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.

Just the thought of my mother-in-law, Janet, prancing around my rooftop, acting like she owned the place, made me furious. It’s as if every time she enters, she brings a whirlwind of chaos. She had never respected me—always found ways to criticize, exclude, or belittle me. That’s why this birthday party felt more like a hostile takeover than a genuine celebration, and standing by silently was eating me up inside.

Now, she wanted to use my place and act like she was doing me a favor? I gritted my teeth, forcing a tight smile as I talked to Emily and Janet. 'Fine,' I said, nodding as if I agreed. But inside, a plan was already forming. I couldn't let this happen without making a point. They wouldn’t see it coming, and it would be the last time she tried to walk all over me.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Janet casually dropped another bombshell a week before, as if she were discussing the weather. 'Everyone will be paying a contribution fee,' she announced, sipping her overpriced coffee, probably thinking she'd come up with the most brilliant idea ever. Her eyes sparkled with smugness as I looked at her, struggling to keep any form of composure now that she had dared to go this far.