My MIL Demanded A Monthly Allowance From My Inheritance. I Agreed—But She Didn’t Expect The Payment Method

When my mother-in-law, Margaret, demanded a monthly allowance from my inheritance, I didn't know whether to laugh or scream. I agreed to her request, though—not in the way she expected. My husband Tom was caught between disbelief and amusement. We’d all had our fair share of conflicts, but this took the cake. My best friend, Sarah, thought it was some kind of joke. With all our history, Margaret should’ve known better than to underestimate me this time. Little did she know, the way I planned to handle her request would turn our family dynamics upside down.

I was just settling into the couch with a coffee when the door swung open, and there was Margaret. She didn’t even bother with the polite knock. "Lisa, we need to talk," she announced. Her blue eyes met mine challengingly, and I immediately sensed trouble. Tom looked up from his laptop, eyebrows raised. "Mom, everything okay?" he asked cautiously. But I knew it wasn’t just a social call. Margaret had come with a purpose, and that was to talk about money.

Tom and I exchanged glances as Margaret marched into the living room, setting her purse down with a dramatic thud. "We should’ve prepared snacks," Tom whispered sarcastically. We both knew this wasn't just a friendly drop-by. Margaret always had a flair for turning casual visits into intense negotiations. I bit my lip, readying myself for whatever demand she was about to throw our way. "So," Margaret began, planting herself in the armchair, "let's discuss that allowance."

"I need that money now," Margaret insisted, not leaving any room for negotiation. Her tone was firm, like she believed waiting wasn’t an option. I just nodded, keeping my thoughts to myself. If only she knew there was a strategy behind the delay. Tom cleared his throat, "Mom, there are things we need to sort out first." She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "I'm just saying the clock is ticking," she retorted, clearly not interested in hearing any more of our excuses.

My phone buzzed quietly, and I glanced at Sarah's text: "Breathe and stay cool. You got this!" I couldn’t help but smile. Trust Sarah to know exactly when to check up on me. Margaret was still voicing her impatience while I took a deep breath. "Mom," Tom interjected, trying to regain control of the conversation. "We’re working on it." With Sarah’s encouragement echoing in my mind, I felt equipped to handle whatever snark came next from Margaret.

I looked straight into Margaret’s eyes, trying to offer some semblance of reassurance. "Don’t worry," I told her, "I promise we’re sorting out the allowance and you’ll know everything soon." She raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across her face. "Really, sweetheart? When is 'soon'?" I maintained my composure, determined to keep our plan a secret just a little longer. "Trust me, it's in the works," I added, trying to sound more confident than I felt.