At my anniversary, my mother-in-law raised her glass: «To the daughter of a cleaning lady who got married successfully!» My husband was choking with laughter and filming it on his phone. My mother stood up and said three words, after which my mother-in-law turned pale…

Margaret faltered briefly but rallied. “You misunderstood. I was highlighting your journey, Anna. From a cleaner’s daughter to an office manager in a reputable firm. It was a compliment.”

“Don’t lie,” Ellen said softly. “You knew exactly what you were doing. I knew. The guests knew.”

Margaret took a breath, reining in her anger. “Fine. Suppose I was wrong. But what you did was far worse. You revealed my son’s private medical information. That’s… illegal.”

“It’s not a medical secret,” Anna countered. “It’s a fact of our marriage you used against me, constantly hinting at my infertility while knowing the truth.”

“Steven’s depressed,” Margaret shifted tactics. “He won’t leave his room, won’t eat. Do you realize what you’ve done?”

“And do you realize what you did to my daughter for two years?” Ellen asked quietly. “How it felt to endure your remarks, your slights, watching her husband always take his mother’s side?”

Margaret looked from one woman to the other, finding no sympathy. “What do you want?” she asked finally. “Money? I’ll pay to have you retract those online stories.”

Anna laughed, bitter but not angry. “Money? You think this is about money? I didn’t post anything. And I won’t retract the truth.”

“Then why?” Margaret cried, desperate. “Why this spectacle?”

“I didn’t start it,” Anna reminded her. “You did. I just didn’t stay silent this time.”

Margaret sank onto the sofa’s edge, her fight draining. “What do I do? My son, his career, all this gossip…”

“Look,” Anna sat across from her. “I don’t wish you or Steven harm. I just want a divorce and a new life, without either of you.”

Margaret looked up. “You don’t love my son?”

“I did,” Anna said honestly. “But your constant meddling, his inability to stand up for me, always bending to you—it killed my feelings.”

“Steven’s a good boy,” Margaret said softly. “He’s just close to me.”

“Too close,” Ellen noted. “A man needs to separate from his mother when he starts a family.”.

“You don’t understand,” Margaret shook her head. “He’s always been special, sensitive. After his father’s death, we grew even closer.”

“His father died two years ago,” Anna pointed out. “We’d been married a year already.”

Margaret stared into space, silent. For the first time, Anna saw not the domineering mother-in-law but an aging woman terrified of loneliness, clinging to her son as her only anchor. “What do you want from us?” Anna asked after a pause.

Margaret gathered herself. “I want you to stop this online filth, to say publicly it was a misunderstanding.”

“I can’t,” Anna said. “I don’t control what’s posted. And it wasn’t a misunderstanding. You humiliated me on purpose, and my mom defended me. That’s the story.”

“Then at least,” Margaret hesitated, “don’t make it worse. No interviews, no details.”

“That I can promise,” Anna agreed. “I’m not turning my life into a reality show.”

Margaret nodded, taking the small concession as a victory. “And the divorce?”

“I’m filing next week,” Anna said. “I hope it’s quick and simple.”

“You’re… sure?” Margaret asked, a flicker of hope. “Maybe wait? Cool off? Steven’s devastated.”

“I’m sure,” Anna said firmly. “Our marriage was a mistake. Better to admit it now than keep hurting each other.”

Margaret stood, smoothed her jacket, and headed for the door. She paused, not turning. “You know, I always wanted the best for him. Always.”

“I know,” Anna replied. “The problem is, you never thought I was the best.”..