And that was it. In that moment, my mother-in-law’s mask fell completely. Her plan to turn me into an obedient helper collapsed in a single second. She stood there holding the box, trembling with rage, while I, for the first time in my life, felt relief.

After the wedding, we moved straight into our new apartment. I invited my mother-in-law to visit, but she only said:

— I’m not going to come to you as if you were my bosses.

We still don’t speak. And honestly — I don’t regret it.