. And you never went through my things.”
“I didnt! Your precious Emilys lying! I hate her!”
Lily locked herself in her room, crying all evening. Emily didnt know what to think. She hated the girls behaviour but didnt want to escalate things.
“Shes just a kid,” Daniel shrugged.
“Shes twelve, Daniel. Maybe we should rent a place now?”
“Come on, its just a few more months. Mum says well be out in four.”
Four months. To Daniel, that was nothing. To Emily, it felt like forever.
She tried bonding with Lilybringing chocolates, asking about school. Lily would mutter “fine,” take the sweets, and leave. Nothing changed.
It got worse.
One morning, Emily rushed out, her bag slung on the door. At work, she realised someone had rifled through itno time to check. Later, she had to wait an hour for Margaret to let her inher keys had vanished.
She knew where theyd gone. She whispered to Margaret, who retrieved them after confronting Lily. But the damage was done.
Emily became vigilant. Daniel, though, still forgot to lock doors. That was their undoing.
The night before the wedding, everyone was busydecorating the car, finalising plans. Emily wanted to admire her dress one last time. She opened the wardrobeand found it shredded.
Her hands shook. Rage and helplessness choked her. She dragged Daniel to see it. Words failed her.
“You little monster!” Margaret screamed at Lily. “I ought to take a belt to you! Do you know what that dress cost? Youll work every penny back!”
Lily was punished, but the dress was ruined. So were Emilys nerves.
She wouldnt compromise. No rented dress, no postponement. She refused to keep bending to their antics.
“Emily, just sleep on it. Well sort it tomorrow,” Daniel pleaded.
“No, Daniel. Its too late. Either we live separately, or we dont live together at all.” Emily sighed. “Im done waiting for your mum to hand over *your* flat. Done with your sister rummaging through my things. A relationship shouldnt be this hard. Im not even your wife yet, and Im exhausted.”
She packed her charger, hunted for her documents.
“Where are you going? The renovations wont take forever”
She didnt listen. Every excuse rang hollow now.
She spent the night at her friends, crying on her shoulder. Yesterday, shed been a happy bride. Now, she didnt know where to turn.
Daniel called a hundred times. On the third day, she answered.
“Em, I know this is rubbish. Were all in shock. But lets not throw everything away. Well buy another dresstoday. Just dont leave.”
She hesitated. Daniel was a good mankind, thoughtful. A bit oblivious, too soft. She loved him. But
“If we marry, its on my terms.”
“Which are?”
“No help, no interference. Well celebrate properly laterjust us and a few close friends. And we rent a place. I wont live like this anymore.”
Silence. Harsh terms, but she wouldnt bend.
“Alright,” he finally said.
The wedding was small. They signed the papers, took photos, then escaped to the countryside for three daysjust them. No fuss, no drama.
Daniels family sulked, but Emily didnt care. This day wasnt for them. Some didnt even deserve an invite.
At the reception, Lily was quietlikely scolded into submission. Emily didnt see it as a victory. Shed never wanted a war. But if this was the cost of peace, so be it. Maybe Lily was just a child, maybe Margaret meant wellbut from now on, their family would have boundaries. Firm ones.
