One Day, My Husband Came Back from His Mother’s House, Sighed, and Suggested a Paternity Test for Our Two-Year-Old Daughter: Not for Me, but for His Mother

One evening, her husband returned from his mothers house, let out a heavy sigh, and suggested a paternity test for their two-year-old daughter. “Not for me,” he said quickly. “For my mother.”

Months before their wedding, his mother had warned him relentlessly: *Dont marry her. She doesnt deserve you!* Emily, now thirty, recounted the memory, her voice trembling with hurt. *She always said I was too prettyclaimed Id run around on him. We used to laugh, joke that Daniel shouldve picked a plain girl if he wanted no trouble. But now? Theres nothing funny about it.*

Emily never saw herself as some stunning beauty. Just an ordinary girl from Manchester, she took care of herself like anyone else. Slender, well-groomed, dressed modestlyshed always been particular about relationships, never settling for less than respect. Why her mother-in-law, Margaret, had decided she was flighty and unfaithful was a mystery. Yet that woman had turned Emilys life into a nightmare.

Married four years, with a daughter, Emily was now on maternity leave, her days an endless cycle of cooking, cleaning, and nappies. The only people she spoke to were other mums at the playground. But Margaret never rested. Convinced Emily was cheating, she watched her like a detective in some cheap telly drama.

*Shes always spied on me,* Emily sighed, eyes brimming with tears. *Phoning at odd hours, dropping by unannounced, trying to control every move. At first, I laughed it offtold Daniel, and wed joke about it. But its exhausting. Ive lost my temper more than once. Wed argue, shed back off for a while, then come back worse.*

The first real scandal happened months after the wedding. Margaret showed up uninvited at Emilys workplace. No warning, no reason. Just suspicion. *Did her daughter-in-law actually work there? Or was she lying, sneaking off to meet lovers instead?*

*I dont even know how she got past security,* Emily recalled, voice shaking with anger. *Visitors need appointments. I nearly fainted when the receptionist led her over”Youve got a guest.” I asked, “Margaret, what are you doing here?” She just said, “Wanted to see where you work.” Then she stared around like she was searching for evidence! Open-plan office, everyone at their desksnothing hidden. God knows what shed have done if I had a private office.*

Later, the receptionist, Sarah, admitted Margaret had grilled her. *How long had Emily worked there? Did she come in late? Who did she talk to? Was there anyone special?* *”I told her you were married!”* Sarah said, baffled. Emily was furious. That night, she confronted Daniel. *”Your mothers crossed a line! Talk to herthis isnt normal! The only thing she didnt do was check under the desk for a lover!”*

Daniel seemed to have a stern word. There was a ceasefire. Margaret only called in the evenings, asked harmless questions, sent homemade cakes. Emily started to believe the storm had passed. She was wrong.

The next incident came when Emily was pregnant but still working. Sick with a cold, shed taken leave and was asleep, phone off, when frantic banging shook the front door. The bell rang nonstop. *”I thought it was a fire or an emergency!”* she remembered. *”Looked through the peepholeand there she was. Face like thunder, kicking the door, jamming the bell. I was terrified. Called Daniel: ‘Get home nowI dont know whats happening!’ He made it in twenty minutes. She waited the whole time, just glaring at the door.”*

They both scolded Margaret. Emily threatened to call the police and a psychiatrist if it happened again. *”Keep her away from me!”* she demanded. And for a while, there was peace.

Emily gave birth to a girl, but Margaret wouldnt even look at her granddaughter. Later, the reason became clear. She didnt believe the baby was Daniels. *”Of coursesince Im running around, how could it be his?”* Emily laughed bitterly. The logic? In Daniels family, only boys were born. A girl, to Margaret, was proof of betrayal. *”I ignored the madness,”* Emily said. *”I dont speak to her. Daniel visits once a month, but alone. Maybe its better this way. Id never trust her with my daughter.”*

But the worst was yet to come.

That evening, Daniel returned from his mothers, took a deep breath, and hesitantly suggested the paternity test. *”Not because of me, EmilyI swear!”* he defended, hands fluttering. *”Its for her. To put her mind at rest. Shes lost it, and Im sick of hearing her nonsense!”*

Emily let out a hollow laugh. *”For her?”* she repeated, voice shaking with rage. *”Admit ityou believe her. You know shell never stop. We could do three tests in different clinics, and shed say the doctors were paid off! I wont dance to her tune. It ends here.”*

*”Whats the harm in doing it?”* Daniel pressed.

*”Why bother?”* Emily stared at him, fighting tears. *”I know who her father is. Do you? If you need the test, fine. But first, we file for divorce. I wont live with a man who doesnt trust me.”*

Her words hung in the air like a verdict. Trust, the foundation of their family, was crackingall because of a mother-in-law whose poison had seeped into their lives. Emily stood on the edge, unsure if she could pull them back from the brink.