Mary’s marriage to Ed didn’t just come with a husband—it came with his mother, Scarlett. Scarlett had made it clear from the very beginning that she didn’t like Mary. From nasty little comments to bold, humiliating remarks, Scarlett seemed determined to make her daughter-in-law’s life miserable.
It all started on the wedding day. While Mary was in her white gown, glowing with happiness, Scarlett walked in wearing a long white veil. Mary remembered thinking in shock, Thank God it’s not a whole wedding dress. Scarlett clearly didn’t want to let go of her “baby boy,” even though he was a grown man about to start his own family.
Now, years later, things hadn’t changed. On a gray Sunday afternoon, Mary sat silently in the car while Ed drove them to Scarlett’s house. The closer they got, the heavier the knot in her stomach grew.
“I can’t wait to go back home,” she thought to herself, already dreading what Scarlett might say this time.
When they finally pulled into the driveway, Mary reluctantly followed Ed to the door. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to wear a polite smile.
Scarlett swung the door open with a wide grin, her eyes only for Ed. “Oh, my baby! You’re finally here! I’ve missed you more than you know!” she cried, smothering him in a hug.
“Mom, it’s only been a week,” Ed mumbled, trying to free himself.
Scarlett laughed sweetly at him, but the moment her eyes flicked to Mary, her expression turned sharp. She tilted her head, smirking. “Well, Mary, I see you’ve gained a few pounds.”
Mary bit back a sigh. She forced a smile and replied softly, “Good to see you too, Scarlett.”
Dinner was just as painful as always. Scarlett used the entire meal to criticize Mary. Between bites of roast chicken, she rattled off insults like bullets.
“Mary doesn’t even know how to cook properly. She doesn’t work in a respectable place. Look at her outfit—she doesn’t even know how to dress herself.” Scarlett’s eyes darted to Ed, hoping he’d join in.
Mary gripped her fork so tightly it almost bent. She tried to stay quiet, but then Scarlett crossed a line she could not ignore.
“Well,” Scarlett began with a cruel smirk, “I think it’s high time you gave me a grandchild. Or maybe… Mary has some issues?”
Mary froze. Those words cut deeper than anything before. For months she and Ed had been trying to get pregnant, and nothing had worked. Scarlett’s mocking tone felt like salt poured on an open wound.
“How dare you!” Mary snapped, her voice trembling. “Stop meddling in our lives! Maybe it’s your son who has the problem!”
Scarlett’s eyes widened before narrowing into slits. “That’s absurd! My son is perfectly healthy. But you, Mary… who knows what kind of life you had before you trapped him?”
Mary’s cheeks burned red. “You’re a damn witch!” she yelled, turning desperately to Ed. “Are you just going to sit there and let her talk to me like this?”
Ed didn’t even look up from his phone. “Work it out yourselves,” he muttered.
Scarlett leaned closer across the table, her voice dripping with venom. “My neighbor mentioned herbal teas. She swears they help people like you.”
Mary felt her stomach twist. “Why don’t you drink your own tea?” she managed to spit out before rushing to the bathroom, sick to her core.
When she returned, pale and weak, she told Ed, “I want to go home.”
He shrugged. “Okay.”
Scarlett tilted her head with mock concern. “Oh dear, what’s wrong, Mary? Feeling unwell?”
Mary’s eyes darkened. “You probably poisoned me,” she muttered.
On the way back, her mind wouldn’t rest. Something inside her told her she needed to know the truth. “Ed, can you stop at the pharmacy?” she asked quietly.
With an annoyed sigh, he pulled into the lot. Minutes later, Mary was back in their bathroom at home, staring at a pregnancy test. Her heart pounded as two faint pink lines appeared.
Her eyes filled with tears. She rushed to Ed, holding up the test. “Ed, we’re going to have a baby!”
He looked at it and barely blinked. “Oh. That’s… good,” he said flatly.
Mary’s joy deflated. She was glowing with excitement, but Ed’s reaction felt cold and distant.
Weeks passed, and her happiness grew—though Ed seemed to drift further away. On the morning of their first doctor’s appointment, she sat waiting while he showered. His phone buzzed on the table beside her.
Normally, she would never look. But something about his distant behavior made her hand move almost on its own. She picked it up, surprised to see a passcode. She tried his birthday—and it unlocked.
The screen lit up with a message that made her stomach drop: a half-dressed woman blowing a kiss. Below it: “Can’t wait to see you, baby.”
Mary’s hands shook as she scrolled through the chat. Ed had lied to this woman, bragging he was wealthy, that he owned a construction company. Each word burned into her heart.
She took screenshots, saving everything. When Ed walked out of the bathroom, she was waiting.
“What is this?!” she shouted, shoving the phone in his face.
His eyes darkened as he snatched it back. “None of your business.”
Mary’s voice cracked. “None of my business? I’m your wife! And I’m pregnant, Ed—your pregnant wife!”
He sneered. “Maybe you’re the one cheating. How do I even know the baby’s mine?”
Her whole body shook. “We’ve been trying for six months! And now you say this?”
Ed shrugged coldly. “Six months of nothing, and suddenly it happens? Convenient.”
Tears streamed down Mary’s face. “I saw your messages. You’ve been lying to her too, pretending you’re rich. You’re disgusting.”
Ed smirked. “Doesn’t matter. I’m filing for divorce. This marriage is over.”
Mary’s chest heaved. “You really think she’ll stay when she finds out the truth?”
“She won’t find out,” he said with confidence. “And when this is over, I’ll take this house and everything else. Plus, my mom’s money.”
Mary’s voice trembled. “This house was bought by my father!”
He shrugged. “It’s in both our names.”
Her voice broke into a whisper. “What about the baby?”
He gave a cold smile. “Can’t prove it’s mine until it’s born.” Then, without another word, he threw her out.
Shattered, Mary went to the last person she ever expected—Scarlett.
She sat across from her, telling her everything: Ed’s affair, his lies, his threats. To her surprise, Scarlett didn’t scream or call her a liar. Instead, her face grew pale.
Scarlett whispered, “He’s been taking money from me too. All the savings his father left me. He said it was for doctor visits because you couldn’t get pregnant.”
Mary’s mouth dropped open. “He never even went to a doctor. Scarlett, I checked—he was draining our accounts.”
Scarlett’s hands shook. “I can’t believe my son would do this. I always defended him. I thought I was protecting him. But I was blind.”
Tears spilled from Mary’s eyes. “I don’t know what to do. He says he’ll take everything from me. He doesn’t even believe the baby is his.”
Scarlett’s face hardened with resolve. “I won’t let him hurt my grandchild. We’ll fight back. Do you still have those messages?”
“Yes,” Mary nodded quickly.
Scarlett leaned in. “Good. And I still have one of his toothbrushes. When the baby’s born, we’ll get the DNA test done.”
Mary looked at her, shocked. “You’re actually helping me?”
Scarlett sighed heavily. “I spent years protecting a man who didn’t deserve it. His father was a cheater too. I let myself suffer, but I won’t let you—or this child—go through the same.”
Together, they built a plan.
Mary confronted Ed with the screenshots. “I’ve already shown Scarlett everything,” she told him. “Here’s the deal: you sign the divorce papers, give up the house, and agree to child support. If you don’t, your mistress finds out the truth.”
Trapped, Ed signed. He thought he’d gotten away with it—until Scarlett paid his mistress a visit.
Scarlett revealed it all—his lies, his fake wealth, his betrayal. The woman left him instantly, disgusted.
Days later, Mary and Scarlett sat calmly in Mary’s kitchen, sipping tea. Suddenly, furious banging shook the front door.
“You promised you wouldn’t tell!” Ed screamed from outside. “You’ll regret this!”
Mary glanced at Scarlett, her voice steady. “I didn’t tell her, Ed.”
Scarlett raised her voice for him to hear. “I did. You were raised better than this, and you chose lies. Now you face the consequences.”
“You’re both insane!” Ed howled. “I’ll destroy you!”
But before he could act, flashing lights filled the driveway. The police, called by worried neighbors, hauled him away as he cursed and shouted.
Inside, Mary and Scarlett didn’t move. They sat together, sipping their tea in peace, knowing the storm had finally passed.