“How can you claim this is your apartment? All of us are living here, and you don’t get to decide who stays and who doesn’t!” her mother-in-law burst out angrily.
“I said no,” Emily repeated, fighting to keep her voice steady despite the tremor beneath it. “This apartment belongs to me. And I’m not going to—”
“Yours?” Linda cut in, narrowing her eyes in disbelief. “And what about the family? Jason, do you hear what your wife is saying?”
It was nearly nine o’clock when Emily slowly turned the key and stepped inside. She had stayed late at the office again, completely absorbed in a demanding project that had consumed her entire day. As usual, raised voices drifted through the apartment before she even had time to close the door.
“Late again!” Linda snapped the moment Emily crossed the threshold. “Jason’s been sitting here hungry!”
Suppressing a sigh, Emily slipped off her coat. Lately, every time she walked in, she had the strange sensation that she was entering someone else’s home—as if she were an unwelcome visitor instead of the owner.
Six weeks earlier, when Jason had asked if his parents could stay with them while their place was being renovated, she hadn’t hesitated. Two or three weeks, she’d thought. A small favor. Nothing more. But the weeks had stretched on, and his parents showed no signs of leaving. What had seemed temporary was turning into an exhausting, endless ordeal.
“Good evening,” Emily said quietly as she stepped into the kitchen.
Jason and Robert sat at the table, eyes fixed on the television. Linda stood at the stove, banging pots with unnecessary force.
“I asked you to be home by seven at the latest,” Linda continued, shooting her a reproachful look. “We have a routine. We’re used to eating dinner on time!”
Emily opened the refrigerator, careful to hide her irritation.
“I had work to finish,” she replied evenly. “An important project.”
“Work, work…” Linda scoffed. “And who is supposed to take care of your husband? Jason, tell her!”
Jason shifted in his chair, clearly uncomfortable, as if unsure whose side he should be on.
“Emily, maybe it would be better if you came home earlier?” he muttered without meeting her eyes.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. He had never complained about her schedule before. But ever since his parents arrived… something had shifted. Or perhaps she was only now seeing it clearly.
“Yes, exactly,” Robert chimed in, finally tearing his gaze from the screen. “A woman should put her family first. Nowadays…”
Emily went rigid. How many times had she heard that word—“nowadays”—spoken with the same heavy disapproval?
“I’ll make dinner,” she murmured, reaching for the grocery bags.
“No need,” Linda waved dismissively. “I’ve already taken care of everything. I reorganized your cabinets too—nothing was where it should be.”
Emily froze.
“What do you mean you reorganized them? This is my kitchen, Linda.”
“Precisely,” her mother-in-law replied with a satisfied nod. “And things should be arranged properly. I have years of experience running a household.”
A flush of anger crept up Emily’s neck. She glanced at the table. Jason stared down, shoulders hunched, as though hoping to disappear.
“And another thing,” Linda added suddenly, casting a critical look around the room. “This place is long overdue for renovation. Everything looks so outdated.”
Emily clenched her teeth.
“Linda,” she began carefully, forcing calm into her tone, “we agreed you would stay here while your renovation was underway. But it hasn’t even started yet. Maybe it’s time to think about that?”
“Oh, the renovation,” Linda began dismissively, as though the very word were explanation enough.