“I Don’t Want Another Daughter-in-Law—You Do What You Want!” Said the Mother to Her Son

Mark had just graduated from university and decided it was the perfect time to marry his first love from secondary school, Emily. Emily was gentle, with intelligence and warmth that drew people in. At that moment, she was working on her masters dissertation. The young couple agreed they would tie the knot as soon as she defended her thesis.

Mark braced himself to tell his mother about their plans, but she had no pleasant news for her son. His mother insisted that he could either marry Alice, the girl from next door, or no one at all. She looked at him sternly and demanded to know which he valued morelove or ambition. She dreamed of her son becoming a distinguished gentleman with a successful career.

Alice came from a well-to-do familyher father owned half the shops on the high streetand shed carried a torch for Mark for years. Yet, his heart belonged to Emily, whose family managed on very little. To make matters worse, there were whispers in the village about Emilys mother and her questionable reputation. What would people say?

I dont need another daughter-in-law. Do whatever you want! his mother bit out, finalizing her threat.

Mark pleaded with her for months, but she wouldnt budge. Finally, she swore that if he married Emily, she would put a curse on them both. Shaken, Mark pulled away. He continued seeing Emily for another six months, but their bond slowly faded.

In the end, he married Alice. She adored him, but they quietly registered their marriageMark couldnt bear the thought of Emily stumbling across wedding photos in the local paper. Alices family welcomed him into their grand home, and her parents helped him climb swiftly up the career ladder. But happiness, for him, was always just out of reach.

Mark never wanted children. When Alice realised she would not change his mind, she filed for divorce herself. By then, Mark was forty; Alice, thirty-eight. Soon afterwards, Alice remarried, had a child, and found genuine happiness.

Mark, meanwhile, never stopped dreaming of marrying Emily. He tried to find her, but she seemed to have vanished completely. Eventually, a mutual acquaintance told him the devastating news: after Mark ended things, Emily married the first man she meta cruel man who beat her to death.

Crushed by the weight of his choices, Mark moved back into his parents’ old flat, drinking more with each passing day. Night after night, he stared at Emilys photograph, overcome by regretand unable, ever, to forgive his mother.