My MIL Kept Insulting Me for Being ‘Just a Teacher’ Until My Father-in-Law Spoke Out

“Years. Long enough for you to forget where you came from.”

Karen looked down. Her fork slipped from her hand and clinked against the plate.

“You didn’t need to embarrass me like this,” she whispered.

Richard leaned back, folding his arms across his chest.

“You’ve been embarrassing yourself for years,” he said, still calm. “I’m just giving context.”

No one at the table said a word. Not one.

Karen stood up abruptly.

Her chair screeched against the polished floor. She picked up her purse with shaky hands and walked out without looking at anyone. I watched her disappear past the velvet curtains, her heels clicking quickly on the tile.

The rest of us sat frozen.

The waiter returned with dessert, a beautifully plated chocolate creation, but nobody touched it.

The air in the room felt heavy. When the check came, Richard waved the server over and quietly paid for everyone.

As we all stood to leave, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

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