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

He looked at me, eyes full of disbelief. “It’s Mom,” he said.

“She’s in trouble.”

Apparently, the flawless life she paraded around wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. She’d invested in what she called a “luxury spa franchise,” one of those glossy schemes that promised fast returns. But it was a scam.

Not only had she drained her savings, but she’d also maxed out multiple credit cards trying to cover losses and keep up appearances.

She hadn’t told anyone. Not even Richard. He found out only after the calls from debt collectors started.

“She’s freaking out,” Ethan said.

“She’s scared and embarrassed. I’ve never seen her like this.”

A few days later, I agreed to go see her. We met at her house, though it felt like I was stepping into someone else’s life.

The living room, usually pristine, looked hollow. The air felt different, heavier somehow.

Karen sat on the couch, makeup-free, wearing an old cardigan and holding a mug with both hands like it was keeping her together. Her eyes were puffy, her expression tired.

She looked up at me but couldn’t hold my gaze.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered, barely audible.

I stood there for a moment, staring at this woman I had feared, resented, and tiptoed around for years. And now, here she was, small and vulnerable.

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