“Let’s wait and see,” snapped Emily.
“No! As long as were stuck in this madhouse with your mum and Lucy, theres no wedding!”
“Em, dont be so hasty,” sighed Daniel. “We could rent the dress, theres still time. Or postpone the whole thing if youd rather. We can sort this out calmly.”
“You dont get it,” Emily crossed her arms. “Its not about the dress. Its about feeling like Im on the front lines here. Your sisters old enough to know better, but shes still acting like a brat. And honestly, Margarets the real problem.”
Daniel didnt like hearing that, though part of him knew Emily had a point. At some point, Margaretwhether by accident or designhad turned Lucy against his fiancée.
Emily and Daniel had met at university. Things had moved slowly back then because neither had their own placehe still lived with his family, insisting it was “convenient for everyone.”
“Ive got Grans flat, but Mums renting it out for now. When we need it, well fix it up,” hed say.
A year later, they did need it. Daniel decided it was time to take the next step. Both had graduated, found jobsno reason to wait.
“Well stay with Mum for a bit, then get married and move,” hed planned aloud. “Six months tops, and well be on our own.”
At first, Emily was thrilled. It sounded serious, mature. But then doubt crept in. Theyd never lived together before, and now shed be thrust straight into the deep end with her future mother-in-law. Would it ruin what they had?
Almost.
Margaret wasnt the stereotypical overbearing mum clinging to her son. Shed even offered to help with the wedding. She cooked for everyone, never picked fights, made no demands. The problem lay elsewhere.
Her parenting was… unorthodox. She was stricter with Lucy, and perhaps rightly sothe girl was spoiled rotten. But subtlety wasnt Margarets strength.
Once, while making tea, Emily overheard a scene. Margaret was flipping through Lucys schoolbook, scowling at fresh low marks and a note about her behaviour.
“Oh, for heavens sake. Couldnt you memorise one little poem?” Margaret sighed. “Right, hand over your phone and tablet. Youll get the phone back when youve learned it, and the tablet after an A in English.”
Lucy clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes.
“Fine, take them. Ill just borrow Daniels.”
“Keep dreaming,” Margaret smirked. “Think hell always cover for you? Hell marry Emily, start his own family, and forget about us.”
“Lets wait and see!” Lucy slammed her gadgets on the table and stormed off.
The door thudded shut. Emily glanced awkwardly at Margaret, feeling like shed stumbled onto something private. It was clear Margaret had gone too far, but correcting her felt out of place.
“Margaret, that was a bit harsh…” Emily ventured.
“Needs must. Shell learn life isnt all fun and games.”
That “lesson” backfired spectacularly.
Emily had noticed Lucy avoiding herskipping meals together, leaving when she entered a room. At first, she thought the girl was shy. Then came the petty stunts. Hiding the AC remote during a heatwave. Ruining Emilys makeup. When Daniel installed a lock on their door at Emilys request, Lucy threw a fit.
“How am I supposed to use the computer now? Ive got schoolwork!”
“Youll do it supervised,” Daniel said flatly. “With me.”
“You never locked me out before!”
“Before, I lived alone. And before, you didnt rifle through my things.”
“I never touched your stuff! Emilys lying! I hate her!”
Lucy locked herself in her room and cried all evening. Emily didnt know what to think. The girls behaviour was unacceptable, but making a scene felt wrong.
“Shes just a kid,” Daniel shrugged.
“That kid is twelve,” Emily countered. “Dan, why dont we just rent a place?”
“Come on, its only a few more months. Mum says well be out in four.”
Four months. To Daniel, it was nothing. To Emily, an eternity.
She tried bonding with Lucybringing chocolates, asking about school. Lucy would mutter “fine,” snatch the sweets, and leave. Nothing changed.
It got worse.
One morning, rushing out, Emily hung her bag on the door and dashed to the bathroom. Later, she noticed it had been rummaged through, but she was late for work. At lunch, she had to wait an hour for Margaret to let her inher keys had vanished.
She knew where theyd gone. She whispered as much to Margaret, who confronted Lucy and retrieved them. But the damage was done.
Emily became hyper-vigilant. Daniel, though, still forgot to lock doors. That oversight cost them.
On the weddings eve, chaos reigneddecorations, calls to guests, last-minute checks. That night, Emily opened the wardrobe to admire her dress… and found it shredded. She knew whod done it.
Her hands shook. Fury choked her. She couldnt even speak, just dragged Daniel to the crime scene.
“You little monster!” Margaret screamed at Lucy. “I ought to tan your hide! Did you pay for that dress? Youll work it off handing out leaflets if I have my way!”
Lucy got her punishment, but the dressand Emilys nerveswere beyond repair.
She refused compromises. No rented dress. No postponement. She wouldnt bend to someone elses tantrums.
“Em, just sleep on it. Well fix this tomorrow,” Daniel pleaded.
“No, Dan. We live separately, or not at all.” Emily sighed. “Im done waiting for your family to gift us your own flat. Done with your sister stealing from my bag. Relationships take work, but not like this. Im not even your wife yet, and Im exhausted.”
She stuffed her charger into her bag, rummaging for her documents.
“Where are you going? The renovation wont last forever”
She didnt listen. Every excuse rang hollow now.
She spent the night at her friends, crying on her shoulder but finding no peace. Yesterdays happy bride, today she didnt know where to turn.
Daniel called a hundred times in three days. On the third, she answered.
“Em, I know this is rubbish. Were gutted too. But dont throw us away. Well buy another dress, today. Just dont leave.”
She hesitated. Daniel was kind, caring, decentif a bit oblivious. She loved him. But…
“If we marry, its on my terms.”
“Which are?”
“No help from your family, and none of them there. Weve celebrated with them enough. Just us registering, then a small dinner later. And we rent a flat. I wont live guarding my things.”
Silence. Harsh terms, but she wouldnt bend.
“Alright,” Daniel finally said.
The wedding was quiet. They signed the papers, took photos, then escaped to the countryside for three daysno fuss, no stress.
Daniels family sulked, but Emily didnt care. This day wasnt for them. Especially not those whod earned less than an invite.
At the dinner, Lucy was meek. Probably scolded into silence. Emily didnt call it victory. Shed never wanted war, but if forcedshed hold her ground. Lucy might be a child, Margaret might mean well, but some boundaries were non-negotiable.
