An ordinary evening turned into a real storm when her husband burst into the house, his face twisted with anger.

“Mom can’t withdraw your salary. Why isn’t the card working?”

He shouted, waving his hands. It turned out that his mother had tried to cash out his daughter-in-law’s money without her knowledge.

This audacity was the last straw for the young woman who had long planned to put an end to her mother-in-law’s financial control.

The office of Media Stream had quieted down after the workday. Only the soft hum of computers and the steady click of keyboards disturbed the silence. Lily Price sat hunched over her monitor, triple-checking the numbers in the quarterly report. The clock showed the beginning of ten in the evening—running late again.

Henry Price, the head of the marketing department, stopped by her desk.

“Family must be waiting for you.”

Lily rubbed her eyes wearily.

“I want to finish the report tonight. The presentation for the CEO is tomorrow.”

Henry nodded understandingly.

“Diligence is commendable. By the way, soon we’ll be deciding on the position of key account manager.”

He looked at her meaningfully, and Lily felt her heart skip a beat. This was the position she had been dreaming of for the past six months, ever since Serena went on maternity leave.

“I’ve almost finished that Art Media project you assigned me, too,” Lily quickly said. “It’ll be ready by Monday.”

“Spending your weekend on work again.” The boss shook his head. “Don’t overdo it, but I do appreciate the enthusiasm.”

When Henry left, Lily allowed herself to lean back in her chair and smile drearily. The manager position wasn’t just prestigious. It also came with a substantial salary increase—a whole thirty percent.

With that money, she could finally feel free.

Lily got home around eleven. The light was on in the apartment, which meant Alex was still awake. Sounds of the TV came from the living room.

“Where have you been wandering till night?”

Her mother-in-law’s voice rang out so suddenly that Lily flinched. Gloria stood in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed over her chest.

“Alex has been having dinner for an hour. And you? Where were you?”

“Good evening, Gloria.” Lily tried to keep her voice polite. “I was held up at work. Tomorrow is an important presentation.”

“Presentation. Presentation.” The mother-in-law mocked. “All you ever think about is work, and your husband sits hungry.”

“I left him lunch in the fridge,” Lily replied quietly, moving into the kitchen. There on the table awaited a mountain of unwashed dishes. Fried potato scraps floated in the sink.

“Do you want me to heat up the stewed cabbage?” her mother-in-law asked with an exaggerated sigh. “I cooked it today.”

“Thanks. I’m not hungry,” Lily quickly said, clearing the table, washing the dishes, and peeking into her daughter’s room.

Six-month-old Cheryl was asleep, adorably tucking a tiny fist under her cheek. Lily’s heart tightened with tenderness. She carefully adjusted the blanket and left.

In the living room, Alex was watching football.

“Hi,” Lily said softly, sitting down beside him.

Her husband didn’t take his eyes off the screen.

“Mom says you’re late again.”

“Yes, tomorrow is important.”

“I know, I know,” Alex interrupted. “Important presentation.”

“Listen, Mom reminded me. Tomorrow’s Friday.”

Lily tensed. Friday was the day Gloria went to the bank and withdrew almost her entire salary for “family needs,” as she called it.

“So what?” Lily asked cautiously.

“What do you mean, so what?” Alex looked surprised. “Mom plans to go to the beauty salon.”

“She needs—what’s it called?—a facial treatment and a new hand cream. Her skin’s rough after the summer house.”

Lily gritted her teeth. Her salary—her money earned through endless overtime—would once again go to her capricious mother-in-law. Last time it had been a restaurant outing with friends. Before that, new shoes.

And Lily, meanwhile, had to keep wearing old clothes because for some reason she always got the meager leftovers.

“We still have unpaid bills,” she cautiously noted. “And Cheryl needs new sleepers.”

Alex frowned.

“Come on. Mom deserves a little joy.”

“She’s had such a hard life.”

Lily bit her lip. A hard life. And what about her, Lily? She hadn’t taken maternity leave for three months after giving birth, working from home, rocking the baby with one hand while typing reports with the other.

Apparently, that was an easy life.

“I’m going to bed,” she said quietly. “Early start tomorrow.”

Over the following weeks, Lily worked like a machine—arriving at the office before everyone else, leaving last, taking projects home. Even when the entire department went on vacation for the May holidays, she stayed behind and managed tough negotiations with a demanding client.

On Wednesday afternoon, Henry called her in. The CEO was already sitting in his office.

“Have a seat, Lily,” he nodded formally. “Henry and I have been discussing the department’s restructuring.”

Lily’s heart froze. Could it be?

“Your results for the last quarter are simply impressive,” the CEO continued, “especially the Art Media project.”

“The client was satisfied and increased the budget. Therefore, we’ve decided that the key account manager position is yours.”

Lily felt tears of joy welling up.

“Thank you for your trust,” she tried to speak calmly. “I won’t let you down.”

“And of course, the position comes with a thirty percent salary increase,” added Henry, handing her the papers.

“Here’s your new employment contract. Please review it.”

Thirty percent. It was even more than she had hoped for.

With this raise, she could not only cover all her current expenses, but also start saving for her own home—the cherished dream of Lily.

In the evening, she left the office elated. On the way home, she stopped by the bank and got a new salary card only in her name. She told them she had lost the old one. When a helpful employee asked if she needed a card for family members, Lily replied firmly:

“No, thank you. Additional cards are not needed.”

She took the new card into a secret pocket in her wallet. It was her little secret, her personal victory, her chance at financial independence. If she didn’t tell Alex or her mother-in-law about the raise and the new card, she might manage to keep at least part of the money for herself.

On Friday, as usual, Gloria dressed up for her trip to the bank. She wore her best cream-colored suit—bought, of course, with Lily’s salary—fluffed her styled hair, and applied bright pink lipstick.

“What time are you getting your salary today?” she asked business-like at breakfast.

Lily, feeding Cheryl her porridge, pretended not to hear.

“Lily, I’m talking to you.” Her mother-in-law raised her voice. “What time will the money arrive?”

“It should be transferred by lunch,” Lily answered evasively.

“What were you planning to buy, Gloria?” Lily asked, keeping her face neutral.

Her mother-in-law pursed her lips.

“By the way, I’m not spending it all on myself. I picked out a new shirt for Alex and we need groceries for the week.”

Lily nodded, trying to hide her irritation. A new shirt for Alex was of course fine. But for some reason, these family purchases never included anything for herself.

“Give me the card.” Her mother-in-law held out her hand.

“It’s in my bag at work,” Lily lied. “I forgot to take it yesterday.”

Gloria squinted.

“You’re hiding something. Oh well, give it to Alex in the evening. He’ll pass it to me.”

All day at work, Lily was on edge. She knew that at lunch the regular salary would be credited to the old card, while the raise and bonus would go to the new one—which nobody knew about.

She turned off her phone to avoid the inevitable outraged calls when Gloria discovered that the old card was blocked.

In the evening, returning home, Lily felt a mix of fear and a strange, intoxicating sense of freedom. Whatever happened next, part of her money now belonged only to her.

For the first time in a long while, she could decide for herself how to spend it.

At the entrance, she took a deep breath and pressed the intercom button. A new chapter of her life had begun.

The question was: where would it lead?

Gloria approached the ATM with a particular well-rehearsed serenity honed over years. These Friday trips were a kind of sacred ritual for her. She strode proudly across the bank’s marble floor, feeling like an important person.

The employees behind the counters already recognized her by sight.

“Good afternoon, dear.”

Gloria nodded to the young bank assistant.

“It’s rather busy today, isn’t it?”

“Friday, payday.” The girl smiled. “Would you like help with the transactions?”

“I can manage myself. It’s not my first time.”

The mother-in-law waved her off and headed to a free ATM. She took the worn card with Lily’s name out of her wallet, carefully wiped it with the edge of her scarf, and inserted it into the machine.

She entered the PIN—her son’s birthday, easy to remember—and confidently pressed the withdraw cash button.

The screen displayed the available balance.

Gloria frowned. Something was wrong. The amount was too small—only her daughter-in-law’s regular salary without any bonuses.

Maybe it hasn’t been fully transferred yet, she thought, and refreshed the screen just in case. The amount didn’t change.

Hesitating slightly, she still entered the usual withdrawal amount, almost all the money, leaving Lily a meager two thousand for pocket expenses. She pressed the confirmation button and the ATM screen flashed red.

Transaction declined.

Card blocked.

Gloria blinked, reread the message, and tried again. Red message again.

“What kind of nonsense is this?” she exclaimed, drawing the attention of nearby people.

An assistant immediately approached her.

“Are you having trouble with your card? Can I help?”

“The card is blocked,” Gloria announced indignantly. “Why?”

“Let’s check,” the girl said, taking the card and scanning it on her terminal.

“Yes, the card is indeed blocked. It says here it was done at the client’s request.”

“The card holder blocked it herself.”

“What? Herself?” Gloria felt her blood boil. “That can’t be.”

Then it dawned on her. Lily—her quiet, always obedient daughter-in-law—had planned something.

No wonder she mumbled this morning about the card being in her work bag. No wonder she had been staying late recently and hiding something.

With a decisive motion, Gloria snatched the card from the assistant and grabbed her phone. Her hands trembled slightly with anger as she dialed her son’s number.

“Alex!” she shouted as soon as he answered. “Do you know what your wife has done?”

Lily was rocking Cheryl softly, singing a lullaby. The baby was fussy with teething and had been restless all day. Finally, her daughter began to fall asleep and Lily carefully laid her in the crib.

The front door slammed open.

Startled, Lily flinched. Cheryl woke up and started crying.

“Lily!”

Alex’s voice rang out. Judging by the stomping, he was charging down the hallway like an enraged bull. Lily scooped up her daughter and stepped out of the nursery.

“Quiet. You woke the baby.” She tried to reason with her husband.

Alex stood in the middle of the living room, breathing heavily. His face was red with rage.

“What did you do with the card?” he shouted, ignoring the crying baby. “Mom just called.”

“She couldn’t withdraw your salary.”

Lily pressed Cheryl to her chest, trying to calm both the baby and her own racing heart. She knew this moment would come, but she still wasn’t prepared for such a reaction.

“I got a raise,” she said calmly. “And I got a new card.”

Alex stared at her as if she had just announced she was an alien.

“A raise? What raise?”

“I was appointed key account manager. I now earn thirty percent more.”

For a moment, Alex froze, processing the information. Then his eyes narrowed.

“And you kept quiet. Hid it on purpose.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Lily lied, rocking Cheryl, who was beginning to calm down. “I wanted to make us all happy.”

“A surprise.” Alex took a step toward her. “Then why couldn’t Mom withdraw the money? Why is the card blocked?”

“I got a new one,” Lily repeated. “The old one doesn’t work anymore.”

“Where’s the new card?” Alex demanded. “Give it here.”

“Mom’s already getting ready to go shopping. Her friends are waiting.”

Lily put the now-sleeping Cheryl back in the crib and firmly closed the nursery door. Then she turned to her husband.

“I have a new card and I’m not going to give it to you.”

Alex stared at her as if she had suddenly started speaking a foreign language.

“What do you mean you’re not going to give it? Are you out of your mind?”

“We’ve always done it this way. Mom used to allocate your salary for the family’s needs.”

“For the family’s needs,” Lily repeated quietly.

“Alex, let’s be honest. Your mom spends my money on herself.”

“New cream, dinners with her friends, clothes—all of that is for her, not for us.”

“I wear hand-me-downs and can’t even buy myself new shoes because I never have any money left.”

“Mom takes care of us,” Alex objected.

“She cooks, cleans, and so do I,” Lily interrupted.

“I work full-time, cook, clean, and take care of the child. But somehow my salary counts as family money, and your earnings are just yours.”

“You never account for where you spend your money.”

Alex’s face turned even redder.

“I’m a man. I provide for the family.”

“No, Alex.” Lily felt a strange calmness. “I provide for the family. My salary is higher than yours.”

“We pay the rent, buy groceries, and clothes with my money.”

“And your money? I don’t even know what you spend it on.”

“That’s audacity.”

Alex exploded and jumped up close to her.

“You’ve forgotten your place, Lily. Give me the card immediately.”

“No.”

This simple answer seemed to shock both of them. Lily herself hadn’t expected to be able to stand so firmly against her husband. Something had changed in her over these six months of fighting for a raise. She was no longer the quiet, submissive woman who obediently handed her salary to her mother-in-law.

Alex wasn’t used to resistance. His face twisted with rage.

He grabbed Lily by the hair and yanked sharply.

“Where’s the card?” he growled.

Pain shot through her head, but Lily didn’t scream. She silently wrenched free from his grip, leaving a few strands of hair in his hand.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” she ground out through her teeth. “Never again.”

Her voice was so cold and decisive that Alex froze for a moment. Taking advantage of his hesitation, Lily quickly went into the bathroom and locked the door.

Her heart was pounding like crazy.

What had she done? What would happen now?

Outside the door, Alex pounded his fists on the wall and shouted, “Come out immediately. You will give me the card anyway. Mom is waiting.”

Lily remained silent.

She took out her phone and opened her banking app. She transferred part of the money she had just received to a new account she had recently opened at another bank—just in case her intuition hadn’t failed her.

Gradually, Alex’s shouting quieted. Lily heard the front door slam. He had left. Probably to explain himself to his mother.

She had a little time to think.

Gloria paced around her apartment like a caged tigress.

“Can you imagine?” she stumbled, searching for a harsher word. “That sly girl hid her raise from us. Got a new card.”

“This is outrageous.”

Alex sat on the couch, his hands on his head.

“She’s changed, Mom. She used to be so obedient, and now she said she won’t give the card.”

“And you let her talk to you like that?” Gloria waved her hands. “I didn’t raise you like that.”

“A man should be the head of the family.”

“I tried,” Alex replied grimly. “She locked herself in the bathroom.”

Gloria snorted.

“Barely out of diapers and already thinking she can boss everyone around.”

“And it’s me, by the way, who sits with Cheryl while she’s stuck at work. I wash, cook, clean, and now what? I can’t even buy a new cream.”

Alex raised a tired look at his mother.

“Maybe she’s a little right,” he said hesitantly. “We really never ask what she needs to buy. Maybe we should allocate the money differently.”

Gloria froze midstep.

“What am I hearing? You’ve taken her side.”

Her voice trembled with outrage.

“After everything I’ve done for you, I devoted my whole life to you. When your father abandoned us, who took care of you? Who stayed up at night when you were sick?”

“And now some upstart is turning you against your own mother.”

Alex sighed. He knew this song by heart. His mother sang it every time she wanted to get her way, and it usually worked.

“No, Mom. I’m not taking her side,” he said quietly. “I just thought—”

“That’s exactly it. Just thought.” Gloria cut him off. “You think too simply. I told you from the start this marriage won’t last. Mark my words.”

“She’ll leave you, take the child, and start demanding alimony.”

“Come on, Mom. It won’t come to that.” Alex grimaced.

“Oh, it will.” Gloria snorted. “Face the truth. She earns more than you.”

“She’s already started hiding her income. What’s next? She’ll get a lover or maybe she already has.”

Alex lifted his head.

“What makes you say that?”

“Why would she hide money?” Gloria squinted slightly. “Maybe she’s involved with someone from her workplace. That’s where the raise came from.”

This idea, casually dropped by his mother, instantly took root in Alex’s mind with poisonous roots. He remembered how often Lily stayed late at work, how enthusiastically she spoke about some projects.

“What if Mom’s right? I need to check her phone,” he said decisively, “and find out what she plans to spend that money on.”

Gloria nodded approvingly.

“That’s more like a man.”

“You were whining before. Maybe she’s right. You shouldn’t indulge your whims. We’re family and money should be shared. Go home and put her in her place.”

Alex got up from the sofa. A plan had already formed in his head. He would return home, wait for Lily to fall asleep, and check her phone and bag. The card should be in there somewhere.

And if he found proof of infidelity—

Gloria escorted her son to the door and hugged him tightly in farewell.

“Don’t forget who has always come first for you,” she said meaningfully, “and who will always be by your side no matter what happens.”

When Alex left, Lily finally came out of the bathroom. The apartment was quiet. She peeked into the nursery. Cheryl was sleeping peacefully, snoring softly in her sleep.

Lily ran her hand over her daughter’s soft hair and whispered quietly, “Everything will be all right, little one. Mommy will fix it.”

She went to the kitchen and put the kettle on. Her hands were still trembling from the stress she had endured.

What to do now?

Alex had raised his hand against her for the first time. And what if next time it was worse?

Lily touched the spot where Alex had yanked her hair. The pain was sharp. She looked at her hands—slender fingers, well-kept, but without a manicure.

The money for manicures usually went to Gloria.

How did I let it come to this? Lily thought.

When did I let my mother-in-law control my money? When did I accept being a cash cow for this family?

It probably all started after Cheryl was born. That’s when Gloria skillfully took the reins.

“You, darling, rest after childbirth, and I’ll take care of everything.”

And indeed, she did. She organized everything so that all financial flows went through her.

Lily took her phone out of her pocket and turned it over in her hands thoughtfully.

Maybe call her mother.

But what would she say?

“Mom, my husband pulled my hair because I didn’t give him my salary.”

It sounded ridiculously absurd and shameful—especially remembering what her mother had warned her before the wedding.

“Alex is too attached to his mother. That could be a problem.”

Back then, Lily had brushed it off. She was in love and confident she could build a happy family. That Gloria would eventually accept her, love her like a daughter.

Naive.

The kettle boiled, but Lily didn’t make tea. Instead, she sat at the kitchen table and opened her laptop. It was time to deal with what she had been putting off for too long. It was time to learn the truth.

She started with the simplest step, typing her mother-in-law’s name into a search engine: Gloria Cooper.

There weren’t many results, but one caught her attention—lists of recipients of survivor’s pensions in their area.

How could this be?

Gloria’s husband was alive. He had simply abandoned them and Alex many years ago and moved to another city.

Lily made a few calls, spoke with an old friend who worked at the pension fund and uncovered some details. It turned out that Gloria wasn’t just receiving a survivor’s pension. She was also hiding income from selling alcohol that she distilled at the summer house and sold through a neighbor.

On top of that, she was officially unemployed and receiving the corresponding benefits.

Lily shook her head.

What a twist.

And what about Alex?

She knew that besides his main job, her husband occasionally fixed computers for acquaintances. But all those side gigs he recorded as friendly help—getting paid in cash, never declaring it anywhere.

With each new detail, Lily felt a cold determination growing inside her. This family had been using her for years, draining her finances, and she had tolerated it, believing in some kind of family values.

The lock clicked.

Alex had returned.

Lily quickly closed her laptop.

“We need to talk,” her husband said from the doorway. His voice sounded deceptively calm.

“Yes, we do,” Lily agreed. “I was just about to tell you something.”

Alex looked at her intently.

“I’m listening.”

Lily took a deep breath. She hadn’t yet fully decided what to do with all the information she had uncovered. But one thing was clear.

Her old life was over.

“I want you to know that if you raise your hand against me again, I will file a police report,” she said firmly. “And I will take Cheryl.”

“This is not a threat, Alex. It’s a warning.”

Alex went pale. He had never seen his wife so resolute.

“Are you threatening me?” he whispered, “after everything we’ve done for you.”

Lily smiled coldly and distantly.

“No, Alex. You’re threatening me. I’m just protecting myself and my child.”

Something flickered in her husband’s eyes—fear, or perhaps respect.

“Give me the card and we’ll forget this conversation.” He tried another approach.

“No.” Lily shook her head. “I will not give you the card, but I am willing to discuss how we will manage the family budget fairly, Alex.”

He looked at her silently, and in his gaze, Lily read the confusion of a man whose world had suddenly turned upside down.

All his life, Alex had obeyed his mother and considered it normal. Then he found a wife who also obeyed both him and his mother. And now this quiet, compliant woman had suddenly rebelled.

“I need to think,” he finally said, and left the kitchen.

Lily heard him go to the bedroom and close the door. She remained sitting at the table, staring at a single point.

Tomorrow would be a new day. Tomorrow she would make her final decision.

For now, she took a new bank card out of her pocket and thoughtfully ran her finger along it. A small rectangle of plastic that had changed everything.

Lily couldn’t sleep. She lay on the sofa in the living room where she had moved after the short, intense conversation with Alex. Her husband had locked himself in the bedroom, not saying another word.

The apartment was steeped in oppressive silence, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. The digital display on the microwave showed 2:17 a.m.

Lily sighed and sat up, hugging her knees. Sleep wouldn’t come. Her mind swirled with thoughts—plans forming and collapsing, fragments of conversations and memories flashing by.

She quietly went to the kitchen, trying not to creak the floorboards, and turned on the light. She pulled out the laptop she had hidden in the kitchen cabinet behind a stack of pots. Alex had never looked there. Cooking was not his domain.

What am I doing? Lily thought as she opened the laptop lid.

She had never considered herself vindictive—always trying to smooth over conflicts, compromise, yield. But today had changed something in her. When her husband grabbed her by the hair, something inside snapped. The last thread connecting their former relationship.

Lily decisively entered her password and continued the search she had started in the evening.

The first thing she did was check her mother-in-law’s social media. Gloria led a fairly active online life, posting photos with friends at restaurants, showing off new purchases, and writing long reflections on family values.

Family values?

Sure.

Lily smirked as she scrolled through another post where her mother-in-law lectured about how a woman should know her place in the family.

Then she stumbled across an ad on a local forum.

Homemade wine and tinctures from Gloria. Quality guaranteed.

A phone number was listed—the very same number her mother-in-law used to call them in the evenings.

So, she wasn’t just making alcohol for herself. She was selling it.

Lily took screenshots and saved them in a separate folder.

Then she began looking for information on survivor’s pensions. She found the official website of the pension fund and carefully studied the conditions for receiving such benefits. According to the law, a survivor’s pension is paid to non-working members of a deceased person’s family.

Deceased, but Alex’s father was alive.

He had simply left the family when Alex was a child. Lily had seen his photos and had even caught a glimpse of him once on the street. Alex had quickly pulled her aside, not wanting to speak with his father.

So Gloria had somehow arranged the pension by claiming her ex-husband was dead.

This was no longer petty fraud. It was a serious crime.

Lily rubbed her temples.

Should she intervene?

Maybe it would be better to just protect her finances and not dig any further.

But in her mind, she still saw Alex’s enraged face when he had yanked her hair—and her mother-in-law’s cold smirk as she took Lily’s card yet another Friday.

No. She couldn’t leave it as it was.

These people weren’t just taking advantage of her. They were breaking the law, cheating the state, and had the audacity to lecture her about family values.

Lily picked up her phone and started making calls.

First to an old college friend who worked at the local tax office.

“Hello, Kathleen. It’s Lily Price. Remember me?” she whispered, covering the receiver with her hand so she wouldn’t wake anyone.

“Lily?” The sleepy voice on the other end slowly cleared. “Are you out of your mind? It’s almost three in the morning.”

“I’m sorry, but this is very important.” Lily spoke quietly and quickly. “I need advice—not as a tax specialist, just as someone who knows what happened.”

Concern crept into Kathleen’s voice.

“I accidentally found out that my husband does home computer repairs and doesn’t pay taxes on it. And my mother-in-law sells alcohol while receiving unemployment benefits and a survivor’s pension even though her husband is alive. What should I do?”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“Are you serious?” Kathleen finally said. “Those are criminal offenses.”

“I know.” Lily bit her lip. “But I have a child, Kathleen. I don’t want my daughter growing up in a family of fraudsters.”

Kathleen sighed.

“Lily, listen. If everything is as you say, this is a serious violation. Especially with the survivor’s pension, that’s pure fraud.”

“But before doing anything, you need proof.”

“What kind?”

“Bank statements, pension documents, photos, or videos of alcohol sales. Screenshots of ads—and most importantly, documents proving that your husband’s father is alive.”

Lily nodded even though her friend couldn’t see her.

“Thank you, Kathleen. I’ll think about what to do next.”

“Just be careful,” Kathleen warned. “Things like this can end badly for everyone. If your mother-in-law and husband are receiving benefits illegally, they could face serious fines and even criminal charges.”

After talking to Kathleen, Lily called another person—her cousin Anton, who worked at the pension fund. From him, she learned even more details about how to verify the legality of a survivor’s pension.

“You need an official death certificate,” Anton said. “If there’s no such document or it’s forged, that’s a case for law enforcement.”

By four in the morning, Lily had a plan of action.

She gathered all the screenshots, statements, and notes into a separate folder, then opened her email and drafted two detailed letters: one to the tax office, another to the pension fund.

But she didn’t send them.

Not yet.

Before closing her laptop, she logged into her online bank account to check her new account. The money she had transferred there should be enough for the first period if she had to leave her husband in a hurry.

She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but after today’s incident, she was prepared for anything.

Lily hid the laptop back behind the pots and quietly returned to the sofa.

Outside, dawn was breaking. A new day brought uncertainty, but she was ready to face it with open eyes.

The morning began with Cheryl crying. Lily hurried to the nursery, feeling exhausted after a sleepless night. The little girl was standing in her crib, holding on to the rail and demanding her mother.

“I’m coming. I’m coming, sunshine,” Lily whispered, picking up her daughter.

Cheryl immediately calmed down and pressed her little nose into her mother’s neck trustingly.

This was unconditional love. This complete trust of a tiny human gave Lily a surge of strength. For her daughter, she was ready to go through anything.

She changed the baby, washed her, and carried her to the kitchen, seating her in the high chair. She started preparing porridge, glancing toward the door, wondering if Alex would appear.

But the apartment was quiet. Either her husband was still asleep, or he had left, unwilling to face her after yesterday.

When the porridge was ready and Lily began feeding Cheryl, the hallway door slammed. She tensed, expecting her husband, but instead Gloria entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, daughter-in-law.” Her mother-in-law smiled, though her eyes remained cold. “How was your first night in the new place?”

Lily didn’t answer, continuing to feed her daughter.

“Alex told me everything,” Gloria continued, sitting opposite her. “Look at you. So independent now. Got a promotion. Got a new card. You’re growing right before our eyes.”

Her voice dripped with thinly veiled irony.

Lily silently wiped Cheryl’s mouth with a napkin.

“Not going to say anything?” Her mother-in-law leaned closer. “Cat got your tongue?”

“I have nothing to tell you, Gloria,” Lily replied calmly. “Yes, I got a promotion. Yes, I have a new card.”

“And no, I’m not going to give it to you.”

Gloria leaned back in her chair, tapping the countertop with her polished nails.

“You know, I’ve always cared for you,” she said, feigning hurt. “I taught you to manage the household. I watched Cheryl when you were gone at work—”

“And you took all my money, leaving me almost nothing,” Lily added.

Strange kind of care, don’t you think?

Gloria pursed her lips.

“The money went to the family.”

“To my family or yours?” Lily looked her mother-in-law straight in the eyes for the first time. “Which family got the fifteen hundred you spent last month on spa treatments?”

“Or the money for your trip to the seaside with your friends?”

Gloria faltered for a moment, but quickly regained her composure.

“I have a right to rest. I’m no longer a young woman. I need to take care of my health.”

“Of course you do,” Lily agreed calmly. “But with your own money, not mine.”

Her mother-in-law stood up abruptly, overturning her chair.

“How dare you speak to me this way, ungrateful girl. I welcomed you into our family, and you—”

“Gloria.” Lily raised her hand, stopping the stream of abuse. “Let’s not yell in front of the child.”

Gloria paused, glancing at Cheryl, who was watching her grandmother with curiosity and was on the verge of crying from the loud noises.

“You’ll regret this,” Gloria said quietly, but with unmistakable malice. “You’ll regret it very much.”

She turned and left the kitchen, slamming the door loudly. Cheryl flinched and whimpered. Lily held her daughter, soothing her.

“Shh, little one. It’s okay. Mommy’s here.”

She pressed the child’s warm body to her, feeling determination growing inside her. Her mother-in-law’s threats only strengthened her conviction that she was doing the right thing.

The day passed in tense anticipation. Alex didn’t go to work, claiming he felt unwell. He wandered silently around the apartment, avoiding eye contact with Lily. Gloria had left but promised to return in the evening for a serious conversation.

Lily tried to focus on work. She took a project home but her thoughts kept returning to the information she had gathered during the night.

What if she was wrong? What if her investigation led to the destruction of a family?

But on the other hand, was this even a real family—one that uses her, takes her money, where her husband raises his hand at her? Is this the kind of life she wanted for her daughter?

Around three in the afternoon, when Cheryl was asleep and Alex had gone to the store, Lily pulled out her laptop again. She opened the letters she had drafted during the night and reread them. Everything was laid out clearly and precisely with facts and dates specified. She attached all the evidence she had gathered: screenshots of alcohol sale ads, photos of her mother-in-law at expensive restaurants, bank statements.

Her finger hovered over the send button.

One click and the machine would be set in motion.

A process that could end in court and real jail time for both her mother-in-law and husband.

Lily took a deep breath and closed the laptop without sending the letters.

At least not yet.

First, she wanted to talk to Alex—to give him one last chance. Maybe he would see reason. Maybe once he realized that his mother was breaking the law, he would side with his wife and child.

But hope was slim. Gloria’s control over her son was too strong. She had been manipulating him for too many years, raising him to believe that his mother came before anyone else.

Lily began gathering the most essential items just in case. She packed documents, baby clothes, and necessities into a small bag. If the situation escalated, she needed to be ready to leave at any moment.

In the evening, as promised, Gloria returned. She was not alone. Two of her friends came with her—older women with dyed hair and predatory looks.

“We came to talk,” her mother-in-law announced as she entered the living room. “This needs to be resolved in a family way.”

Lily gave a skeptical look to the support team.

“And how are your friends supposed to help us?”

“They are witnesses,” Gloria said importantly. “They will confirm that I have always cared for your family, that I looked after Cheryl while you were gone at work.”

“And why do we need witnesses?” Lily asked, feeling anxiety rise inside her.

“Because you’re blackmailing us,” Alex interjected, coming out of the bedroom. “Mom told me everything. You threatened to take the child and sue for child support.”

Lily blinked in confusion.

“What? I never said anything like that.”

“You did,” Alex insisted. “Yesterday, when we argued about the card, you said you would leave and take Cheryl.”

“I said I would leave if you ever raised your hand against me again,” Lily clarified calmly. “That’s not blackmail, Alex. That’s self-protection.”

“Exactly,” one of Gloria’s friends chimed in. “Did you hear that? She admits she threatened to take the child.”

“And who are you anyway?” Lily turned to the stranger.

“I’m Ashley,” the woman replied proudly, “a friend of your mother-in-law, and I came to protect the child’s interests. A careerist mother shouldn’t tear a child away from a loving father and grandmother.”

Lily felt the situation was becoming absurd.

“Listen,” she addressed everyone present. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but if you think you can pressure me through witnesses, you’re mistaken. I haven’t done anything illegal.”

“I just want to manage my own money.”

“Your money?” Gloria exclaimed. “In a family there is no your money. Everything is shared.”

“Then why does Alex never report how he spends his salary?” Lily countered. “Why should only my money be shared?”

The question made everyone fall silent for a moment.

Then Gloria took the initiative again.

“Alex is a man. He needs pocket money to feel confident.”

“And I don’t need to feel confident?” Lily crossed her arms. “Why do I never get pocket money?”

“Because you’re the mother,” the second friend of her mother-in-law, who had been silent until now, intervened. “You should think about the child, not about trinkets and toys.”

Lily shook her head.

“You have no idea how ridiculous that sounds. I work full-time, take care of the child, manage the household, and yet I don’t have the right to manage the money I earn.”

“Enough,” Alex barked. “We’re not talking about your rights. You hid your promotion from the family, opened a secret card. That’s deceit.”

“And you hide your income from computer repairs,” Lily said calmly.

“And you don’t pay taxes on it. That’s deceit too—not only to the family but to the state as well.”

Alex turned pale.

“What are you talking about?”

“What I know,” Lily replied calmly.

She looked at her mother-in-law.

“Just as I know that Gloria collects a survivor’s pension even though her husband is alive and that she sells alcohol without a license or official income.”

A dead silence fell over the room.

Gloria’s friends exchanged glances. Gloria froze, mouth open.

“You… you were spying on me,” she finally managed to choke out.

“No.” Lily shook her head. “I just did a little investigation. After you and Alex made a scene yesterday over my salary, I got curious about how you spend your money, and I found a lot of interesting things.”

“That’s slander,” her mother-in-law shrieked. “You can’t prove anything.”

“I can,” Lily replied simply. “I have all the necessary evidence, and if you continue to pressure me, threaten me, or God forbid, use physical force, I will submit this evidence to the proper authorities.”

Gloria turned pale as chalk. Her friends visibly tensed.

“Well, we should go,” Ashley fussed. “Business, you know.”

They quickly said their goodbyes and left, leaving Gloria alone with her daughter-in-law and son.

“What have you done?” her mother-in-law hissed once the door closed behind the friends. “Do you realize I could go to prison because of your accusations?”

“I understand,” Lily nodded. “Just as I understand that Alex could face a heavy fine for tax evasion, but I don’t want it to come to that.”

“What do you want then?” Alex asked quietly, looking at his wife as if she were a stranger.

“I want money in our family to be distributed fairly for the needs of all family members, not just your mother,” Lily replied.

“I want you to never raise your hand against me again,” she added simply. “I want my salary to remain mine.”

“And if I don’t agree?” Gloria asked defiantly.

“Then I will send all the collected materials to the appropriate authorities,” Lily shrugged, “and let whatever happens happen.”

Her mother-in-law stared at her with a hateful glare.

“You’ll regret this,” she ground through her teeth. “I swear you’ll regret it bitterly.”

She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door loudly.

Alex and Lily were left alone.

“What now?” he asked after a long silence.

“I don’t know,” Lily answered honestly. “It depends on you, Alex—on whether you can finally grow up and be a husband and father, not just mommy’s little boy.”

He flinched as if struck.

“I love my mother. She devoted her whole life to me.”

“I know,” Lily said softly. “And I’m not asking you to choose between me and her. I’m only asking for respect and equality. Is that too much?”

Alex stayed silent, staring at the floor.

Suddenly, Lily’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen. It was her brother, Anton from the pension fund.

“Yes, Anton,” she answered, stepping aside.

“Lily, I checked what you asked about.” Her brother’s voice sounded anxious. “Your mother-in-law really is receiving a survivor’s pension.”

“And you know what? There is a death certificate for her husband, James Smith, in the database dated fifteen years ago.”

“But that’s impossible,” Lily whispered. “I saw him a year ago. He’s alive.”

“Then the certificate is forged,” Anton said seriously. “And that’s a criminal offense, Lily. Forging documents and large-scale fraud, considering how many years she has been receiving these payments.”

Lily glanced at Alex, who was listening intently to the conversation.

“Thanks, Anton. I’ll call you back.”

She hung up and met her husband’s eyes.

“Your mother forged your father’s death certificate,” she said quietly. “Fifteen years ago. She has been illegally collecting the pension all this time.”

Alex went pale.

“That can’t be, can it?”

Lily shook her head.

“And now I understand why she’s so nervous. This isn’t just an administrative violation, Alex. This is a criminal offense.”

Her husband sank onto the sofa, clutching his head in his hands.

“What happens now?”

“That depends on you,” Lily repeated, “and on your mother.”

At that moment, there was a loud knock at the door. Lily flinched and Alex lifted his head as if awakening from a stupor.

“Who could that be?” he murmured.

Lily approached the door and peered through the peephole. On the stair landing stood two men in formal suits and a middle-aged woman holding a folder of documents.

“Who’s there?” she asked without opening the door.

“Tax office and a representative from the pension fund,” one of the men replied in an official tone. “We need to speak with Miss Gloria Smith and Mr. Alex Smith.”

Lily turned to her husband, confused.

“It’s the tax authorities and the pension fund asking about you and your mother.”

Alex turned even paler.

“You actually sent them information.”

“No.” Lily shook her head. “I didn’t have time to send anything.”

She turned back to the door.

“Gloria isn’t here. She just left. And what is the matter you want to discuss with my husband?”

“Verification of income and tax payments,” came the dry reply. “Also information regarding the illegal receipt of a survivor’s pension by Ms. Smith.”

In a panic, Alex darted toward Lily.

“Don’t open it. Tell them I’m not home.”

“We know Mr. Smith is home,” came the voice from behind the door. “We have a warrant for inspection. If you don’t open voluntarily, we will be forced to call the police.”

Lily took a deep breath and looked at her husband.

“It’s better to open it, Alex. This will only make things worse.”

With trembling hands, she unlatched the chain and opened the door. The inspectors entered the apartment immediately, creating an atmosphere of formality and tension.

“Mr. Smith,” one of the men addressed Alex, “Senior Tax Inspector Richard Cooper.”

“We have received information that you are conducting business activities without registration and evading taxes.”

“What business activities?” Alex tried to protest, but his voice betrayed his fear.

“Computer repair and maintenance,” the inspector continued calmly, opening his folder. “We have statements from several clients, receipts for parts, and screenshots of your online advertisements.”

“Preliminary calculations show that in the past year alone, you earned at least thirty thousand dollars in illegal income.”

Alex slumped into a chair.

At that moment, the woman from the pension fund stepped forward.

“And where can we find Miss Gloria Smith?”

“She lives separately,” Lily replied.

“We know her address.” The woman nodded. “Our colleagues are already there.”

“The fact is, we have information that she has been illegally receiving a survivor’s pension for fifteen years.”

“Upon investigation, it turned out that the death certificate of her husband, James Smith, is fake. He is alive and currently residing in Boston.”

Alex covered his face with his hands.

“That can’t be,” he muttered. “Mom would never.”

“Unfortunately, she could,” the pension fund representative said dryly.

“Moreover, Miss Smith is officially listed as unemployed and receiving corresponding benefits. Although, according to our data, she is selling homemade alcoholic products without the proper license.”

Lily stood leaning against the wall, feeling as if she were watching some surreal play. She hadn’t sent any statements.

So who had informed the authorities about her mother-in-law’s and husband’s schemes?

Over the next hour, a full search of their apartment was conducted. They found Alex’s notebook with a list of clients and amounts received, boxes of computer parts, receipts, and invoices. Everything was carefully documented and logged.

Alex was called in for questioning at the tax office. Before leaving, he cast a bewildered, almost pleading look at Lily, but she only shook her head.

“I didn’t send anything, Alex. I swear.”

After the inspectors and her husband left, Lily finally managed to catch her breath.

Cheryl woke up from her nap, and it was time to feed her, change her, and play with her. The ordinary duties of motherhood strangely calmed her, restoring a sense of normalcy in this insane day.

In the evening, Kathleen from the tax office called.

“You won’t believe it,” she whispered excitedly into the phone, “but the complaint against your mother-in-law and husband was filed by your husband’s father, James Smith.”

“Apparently, he accidentally discovered that he was listed as deceased when requesting some certificate. Can you imagine?”

Lily was stunned into silence.

What a twist.

Alex’s father, whom Gloria had considered erased from her life for years, had delivered such a blow.

“And what happens now?” Lily asked.

“Gloria is facing criminal charges for large-scale fraud and document forgery,” Kathleen replied. “She’ll have to return all the illegally received payments—about two hundred thousand.”

“Your husband will most likely face a hefty fine for unpaid taxes.”

After that conversation, Lily felt a strange emptiness. She hadn’t wanted this ending. She only wanted a little fairness—the ability to manage her own money—and instead an entire family had been torn apart.

Alex returned late in the evening, gaunt and silent. He went to the kitchen and poured himself some water.

“How did it go?” Lily asked cautiously.

“What do you think?” He snapped. “They charge taxes for three years with penalties and fines, almost half a million.”

“Where am I supposed to get that kind of money? Maybe I can arrange a payment plan?”

Alex gave a bitter smile.

“You can stretch it over two years, but it’s still an enormous sum, and it’ll be even worse for Mom.”

“She’s facing real jail time and it’s all because of you and your damn card.”

“But I didn’t send anything,” Lily objected. “It was your father who filed the report.”

“Your father?” Alex looked at her incredulously. “How do you know?”

“My friend from the tax office called me. Your father accidentally discovered that he was listed as dead and filed the report.”

Alex collapsed into a chair, covering his face with his hands.

“What a nightmare.”

Lily cautiously approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Alex, I really didn’t want things to turn out this way. I just wanted to be respected in this family—to be able to manage my own salary.”

He briskly shook off her hand.

“Don’t touch me. It’s your fault anyway. If you hadn’t started that rebellion with the card, none of this would have happened.”

In his eyes, Lily saw such hatred that she instinctively stepped back.

At that moment, she realized their relationship was over. Whatever happened next, Alex would never forgive her for this humiliation, this collapse of the world where he and his mother had ruled unchallenged.

The following months turned into a living nightmare.

Gloria was charged with fraud and document forgery. Court sessions began. Alex was forced to sell his car and take out a loan to pay off the tax debts. The atmosphere in the house became unbearable. He blamed Lily for all the misfortunes even though she truly hadn’t sent any statements. In his eyes, however, it was she who had set off the chain of events by refusing to give his mother the card.

The final blow came when Alex, in yet another argument, raised his hand against Lily again—this time in front of Cheryl.

The little girl cried in terror, and Lily knew it was time to go. She filed the police report for domestic violence, packed her things, and moved into a rental apartment. The grueling divorce process began. Alex tried to fight for custody of the child, but failed. Lily had medical records of his assaults and neighbors’ testimony about the fights.

Gloria was sentenced to three years probation and required to repay all the illegally received benefits. To settle her debts, she had to sell her summer house and take a job as a cleaner in a shopping mall. She became a hunched, bitter old woman, hissing curses whenever she saw her former daughter-in-law.

Two years passed.

Lily stood by the window of her rental apartment, watching three-year-old Cheryl play with building blocks.

So much had changed during that time. After the divorce, she threw herself into work, earned another promotion, and became a department head. Her salary now covered living expenses, rent, and even allowed her to slowly save for her own home.

Alex paid child support, though not without delays. After all the fines and repayments, he had to change jobs. He was now a simple courier for a delivery service. Little of the confident man he used to be remained. When he came to pick up Cheryl for the weekend, Lily barely recognized him—gaunt, defeated, shoulders always slumped.

Gloria was still working as a cleaner, trying to pay off her debts to the state. Lily occasionally saw her from a distance: her former mother-in-law mopping the floors in the same shopping center where Lily shopped with her daughter.

A strange feeling would arise in those moments. Not schadenfreude. No—rather a sadness at how pride and greed can destroy a human life.

The doorbell interrupted her thoughts.

Cheryl jumped up with joy.

“Dad’s here!”

Lily opened the door. On the doorstep stood Alex holding a bag of toys for his daughter.

“Hi,” he said quietly. “I’m here for Cheryl.”

“Come on,” Lily stepped aside.

She was already ready. In her backpack were a change of clothes, medicine just in case, and a list of everything she liked to eat.

Alex nodded without looking her in the eyes. He always avoided direct eye contact during meetings as if afraid to see reproach—or worse, pity—in her gaze.

“Daddy!” Cheryl ran to her father and hugged his legs.

“What did you bring me?”

“Cheryl, that’s not how you speak,” Lily gently scolded. “You need to say hello first and then ask about gifts.”

“It’s okay.” Alex smiled at his daughter. “I brought you a new doll just like you wanted.”

While Cheryl excitedly unpacked the gift, Alex finally summoned the courage to look at his ex-wife.

“How are you?” he asked quietly.

“Good,” Lily shrugged. “I got a promotion at work, so now I’m the head of the department.”

“Congratulations,” Alex said. His voice held no envy or sarcasm, only fatigue. “I’m happy for you.”

“And how’s your mom?”

“The same as always. Working, paying off debts, aged a lot, and she still hates you, Lily.”

“I’m not to blame for what happened,” Lily said quietly. “It was your father who filed the papers.”

“I know,” Alex surprisingly agreed. “I realized it later after the anger subsided, but Mom will never admit she’s at fault. It’s easier for her to hate you.”

They fell silent watching their daughter play. In that quiet, there was no hostility—only the weariness and resignation of two people who had been through a storm and ended up on opposite shores.

“Daddy, are we going to the zoo?” Cheryl asked, tugging at her father’s sleeve. “You promised.”

“Of course, Bunny,” he said, lifting his daughter into his arms. “We’ll go wherever you want.”

He turned to Lily.

“I’ll bring her back Sunday evening as usual.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “Call if you need anything.”

After they left, Lily returned to her empty apartment. Strangely, she felt neither sudden joy nor even satisfaction at how things had turned out—only a quiet sadness for what could have been, but never was.

She took her wallet from her bag and pulled out the hidden bank card—the very card that had sparked the scandal two years ago. The card then had become a symbol of her freedom and independence.

Now that card was stored in a small safe along with other important documents. Lily rarely used it, having opened new accounts, started a savings deposit, and obtained a cashback credit card. But she kept this first card of freedom as a reminder never to let anyone control her life or her money again.

Cheryl would return on Sunday, but for now, Lily had time for herself. She could read a book, watch a movie, meet friends, and no one demanded an account of where she went or how much she spent.

It was simple, ordinary freedom: the right to manage her time and her money. Freedom she had earned—and paid a high price for.

Lily smiled, carefully returned the card to her wallet, and walked to the window. Ahead lay an entire evening, an entire life: hers alone—Lily’s and her daughter’s—without control, without someone else’s instructions, without the need to account for every cent.

She brewed herself some tea, took out her favorite book, and settled into the armchair. Outside, a light summer rain washed the world, promising a new beginning, a new life in which she made her own decisions.

And that new card, now resting in the safe, was not just a piece of plastic.

THE END.