Chapter 5: Showdown at the In-Laws

The next morning, she woke me up. Hungover and sleep-deprived, my head throbbed.

She nudged me awake, her voice soft. I groaned, rubbing my temples, trying to piece together my thoughts.

She said, “Your parents are here—they’re waiting outside. What’s going on so early?”

I sat up, blinking in confusion. My parents never showed up unannounced. I knew something was up.

I rubbed my aching head, gathering my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This was it. Time to confront everything.

“Yeah, we’re going to your parents’ place together.”

I said it with as much confidence as I could muster. Emily nodded, worry flickering in her eyes.

After talking with my friend, I knew we had to get the money back. But it wouldn’t be right for just us as a couple to confront them, so I brought my parents along.

Strength in numbers, I figured. If nothing else, maybe the presence of both families would force some honesty.

“I don’t care about the interest, I just want our money back. Don’t go soft on me later,” I warned Emily.

She nodded, biting her lip. I could tell she was dreading this as much as I was.

At my in-laws’ house, after the usual pleasantries, an awkward silence fell.

The living room felt colder than usual, everyone perched on the edge of their seats. I cleared my throat, glancing at my mom for backup.

She caught my eye, then turned to Mrs. Hayes, her voice calm but firm.

She said, “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, the car Ryan picked out has arrived. Emily said the money’s with you. Let’s go pick up the car together, then celebrate with a meal.”

She smiled politely, but there was steel in her tone. My mother-in-law’s smile faltered.

My mother-in-law’s smile vanished. “Young people just don’t know how to manage money. There’ll be plenty of expenses in the future. A car is a liability—buying is easy, but maintenance and gas cost a fortune. I say save the money and earn some interest.”

She launched into her speech, hands waving for emphasis. I gritted my teeth, trying not to lose my temper.

“We know you mean well, but you know what Ryan’s job is like—he works out in the suburbs, and the commute is long. Having a car would make things much easier.”

My mom kept her voice even, refusing to be sidetracked. I shot her a grateful look.

“He’s a man now—he should learn to work for what he wants. Back in our day…” My mother-in-law launched into a long speech about the hardships of the past.

She started recounting stories from her youth, as if nostalgia could pay the bills. I rolled my eyes, barely restraining myself.

“Mrs. Hayes!” My dad cut her off. “Let’s not talk about the old days. Times have changed. As parents, we want to give our kids the best. You wouldn’t want Emily to struggle, would you?”

His voice was gentle but firm, the kind that brooks no argument. My mother-in-law looked away, lips pursed.

“That’s true, but…” Seeing she couldn’t dodge it, my mother-in-law finally admitted, “A friend needed some cash for business recently, with a good interest rate, so I lent it out. It’ll be at least a year before we get the principal back.”

My mom gasped. “What? Lending for interest? I’ve heard of so many scams like that!”

She looked at me, panic in her eyes. I nodded, trying to reassure her.

“No way—it’s a big shot, runs a huge business. Totally reliable.”

My mother-in-law waved off her concerns, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

I sneered inwardly. If he’s so rich, why not borrow from the bank? Why pay high interest to you?

The logic was paper-thin. I couldn’t believe she’d fallen for it—or maybe she just didn’t care.

I said, “Mom, private lending isn’t really protected. If he runs off with the money, you’ll have nowhere to go. Call him now—tell him we don’t want the interest, just give us our money back.”

I tried to keep my voice calm, but my hands were shaking. Emily squeezed my arm, silently pleading for peace.

“No way. We signed a contract—said we can’t back out midway. Even if we ask, he won’t return it.”

She dug in her heels, arms crossed. That was it. I’d had enough.

“Fine—if he refuses, we’ll call the police.”

I pulled out my phone, ready to follow through. My mother-in-law’s face went pale.

“Call the police? He’s my friend! If you make a scene, how will I look to everyone? People will say I’m untrustworthy.”

She sounded desperate, clutching at straws. I didn’t care about her reputation—not when our future was on the line.

I scoffed. Her reputation isn’t worth more than our money.

I made a show of dialing, letting her see I was serious. She lunged for my phone, snatching it away.

Her grip was surprisingly strong. I stood my ground, refusing to back down.

“You’re really something, aren’t you? Came here just to piss me off? Get out—my house doesn’t welcome you.” She started pushing us toward the door.

Her voice rose, shrill and angry. Emily stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. My parents moved to block the door.

We weren’t leaving without our money. My mom stepped in, standing between us. “We’re here to get our own money back—why should we leave? We’re not going anywhere until we get it.”

My mom’s voice was steady, but I could see her hands shaking. The room felt like a pressure cooker, everyone on edge.

The two of them went back and forth, voices rising, tempers flaring.

It was chaos—shouting, accusations, slammed doors. I tried to keep my cool, but my heart was pounding.

My father-in-law, who’d been silent, finally spoke up: “Honey, you’re pregnant. You can’t get too worked up!”

He stepped between them, hands raised in surrender. For a moment, everyone paused, catching their breath. But the damage was done. The truth was out, and there was no putting it back.

We’d crossed a line as a family, and there was no easy way back.