My FIL is a generous man. My husband and I were living with my BIL when the neighbor’s house came on the market for a steal. FIL decided to buy it for us.
The place needed a ton of work. Naturally, my husband and I were supposed to handle it. But he’s clueless about renovations, and I grew up helping my family fix up old houses, so it all fell on me. I was running around, getting estimates from contractors, you name it.
I was really thankful to FIL for this chance. But then, one day, everything flipped. I was upstairs measuring windows for curtains when I overheard my husband and FIL talking downstairs. FIL had popped in unexpectedly, so my husband didn’t have a chance to warn me. Their voices carried through the vents, and I could hear everything.
What I overheard made me tell my FIL to take his gift back IMMEDIATELY. FIL was saying, “Any progress on the renovations?”
My husband replied, “Yeah, she’s been handling everything. She’s been pretty busy.”
FIL chuckled. “Good. This way, she’ll appreciate the house more and won’t have time to think about working outside the home. You know I’ve always believed women should be focused on family and home, not careers.”
My heart sank. I could barely believe what I was hearing. My FIL had ulterior motives for giving us the house—a way to trap me into traditional domestic roles. It was never just a generous gift; it was a way to control my life choices.
I stayed silent and listened as they continued.
My husband laughed nervously. “Well, she does have a lot on her plate right now with the renovations. It keeps her occupied.”
FIL’s tone turned more serious. “And remember, if she ever brings up going back to work, remind her how much she has to do here. We don’t need her bringing stress into the home.”
I felt a mix of anger and betrayal. I had been working tirelessly, thinking it was for our future, only to find out they were plotting to manipulate me.
I stormed downstairs, my heart pounding. “I heard everything,” I said, my voice shaking with rage.
Both men looked at me, shocked. “What are you talking about?” my husband asked, but I could see the guilt in his eyes.
“I’m talking about your plan to keep me trapped in this house with all these renovations so I won’t have time to pursue my career!” I turned to my FIL. “Take your gift back. We don’t want it.”
My FIL tried to placate me. “You misunderstood. We were just—”
“I understood perfectly. This house was never a gift. It was a way to control me.”
My husband looked at me, pleading. “Please, let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said firmly. “I will not be manipulated like this.”
With that, I walked out of the house, leaving them to their scheming. I stayed with a friend that night, thinking about how to move forward. The next day, I went back to the house and told my FIL to sell it. My husband apologized profusely, but I knew our relationship had changed forever.
I moved out and started anew, focusing on my career and my own happiness. I wasn’t going to let anyone control my life. And as for my FIL, he learned that his so-called gift came with consequences he hadn’t anticipated.