“We’ll see about that.”
“No! As long as were living in this madhouse with your mother and Lily, there will be no wedding!”
“Katie, dont be so hasty,” sighed Daniel. “We could rent a dresstheres still time. Or we could postpone the wedding if you want. Theres no need to argue like this.”
“You dont understand,” Katie crossed her arms. “Its not about the dress. Its about feeling like Im at war here. Your sisters old enough to know better, but she still acts like a spoiled brat. And honestly, your mothers the real problem.”
Daniel didnt like her tone, though he couldnt deny she had a point. Somehow, Margaret had turned his sister against Katie before theyd even properly met.
Theyd first crossed paths at university, and their relationship had grown slowlyneither had their own place at the time. Daniel still lived with his family, insisting it was just “more convenient for everyone.”
“I have a flat from my grandmother,” he’d say. “Mum rents it out for now, but when we need it, well fix it up properly.”
A year later, they finally did. Daniel felt it was time to take the next stepboth had graduated, found decent jobs, and there was no reason to wait.
“Well stay with Mum for a bit, then get married and move out,” he’d said. “Six months, tops, and well be in our own place.”
Katie had been thrilled at first. It sounded serious, mature. But then doubt crept intheyd never lived together, and now shed be stepping straight into the lions den with his mother. Would it ruin what they had?
It nearly did.
Margaret wasnt the typical monster-in-law, clutching her son to her chest. She even offered to help with the wedding. She cooked for everyone, never picked fights, never made demands. The problem lay elsewhere.
Her parenting style was unique. She was stricter with Lily, her youngest, and for good reasonthe girl was spoiled rotten. But Margarets idea of discipline lacked all subtlety.
One evening, while Katie made tea, she overheard Margaret scolding Lily over her school diary, which held yet another failing grade and a note about her behaviour.
“Oh, for heavens sake Was it really so hard to memorise a simple poem?” Margaret sighed. “Right. Hand over your phone and tablet. No more distractions until your work improves.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Fine. Ill just borrow Daniels.”
Margaret scoffed. “And how long dyou think thatll last? Once he and Katie move out, start their own family, youll be the last thing on his mind.”
“Well see about that!” Lily snapped, slamming her devices on the table before storming off.
The door banged shut. Katie hesitated, feeling like shed stumbled into someone elses dirty laundry. It was obvious Margaret had gone too far, but correcting her felt awkward.
“Margaret, that was a bit harsh,” Katie ventured.
“And why not? She needs to learn. The world wont coddle her forever.”
That “lesson” backfired spectacularly.
Katie had noticed Lily avoiding herskipping meals, leaving the room when she entered. At first, she assumed the girl was shy. Then the little sabotages began. Hiding the remote during a heatwave, ruining Katies makeup, throwing a tantrum when Daniel installed a lock on their bedroom door.
“How am I supposed to do my schoolwork now?” Lily shrieked.
“Youll use the computer under supervision,” Daniel replied calmly.
“You never locked your door before!”
“Before, I lived alone, Lily. And before, you didnt rifle through my things.”
“I never did! Katies lying! I hate her!”
Shed sobbed in her room all evening. Katie didnt know what to thinkshe despised the girls behaviour, but escalating things felt wrong.
“Shes just a kid,” Daniel would say.
“That kid is twelve,” Katie shot back. “Dan, maybe we should rent somewhere now?”
“Come on, its just a few more months. Mum says well be out in four.”
Four months. To Daniel, it was nothing. To Katie, it felt endless.
She tried bonding with Lilybringing chocolates, asking about school. Lily would mumble “fine,” take the sweets, and vanish. Nothing changed. If anything, it got worse.
One morning, in her rush, Katie left her bag by the door. Later, she realised someone had rummaged through itand her keys were gone. She spent an hour waiting for Margaret to let her in.
She knew where theyd gone. A quiet word to Margaret got them returned, but the damage was done. From then on, Katie guarded her belongings fiercely. Daniel, however, still left doors unlocked. And that was their undoing.
On the eve of the wedding, chaos reignedfinal calls to guests, last-minute errands, decorations. That evening, Katie went to admire her dress one last timeonly to find it slashed to ribbons. She didnt need to guess who.
Her hands shook. Rage and helplessness choked her. She dragged Daniel to the wardrobe, speechless.
“You little devil!” Margaret screamed at Lily. “I ought to tan your hide! Did you pay for that dress? Youll work every penny back!”
The punishment was severe, but the dressand Katies patiencewere beyond repair.
She refused compromises. No rented dress, no postponement. She wouldnt bend to petty cruelty anymore.
“Katie, just sleep on it,” Daniel pleaded. “Well sort it tomorrow”
“No, Dan. Its too late. Either we live separately, or we dont live together at all.” She sighed. “Im done waiting for your mother to hand over your flat. Done with your sister stealing my things. A relationship takes work, but not like this. Im not even your wife yet, and Im exhausted from fighting alone.”
She packed her charger, hunted for her documents.
“Where are you going? The renovation wont take forever”
She didnt listen. Every excuse now rang hollow.
She spent the night at a friends, cried herself raw, but found no peace. One day a bride, the next adriftwhere did she belong now?
Daniel called a hundred times in three days. On the third, she finally answered.
“Katie, this is awful. Were all in shock. But dont throw us away. Well buy another dress, today if you want. Just come home.”
She hesitated. Daniel was a good mankind, thoughtful, if a bit oblivious. She loved him. But
“If we marry, its on my terms.”
“Which are?”
“A wedding for us. No family help, no family present. Weve celebrated enough with yours. A dinner later, just for close friends. And secondwe rent a place. I wont live guarding my things.”
Silence. Harsh terms, but shed settle for nothing less.
“Alright,” he finally said.
The wedding was quietjust the registry office, photos, then three days alone in the countryside. No fuss, no theatrics.
Daniels family sulked, but Katie didnt care. This day wasnt for them. Some didnt even deserve an invitation.
At the dinner, Lily sat meeklylikely scolded into silence. Katie took no pride in it. Shed never wanted a war, but if pushed, shed hold her ground. Lily might just be a child, Margaret might mean wellbut some doors were better kept locked.
*Sometimes love means knowing when to draw the line.*
