That day, Emily prepared an unremarkable dinner. And in a hurry too, end of the month, reports. Her husband already knew that his wife came home later than usual once a quarter.

So, as a rule, he himself went out somewhere with friends. And today she ran home from work and didn’t bother much. But her husband for some reason praised her pasta as if there was something special in it.

The sauce was from yesterday, the cheapest noodles, everyday stuff, but her husband was delighted. True, it later turned out that he was joyful for another reason. Well, Em, let’s knock back a shot, there’s something to celebrate.

Jack rubbed his hands halfway through the pasta. His wife brought the remnants of homemade wine. She sat there full of guesses while her husband slowly filled the glasses.

Jack was pleased with himself, and Emily anticipated something pleasant. Her husband should at least once make her some nice surprise. She thought it was about a gift, after all, today Jack got his advance.

And then her husband spilled it. Called it good news. Emily’s first impulse was to run to the closet to make sure Jack was joking.

But he looked happy and not at all like a joker. It turns out, now they have an apartment. Her husband took all their savings and spent them on the down payment for a mortgage.

“Why are you turning pale?” giggled her husband. “Aren’t you happy or what?” “I’m telling you, we have an apartment now.” Emily tried to process it all.

A year of married life, monthly savings from both salaries, the dream of their own apartment. And what do they have? Her husband secretly bought an apartment without consulting her. Is that normal? His wife didn’t agree that this was a reason for joy.

This isn’t choosing bread, which costs little. You can buy it without asking which one. This is a whole apartment.

The money is shared. They live together. They should have chosen together….

Emily confusedly asked why her husband made the decision alone. And then he finished her off. “I didn’t do it alone.

I did it with Mom,” he stated calmly. If at this point Emily thought she wouldn’t hear anything worse today, after her husband’s next statement, she started having tachycardia. She thought her heart wouldn’t handle the rhythm and would stop.

She asked him to give her some valerian. “No one died,” her husband shook his head. “You have a face like it’s the end of the world.”

Jack didn’t understand at all why his wife was so tense. Big deal, he and his mom bought an apartment on mortgage together. They registered it all in Mom’s name.

But it’s a good option. His mother accidentally came across such a cheap apartment. There was no time for thinking, or someone else would snag it.

What’s the point of consulting with his wife if it needs to be taken? They’ll figure it out along the way, the main thing is the surprise. The surprise turned out to be unexpected one hundred percent. His wife would never have guessed in her life that Jack would think of such a thing.

If you tell anyone, they’ll think it’s a joke. Like going to the market for groceries and dumping them in front of his wife at dinner? Emily didn’t even know what to be outraged about first. Probably, in this situation, the critical thing is that the apartment was registered to her mother-in-law.

“I understand that she’s your mom,” his wife began carefully. “But in life, anything can happen.” “What could happen,” her husband interrupted her.

“Even if something happens to her, I’m the only heir.” Emily, of course, didn’t wish death on anyone. And the question isn’t about inheritance.

On the contrary, Patricia is a woman in the prime of her life, single. She’s definitely not planning to die. But she might arrange her life.

What if she decides to take this apartment for herself? And moreover, it turned out that Emily had no relation to this property. It would be fine if they bought it only with Jack’s savings. But they contributed equally….

Now you could say she gifted her mother-in-law a substantial sum. His wife gently hinted to her husband that his mom could claim rights to this apartment at any moment, and they’d be left with nothing. Jack said no.

He’s the one who will pay the loan. He’ll give his mom his salary to repay the mortgage. And they’ll live on his wife’s salaries.

Even better. So Emily sat down. Patricia, what a clever one, quick.

Behind her daughter-in-law’s back, she pulled off such a profitable deal. Hung noodles on her son’s ears. But Jack continued to convince his wife that his mom cares about them.

The loan needs to be monitored. They work and might accidentally miss it. And his mother has a lot of free time.

So let her do something useful. And we ourselves aren’t capable of paying every month. Only your mom can handle it.

Emily was puzzled. Didn’t I say that there’s also repairs to do there? Her husband clarified. Now her mother-in-law came out as a real heroine.

She’ll handle the repairs herself so the kids have more free time. A golden woman, and her daughter-in-law suspects her of something. Emily decided that a scandal wouldn’t lead to anything.

She was a bit tense. But for now, she decided to do nothing about it. She needs to rethink everything.

Excess emotions would only worsen the situation. Although there were reasons to make claims, his wife stayed silent. By the way, they lived in her aunt’s apartment.

Emily went to her to ask if she could rent it to them cheaply. And the aunt, learning that the young couple was renting a room in a shared house, kindly let them live there for free for one year. She bought the apartment for her son.

But he left for work abroad. First for a couple of months. Then he said he’d stay for a year for sure.

And here was her niece. The apartment was empty anyway. The aunt wanted to rent it out.

But for such a cause, she changed her mind. And now the year was coming to an end. Emily promised her aunt that they’d take a mortgage and move out.

It turns out, they did take a mortgage. But there are also questions with repairs. Her husband said it’s not quick.

Then they went to look. Emily wasn’t thrilled. She wouldn’t buy such an apartment…

There’s really a lot of repairs to do. And, by feel, it’s not her place. But the neighborhood is good! Her husband praised the purchase.

Everything is around. Tenants will be found quickly. And here another surprise opened up for his wife.

Even after repairs, living in this apartment wasn’t planned. Her husband intended to rent it out so it would be easier for them to pay off the debt. Emily was speechless.

What will she say to her aunt? You can’t abuse people’s kindness and sit on their necks. Jack brushed it off. Nonsense.

She tolerated it for a year and will tolerate more. She herself said her son isn’t hurrying back. So they’ll live a bit longer.

No need to tell her about the mortgage. And then, look, they’ll pay off the loan. Not strangers.

She won’t kick them out. The aunt is building good karma for herself. Let her be happy.

She’s not struggling. Emily suggested that her mother-in-law go to work. After all, it’s her apartment on paper.

Let her pay the loan herself. But her husband was indignant. He started insisting again that the apartment only belongs to his mother on paper.

But really it’s theirs. Why should his mom spend her money? Anyway, thanks for helping. Emily had very big doubts that everything in this story is so transparent.

She didn’t consider her mother-in-law’s help as help. Without her, they could have found options, gotten a mortgage in their name, and done the repairs themselves for themselves. It would be the same, only without any worries about their future.

But since they got into it, she silently watched how the repairs were going. She decided for herself that she wouldn’t lift a finger. Let her mother-in-law handle it, since she took on such responsibility.

And Emily will see further if they’ll live there. But they didn’t wait. The repairs weren’t finished yet, and then Emily’s grandmother died.

And it turned out that she bequeathed her apartment to her granddaughter. The unexpected inheritance should have brought peace to Emily’s family. At least, she sincerely thought so…

She thought, to hell with those savings that went to her mother-in-law’s apartment, I’ll forget about them. No need to argue with her husband, anyway now they have their own housing. Her husband, apparently to not show his joy, walked around sullen.

After all, he had no tender feelings for his wife’s grandmother. But Jack’s eyes sparkled mischievously. He was waiting for a pause when his wife would recover after losing a loved one.

Less than a week passed before he spoke. It turned out he really was upset. He lamented that they have to wait six months to enter the inheritance.

In his opinion, that’s a lot. They already have one apartment that’s idle because of repairs. And now this.

Let’s rent this apartment for now, and meanwhile look for buyers. He suggested. Emily opened her mouth in surprise.

It seems she and her husband were thinking in different directions. She asked, why not live there ourselves? That way the issue with the aunt is resolved. How will she look her in the eyes? The aunt isn’t on another planet.

She’s aware that her niece inherited an apartment. Emily said that living for free in someone else’s apartment and renting out your own is the height of impudence. Oh, we’ll get over it, her husband rolled his eyes.

We need to close the mortgage debt. And your aunt will get over it. Big deal, she’ll gossip behind our backs.

What do we care? We have debts, and she doesn’t care. His wife categorically stated that she won’t sell the apartment to close her mother-in-law’s mortgage. Let her sell hers and close it.

Jack flared up. What’s his mom got to do with it? She’s not obligated to close their debts. They looked at the situation differently.

Her husband argued, proving that they have only one apartment, the mortgaged one, and they need to solve issues with it. So, grandma’s definitely needs to be sold. That’s not even a question.

Emily operated with facts. They are officially husband and wife. Property should be registered to them…

That mortgaged apartment is registered to her mother-in-law, and Emily’s inherited apartment will be registered to her in six months. And which apartment can we consider ours, his wife inquired. Her husband started defending his mother again, who in life wouldn’t offend or deceive anyone.

He accused his wife of insulting this saintly woman. In the end, a scandal happened. The spouses made accusations to each other, and her husband demanded that Emily go and apologize to his mom.

And the deceased grandmother got it too. Her husband regretted that she didn’t die earlier. Then there wouldn’t be such problems.

Then the offended Jack ran to his mom to calm down. He threatened Emily that at this rate they’d reach divorce. Let her think about her behavior.

The next day, her mother-in-law came running. She beat her chest that she’s trying to save her son’s family from financial problems. And her daughter-in-law doesn’t appreciate it.

Emily couldn’t stand the accusations of being mercenary. She chased out both her husband and his mother. She said they’ll move out of the aunt’s apartment.

The year passed. Her husband could have said thank you instead of being impudent. Give him a hand, he’ll bite up to the elbow.

Because of the apartment issue, she had to divorce her spouse. There was nothing to divide. So this process promised to go quickly.

Only at first her husband resisted. He accused his wife of double standards. She attacked his mother.

Saying she’ll grab the apartment for herself. And what did she do? She immediately grabbed grandma’s apartment. And forgot about her husband’s feelings.

Only thought about profit. Emily allowed Jack to think as he wants. And suggested he move to his mom’s mortgaged apartment.

There he can gossip about his ex-wife with her. They’re so good. She’s the bad one…

No problem, her husband declared proudly. And went to his mom, sure she’d let him into his apartment. But there he faced a setback.

His mother declared she wouldn’t let him in there. Sorry, Jack, but I need the money, she stated. No pangs of conscience.

She only said that initially she didn’t plan anything like that. And sincerely tried to help her son’s family. But now he’s divorced.

And he doesn’t need such a good apartment. The repairs are already done there. It can be sold for much more.

Jack could only throw up his hands. On paper, he had no relation to this apartment. It seems his ex-wife was right not to trust her mother-in-law.

So his mother also called him a fool. If he lived with Emily, they’d have an apartment. But this way, the sucker is left with nothing.

Patricia even portrayed herself as a victim. She said it’s dangerous for her to get into such deals. If her son decides he doesn’t want to pay the loan.

And what is an unemployed mother to do? And citing a lack of money, Patricia quickly sold the apartment and left for a resort. And her son was left without housing, without a wife, and disappointed in his mother. But he was ashamed to ask to come back to Emily.

And it’s unlikely she’d forgive him after everything he said to her.