Daphné and Étienne had been married for two years. Their bond was strong, yet friction often surfaced because of the strained relationship between Daphné and her motherinlaw.
Kindhearted and generous, Daphné constantly tried to please everyone, especially her new family. Despite her efforts, she sensed a chilly distance from Renée.
Renée never voiced anything outright, but her glances, tone and insinuations left a lingering unease.
Every time Daphné returned home after seeing Renée, the experience left her drained.
Étienne, I feel like your mother doesnt like me, she confided, worried.
Étienne sighed, setting his book down.
Youre reading too much into it. My mother respects you; shes just reserved. You know how hard she struggled raising us alone after my father died.
I hear you, but I constantly feel shes criticizing me behind my back.
Thats just your perception, Daphné
No! Remember that conversation with your grandmother? She said I was incapable and that she didnt love me, Daphné reminded him.
Youre not sure who she was referring to. Lets change the subject. How about a movie tomorrow? Étienne suggested, trying to defuse the tension.
Nevertheless, Daphné remained unsettled by her doubts about Renée. She knew Renée didnt approve of her family, even if she never said it outright.
Determined to get clarity, Daphné planned a visit. She bought a tiny recorder for school work and slipped it covertly into Renées kitchen.
After performing her usual chores and helping prepare dinner, she left, keeping the secret plan for Étienne.
The next day she returned to her motherinlaws house under the pretense of helping, but mainly to retrieve the device. Trembling, she collected it from the spot where she had hidden it.
That evening, when Étienne arrived home from work, she asked to play the recording.
Listen to this, please, she urged.
At first the kitchens ordinary sounds filled the tape. Then Renées irritated voice emerged:
I cant believe my son chose this girl. She cant even cook! Lets not talk about their family; they cant even boil water!
Daphné turned off the recorder, giving Étienne a look mixing hope and dread.
Do you hear now that I was right? she said, tears welling up.
Étienne stared at the floor, torn. He recognized his mother had crossed a line, yet he was also shocked by Daphnés spying.
Mom is blunt maybe she was just speaking in the heat of the moment, he replied.
If thats how she talks, I wont stand being belittled. If you wont defend me, we need to talk, she declared before leaving the room.
It was easy to decide, hard to act; Étienne eventually grabbed his phone to call his mother later that night.
He explained the situation and asked for an apology.
She listened to our conversations? Recorded us? Im calling the police! Renée exploded.
Mom, listen
Never again will this girl be in my house! she retorted, then hung up.
Determined to stop Renée from overstepping, Étienne rushed over to reason with her.
But Renée, resolute, refused to open the door. She tried to turn Étienne against Daphné, only to watch him pull away.
Seeing his mothers game, Étienne chose to limit his visits.
Stepdaughter Conceals Recorder at Her Mother-in-Law’s to Eavesdrop on Conversations
