Yulia stood in the center of the living room of her three-room apartment, admiring the result of long, hard work. Her grandfather had left her the apartment in a prestigious district of the city a year ago, and since then Yulia had poured all her strength and savings into it. The summer sun flooded the spacious rooms with golden light, highlighting every detail of the flawless interior.
When Maxim first crossed the threshold of her home, he froze in amazement.
— Yulya, this is incredible! — he exclaimed, looking around at the impeccable renovations. — Did you do all this yourself?
— Of course, — Yulia replied proudly. — I personally chose every detail. I spent months planning, saving, and searching for the right workers.
Maxim hugged her by the shoulders, kissing her temple. Yulia rejoiced that her efforts were appreciated. She had spent all the money she had saved over years of work, but the result was worth it. Designer renovations, quality furniture, a thoughtful layout — everything was perfect.
After six months of dating, Maxim suggested moving in together. Yulia gladly agreed. On moving day, Valentina Petrovna, Maxim’s mother, actively helped with his boxes and belongings.
— Yulenka, what taste you have! — the mother-in-law admired as she carefully examined every corner of the apartment. — Such style, such beauty!
Yulia smiled gratefully, showing her future mother-in-law the rooms. Valentina Petrovna studied every detail of the interior with almost professional meticulousness. She lingered especially long in the bedroom and the third room, as if mentally evaluating their potential.
— And what’s this room for?
— For now, it’s a guest room. Or it could be an office.
Valentina Petrovna nodded silently. But Yulia noticed a strange glint in her eyes. The woman continued walking through the apartment, inspecting the layout with barely concealed interest.
The wedding took place in August. The celebration was a success, the guests partied until dawn. But one moment made Yulia uneasy. Valentina Petrovna stood and gave a toast — one everyone remembered.
— Dear newlyweds! I want to give a special wish to my son. Maxim, always remember: a mother’s love is sacred. A mother and son must stay together under any circumstances.
Yulia noticed puzzled looks among the guests. Some aunts exchanged glances, and a cousin even frowned. Maxim smiled awkwardly and raised his glass.
— Thank you, Mom. For everything.
Yulia kept silent. She didn’t want to spoil the holiday. But the unpleasant aftertaste remained. Such speeches belonged on Mother’s Day, not at a wedding.
The first year of marriage passed relatively calmly. Valentina Petrovna visited the young couple every weekend. Yulia tried to greet her warmly, cooked her favorite dishes, and maintained perfect cleanliness. But Valentina Petrovna always found something to criticize.
— Yulenka, the soup is too salty, — the mother-in-law grimaced at the table. — Maxim can’t stand salty food.
— I’m sorry, Valentina Petrovna, — Yulia apologized. — I’ll be more careful.
— And this blouse doesn’t suit you, — the mother-in-law continued. — Too revealing for home wear.
At such moments, Maxim either found urgent business in another room or changed the subject to work. Yulia wondered why her husband never defended her.
One July evening, Maxim came home gloomier than a storm cloud. Yulia was cooking dinner in the kitchen when she heard him sink heavily onto the living room sofa.
— Yulya, we need to have a serious talk, — Maxim called out.
Yulia wiped her hands on a towel and came to him. Maxim sat with his head buried in his hands.
— What happened? — she asked, worried.
— It’s about Mom, — Maxim sighed. — It’s becoming hard for her to cope alone. Cooking, cleaning, all the housework is too much now.
Yulia listened carefully, already sensing where this was going.
— And what are you suggesting? — she asked cautiously.
— I think she needs to move in with us, — Maxim blurted. — Just temporarily, of course.
— Maxim, maybe we could find her a good housekeeper? — Yulia suggested. — Or a helper who comes in to manage the housework?
— No, Yulya, — Maxim shook his head. — Mom would never trust strangers with her private space. She needs family support.
Yulia tried to argue, suggesting alternatives, but Maxim was adamant. He brushed aside each of her reasons with growing irritation. In the end, Yulia agreed to the temporary arrangement.
Within a week, Valentina Petrovna had moved in. Yulia helped her settle into the second bedroom, sincerely trying to make her comfortable. But very soon it became clear: Valentina’s presence was felt throughout the entire apartment.
— Yulenka, these curtains are all wrong for my room. Too dark, too gloomy.
— All right, Valentina Petrovna. Which ones do you prefer?
— I have beautiful ones, with ruffles and frills.
Yulia nodded, though her heart sank. Her carefully chosen neutral curtains were soon replaced with gaudy floral drapes. And it didn’t stop there. In the kitchen appeared her mother-in-law’s gold-rimmed dishes, and frilly towels with roses replaced Yulia’s simple elegant ones.
— Mom, maybe you shouldn’t change everything so drastically? — Maxim tried gently over dinner.
— Son, — Valentina smiled slyly, — I’m only trying to make the home cozy.
Yulia ate her salad in silence. That “coziness” meant the entire apartment was being taken over. Even the groceries in the fridge were now what her mother-in-law bought — all paid for from the family budget, funded only by Yulia and Maxim.
The real problem began with the cooking. Valentina completely took over the kitchen, making nothing but dairy porridge, cream-based soups, cottage cheese casseroles. Yulia tried to explain delicately.
— Valentina Petrovna, I’m allergic to dairy, — Yulia said quietly at the stove.
— Nonsense, — the mother-in-law waved her off, stirring porridge. — Modern fads. Milk is healthy.
— But it really makes me sick, — Yulia insisted.
— Then cook separately for yourself, — Valentina replied coldly. — But don’t interfere with me feeding my son proper food.
So Yulia had to cook for herself on the side, while enduring constant reproaches for being “picky.” Valentina did not contribute to bills or groceries but constantly demanded help.
— Yulenka, come with me to the store, — she would ask every other day. — It’s hard to carry bags alone.
Yulia dutifully accompanied her. Valentina filled an entire cart, then at the checkout would step aside.
— Yulenka, pay please. I only brought small change.
— Of course, — Yulia agreed, taking out her wallet.
At home it was worse. Valentina demanded her room be cleaned, asked for help with chores, all while throwing in humiliating remarks.
— You vacuumed wrong again, — she criticized. — Didn’t clean under the bed properly.
— I’ll fix it now, — Yulia answered patiently.
— And your hair looks messy today, — Valentina went on. — Maxim is used to neat women.
Yulia pressed her lips together, continuing to vacuum. Each day brought new humiliations: her looks, her career, even accusations of being selfish and ungrateful.
When the mother-in-law went to visit a neighbor, Yulia turned to her husband.
— Maxim, I need to talk to you.
— About what, sweetheart? — he didn’t even look up from his phone.
— Your mother constantly criticizes and humiliates me, Yulia said quietly. — I can’t live like this anymore.
— Oh, Yulya, — Maxim sighed. — She’s just an old woman, cut her some slack.
— But she’s turned me into a servant in my own apartment! — Yulia protested.
— Be patient, — Maxim waved it off. — She won’t be with us forever.
Gradually, rules settled in the house — dictated only by Valentina. Yulia became a silent servant in her own home, while Maxim pretended not to notice.
Three months of torment passed. Yulia stood before the bathroom mirror, horrified by her reflection. Sunken cheeks, dull eyes, pale skin. She had become a shadow of herself, an invisible being in her own house.
— Yulenka, go clean my room, — came the familiar commanding voice from the hallway. — And vacuum properly under the bed this time.
Something inside Yulia finally snapped. Her hands trembled, her breathing quickened. All the pain and humiliation of the past months erupted.
— Maxim! Get in here right now!
Her husband looked up from his phone in surprise. Yulia grabbed him by the hand, dragged him into their bedroom, and slammed the door.
— Your mother must leave this house immediately. Immediately!
Maxim’s eyes went wide in disbelief.
— You want me to throw out my own mother?
Yulia no longer held back.
— Yes! She’s turned me into a maid in my own apartment!
— Yulya, you’re overreacting. Mom isn’t doing anything bad.
Yulia laughed bitterly.
— She humiliates me daily, criticizes my every move!
A fierce argument broke out. Maxim accused his wife of coldness, selfishness, and disrespect for elders. Voices grew louder, until Valentina herself burst in.
— What’s going on here? — she demanded.
— Your son is moving you out, — Yulia replied coldly.
— Heartless careerist! — Valentina shrieked. — You don’t care about family at all!
At that moment, Yulia finally realized her marriage was doomed. Maxim would never put his wife’s needs above his mother’s whims. She silently began packing her husband’s and mother-in-law’s things.
— What are you doing? — Maxim asked, bewildered.
— Packing your things, — Yulia said calmly, folding clothes into bags.
— Yulenka, but we sold our apartment! — Valentina cried with tears. — We bought a summer house two hours from the city! We have nowhere to live now! You can’t throw us out!
— Not my problem, — Yulia cut her off, continuing to pack.
Ignoring their protests, Yulia placed their belongings outside the door, then ushered both of them out. She shut the door in their faces and turned the key in the lock. At last, she reclaimed her own home. Where Maxim and his mother would live now — that was no longer her concern.