My Mother-In-Law Used My Rooftop Terrace For Her Birthday Party. She Made Me Pay, So I Did This

When I bought my apartment with a rooftop terrace in the heart of the city, I never imagined it would become a battleground. My mother-in-law never liked me, and trust me, the feeling was mutual. So when she demanded to use my rooftop for her birthday party, I refused. But my girlfriend had already agreed—without even asking me. Then, a week before the party, she pulled the most ridiculous stunt: she decided to charge guests a contribution fee, including us, for food and drinks. In my own home. That was the final straw. So on the day of the party, she arrived looking all neat and 'pretty', and never expected this.  

I was actually looking forward to a quiet weekend, catching up on some reading and maybe grilling on my rooftop, when my girlfriend, Emily, walked in and dropped some unexpected news. 'Mom’s using the rooftop for her birthday,' she said casually. Her eyes darted away from mine, avoiding any confrontation. Just like that, my plans went up in smoke, and I was thrust into a situation I desperately wanted to avoid.

My stomach twisted, and irritation bubbled up instantly—my rooftop, but Emily had made the decision without even consulting me. 'I already told her no, remember?' I reminded Emily, trying to keep my voice calm. She sighed deeply, clearly feeling guilty now that the cat was out of the bag. We hadn't discussed it further before all of this, and suddenly, the weight of her decision was crashing down on me.

Emily's voice was small when she said, 'She already invited people. It’s too late to cancel now.' My jaw clenched involuntarily, but I held back from an argument, knowing it wouldn’t change anything at this point. My hands balled into fists, but I took a deep breath. What was done was done, and now I'd have to deal with the fallout, like always when it came to her mother.