I love my sister-in-law, Melissa, but honestly? She’s a lot of work. High-maintenance doesn’t even begin to cover it. Sometimes it’s exhausting just being around her. But for the sake of my brother, Brandon, I try my hardest to keep things smooth.
The truth is, Melissa has always been a leech. Married to Brandon for ten years now, she has a talent for getting whatever she wants, whenever she wants, and Brandon… well, he doesn’t see it. He just smiles and nods while she manipulates everyone around her.
Last month, she invited me on a little “shopping trip” to her favorite fancy, overpriced grocery store.
“Oh, come on, Hannah,” she said with that sly smile. “It’ll be fun for us to spend some time together.”
I thought maybe it was harmless. Her birthday was coming up, and I figured, why not spend time with her—and maybe even find a gift while we were at it? I had no idea I was walking straight into her trap.
The moment we stepped out of the car, she started.
“Your shoes aren’t made for hours of shopping,” she said, eyeing my flats with mock concern.
“I’ll be fine,” I laughed, thinking she was joking.
Hours passed. She tossed random things into the cart like it was nothing, chatting away like the prices didn’t exist.
“Do you really need six of these candles?” I asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yes!” she exclaimed, shoving more boxes into the cart. “For my birthday! I’m planning!”
When we finally reached the checkout counter, my jaw dropped. $1,470. One thousand four hundred seventy dollars!
I couldn’t believe it. But then Melissa looked at me with those big innocent eyes.
“Oh no! Hannah! I think I left my wallet at home. Can you cover this? I’ll pay you back as soon as we get home.”
“Sure… but this is ridiculous. Are you sure you need all of this?” I asked.
“Yes, Hannah. Everything is necessary. I’m planning my birthday!”
I sighed and reluctantly handed over my card, not wanting to make a scene.
She got into her car without so much as a “thank you” and drove off.
Days passed, then a week, and finally, at a family brunch, I asked her about the money.
She laughed, took a sip of her mimosa, and said:
“Oh, come on! Why are you being so greedy? Consider it a birthday gift. You can afford it!”
I was speechless. That was my sister-in-law? Treating family like that? No. This had to stop. It was time to teach Melissa a lesson she’d never forget.
Her obsession with material things was my opening. Melissa had been bragging for months about a luxury car she planned to buy.
“It’s perfect, Hannah! The seats feel like they were made for me. And guess what? Brandon’s co-signing the loan!” she gushed.
“Why him?” I asked.
“My credit’s shot,” she said sheepishly. “But that’s what husbands are for, right?”
I tipped off the dealership anonymously, acting like I was interested in a similar deal, giving them her info. They became extra cautious, asking for tons of documentation and references.
“Why is this taking so long?” she whined during dinner one evening. “I should have my car by now!”
“They need more paperwork,” Brandon said, confused. “You’ll get it, Mel. Be patient.”
“Stupid formalities,” she muttered, pushing food around her plate.
Next, I contacted a friend who worked at a high-end bakery—the same one Melissa had ordered an outrageously expensive birthday cake from.
“She always stiff people on payments, Jess. Demand full payment upfront,” I told her.
“This is ridiculous!” Melissa fumed to Brandon. “They never asked before!”
“But you have the money, right?” he asked.
“Yes! But it’s the principle, Brandon!” she snapped.
I wasn’t done. Melissa loved online shopping, so I decided to hit her there too.
“Brandon, can I use your Amazon account? I want a Kindle,” I asked him innocently.
“Sure,” he said, happy to help.
I logged in, changed the password, and sat back. Melissa spent hours trying to regain access, fuming at “useless” customer service.
“Amazon customer service is terrible!” she raged.
“Maybe take a break from shopping,” Brandon teased.
“Not funny, Brandon! It’s my birthday!” she snapped.
Finally, the big night came—her birthday dinner at home. I had spread stories about how she’d left me with a $1,470 bill and refused to pay me back. The result? Most guests stayed away.
“Where is everyone?” she asked Brandon, bewildered.
“I… I don’t know,” he said, scratching his head.
Her birthday gift from me? A card with a $14.70 gift card inside.
“Here’s a little something for your next shopping trip. Happy Birthday, Melissa!”
She was humiliated.
A few days later, Brandon called me, sounding exhausted and defeated.
“Hey… can we talk?” he asked.
“What’s up?” I replied, already knowing.
“It’s Mel… she’s acting so strange. And after hearing what you told everyone, I’m finally seeing things I ignored.”
“I’m sorry, Brandon,” I said, gently. “But you deserve to see the truth. She can’t manipulate everyone forever.”
“We need a serious talk… maybe even a bigger conversation. If she doesn’t change… I don’t know, divorce could happen.”
I let him process, hopeful that finally, he’d open his eyes to the woman he married.