Gloria couldnt stop raving about your houseI just had to see what youve spent all that money on, sneered Lorraine Peters with a haughty smirk.
For four long years, Olivia and Victor had poured their sweat into building a two-storey countryside home. Every spare moment went into renovations, and at last, after years of toil, the family finally moved in.
With their three children, Olivia and Victor settled into their new home, dreaming of a blissful family life. Everything would have been perfect, if not for Victors mother, who had always dismissed the construction as foolish extravagance.
No sooner had they moved in than relatives began arriving to admire the house. Everyone visited within two monthseveryone except Lorraine Peters. Relatives and friends gushed over the place, and word, of course, reached her.
«Vic and Livs house is like something out of a fairy tale!» praised Lorraines own sister. «Have you seen it?»
«Not yet, been too busy,» Lorraine replied, feigning indifference.
That same evening, unable to resist, she texted her son, demanding photos.
«Gloria keeps praising your houseI want to see where youve blown all that money,» she said, her voice dripping with condescension.
Victor, oblivious to her tone, sent a few pictures. The moment she saw them, her disapproval flared.
«How odd that no ones invited me. The whole familys been, and yet here I amneglected.»
«Maybe because you dismissed the whole thing as nonsense?» Victor reminded her.
«Oh, must you bring that up now? Let bygones be bygones,» she snapped, forcing a brittle smile.
«And those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it,» Victor muttered darkly.
Eager to shift focus, Lorraine circled back to the house.
«Text me the address. I want to visit,» she ordered.
Victor obliged, and the very next day, she arrived unannounced.
Olivia, unaware of her mother-in-laws sudden plans, was stunned by her appearance.
«Vic, why wasnt I told?» she whispered sharply.
«I didnt think shed come so soon,» Victor admitted, equally surprised by his mothers haste.
Lorraine had brought gifts for the grandchildrenthree chocolate bars snatched from a corner shop. Olivia noticed, but wasnt shocked. The woman had never shown much interest in the children anyway.
Lorraine scrutinised the house, inside and out, her face betraying clear dissatisfaction. Victor couldnt pinpoint the problemuntil after two glasses of champagne at dinner.
«Why must I live like a pauper in a flat while *this woman* lords it in a mansion?» she demanded, stunning Victor.
«Whats wrong with your flat? We sold your old one-bedder, topped it up, and bought you a two-bedder. Not to mention the £200 I send you every month. How, exactly, are you a pauper?»
«Think Im not grateful? I am! But I want a house too!»
«Mum, we built this house for *us*. Whats it got to do with you?»
«What do you mean, *whats it got to do with me*? Did I not birth and raise you? Dont I deserve luxury? Why wasnt I invited?»
Olivia, overhearing, sighed. «Vic, its pointless. She envies us. All she cares about is feeling superior.»
Victor glanced at his wife, knowing she was right, yet guilt gnawed at him.
«It hurts to hear this, Mum. But this house is ours. Youve got a good flatyou live comfortably.»
«*Comfortably*? Let your wife live there, then! *Ill* reign here!»
Olivias patience snapped. «See how she repays our kindness? Constant demands, insults, belittling me»
Lorraine scoffed, rolled her eyes, and reached for more champagne.
Victor led her outside.
«Mum, honestlyyour bitterness is exhausting. Youre not much of a grandmother, and your temper makes you unbearable. The kids avoid you. Living together? Giving you the house? Never.»
«*Im* the bad grandmother? Or are you just spineless?»
«Listen carefully. This house is our happiness. I wont let you ruin it.»
«*Im* the one ruining things? This is *her* talking, isnt it? No one cares how *I* feel! Everyones perfectonly *Im* the villain!»
With a venomous glare, she bit her lip, called a cab, and stormed out without a word.
Their relationship never recovered. A month later, she called Victor in a rageshed decided to sell her flat and buy a house.
She even found buyersuntil she discovered the flat was in Victors name.
«You swindled me! Sold the old place, put this one in *your* name! Left me with nothing!»
«Probably because *I* paid most of it. Or dont I have that right?»
«Youve taken *everything*!» she shrieked before slamming the phone down.
She vanished after that, ignoring all attempts at contact.
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