— Boris, you have to understand — I’m not saying this just like that!
— Svetlana Davidovna placed a steaming bowl of solyanka in front of her son.
— A daughter-in-law in the family is not just a wife, she is a continuation of traditions!
She must become my second daughter!
— Mom, I know, but I haven’t met the right girl yet, — Boris replied tiredly, rubbing his nose.
He had heard this monologue a hundred times already.
— You need a smart, modest, respectful woman!
— His mother continued, ignoring his reaction.
— In our family, for generations, daughters-in-law have always helped their mothers-in-law!
I was the perfect daughter-in-law to your grandmother Zoe — even though she was strict, I never contradicted her!
And your sister Irina also gets along well with her mother-in-law!
Boris silently stirred his spoon in the bowl.
He knew this story by heart — how his mother had meekly obeyed all the whims of the strict mother-in-law thirty years ago.
— Son, traditions are sacred!
— Svetlana Davidovna whispered, leaning closer.
— I’m not young anymore, my health is failing — pressure, joints…
If you bring some emancipated woman into the house who only thinks about her career…
— That’s enough, mom!
— Boris suddenly stood up from the table.
— I’ll find you the perfect daughter-in-law!
And he found her.
Three months later.
Oksana worked in a neighboring department in their company.
She was twenty-six, had brown eyes, two degrees, and a reputation as the most responsible economist in the office.
The first meeting with her mother-in-law went perfectly.
Oksana brought a homemade cake, listened for three hours to stories about Svetlana Davidovna’s illnesses, and even suggested going through old photo piles.
— Wonderful girl!
— declared the mother after she left.
— She cooks well, and respects her parents!
I approve!
— So we can date now?
— Boris was delighted.
— You can, — Svetlana Davidovna nodded.
— But immediately explain to her our family customs.
So there is no misunderstanding later!
Boris briefly explained the “traditions” to Oksana, softening the wording a lot.
The girl just smiled:
— Don’t worry, I’ll get along with your mom!
Six months later, he proposed.
To Boris’ surprise, his mother not only didn’t object, but also enthusiastically took on the wedding planning.
— The bride must always obey her mother-in-law!
— She advised Oksana while choosing the menu.
— That’s how it’s been in our family for generations!
Oksana politely agreed, although sometimes Boris caught a strange glint in her eyes.
But he preferred not to notice.
The wedding went according to Svetlana Davidovna’s script: a fancy restaurant, one hundred and twenty guests (half of whom the bride and groom saw for the first time).
— This is important for our reputation!
— The mother explained.
— Let everyone see how we know how to throw celebrations!
After the honeymoon in Turkey, the newlyweds settled into an apartment given to them by Boris’s parents.
Oksana eagerly took on the renovation, but quickly realized — her opinion didn’t matter here.
— The wallpaper should be beige, it’s universal!
— Svetlana Davidovna said, appearing unannounced.
— And put the TV over there — that’s the proper feng shui!
And Oksana obediently nodded, though she dreamed of a turquoise accent in the interior.
She didn’t yet know that this was just the beginning…
Life after the wedding felt like a strange ritual.
Every day brought Oksana new “duties of the perfect daughter-in-law.”
— Oksanchik, you’ll stop by to see me after work, right?
— The sweet voice of her mother-in-law on the phone left no room for refusal.
— I need help with the general cleaning.
Borya said you have a free evening today!
And Oksana went.
Instead of resting, she washed floors, cooked food for the week, and patiently listened to lectures about family values.
— In our family, daughters-in-law have always taken care of their mothers-in-law!
— Svetlana Davidovna said, watching Oksana iron her bed linens.
— My mother-in-law used to say: “A good daughter-in-law should be like a shadow — invisible, but always nearby!”
Oksana smiled, but something inside her tightened.
She managed everything: work, home, cooking — and now also her mother-in-law’s apartment.
Boris just waved it off:
— So you helped mom, what’s the big deal?
She’s not feeling well…
Gradually, requests turned into orders.
Svetlana Davidovna no longer asked — she dictated the schedule for her daughter-in-law’s visits.
— I’m waiting for you at the entrance at six in the morning!
— The authoritative voice of the mother-in-law sounded on the phone.
— I have an appointment with the cardiologist, you’re coming with me!
— Svetlana Davidovna, I have a deadline tomorrow…
— Oksana tried to protest.
— You’ll ask for time off!
— She cut her off.
— How can you compare paperwork with my health?
Oksana felt trapped.
Work, household chores, and now endless whims of her mother-in-law.
After six months of this life, she decided to talk to her husband.
— Borya, I can’t take it anymore!
— It came out of her on a Sunday evening.
— Your mom is asking the impossible from me!
I’m torn between the office, home, and her endless requests!
— Those aren’t requests, they’re needs!
— Boris frowned.
— She’s not feeling well!
— She has hypertension, not paralysis!
— Oksana flared up.
— She can go to the store or call a repairman!
Why drag me across the whole city?
— Because you’re her daughter-in-law!
— The husband’s voice turned cold.
— In our family, women have always cared for the elders!
You knew who you were marrying!
Oksana clenched her fists.
— I thought I’d help when I can, but I’m not going to be her personal caregiver!
She doesn’t even ask — she just orders!
Boris stood up sharply, his face twisted in anger.
— Listen up!
— Mom is sacred!
She raised me alone, gave us a roof over our heads!
You will treat her with respect and do everything she asks!
Got it?
For the first time in a year of marriage, he spoke to her so harshly.
Oksana felt something important collapsing.
— I respect your mom, but you have to respect me too!
— She whispered.
— I’m your wife, not your servant!
— Exactly!
— Boris yelled.
— You’re my wife, which means you have to honor my family and its traditions!
The climax came a week later.
— Come right now!
— The pipe burst!
— Svetlana Davidovna screamed into the phone right during a presentation to clients.
— I can’t right now!
— Oksana ran into the hallway.
— Call the emergency service!
— What service?!
— The mother-in-law exploded.
— Borya always fixed everything himself!
You have to come!
— I’m not a plumber!
— Oksana despaired.
— I can’t ruin the negotiations!
— I don’t care about your negotiations!
— Svetlana Davidovna hissed.
— If you don’t come, I’ll tell Borya everything!
That evening, all hell broke loose.
Boris, who had returned from his business trip, already knew about the “betrayal” of his wife.
— How could you leave her alone?! — he yelled, pacing the room.
— She could have fallen, drowned!
— I was at work! — Oksana tried to explain.
— Work is more important than your mother?! — Boris’s face became alien.
At that moment, Oksana realized — her marriage had become a prison.
After that, everything changed.
Boris turned into a warden, controlling every step she took.
— Mom said you didn’t come by again yesterday! — he attacked as soon as he crossed the threshold on Friday.
Oksana tore herself away from the laptop — she was preparing a report that determined her bonus.
— Borya, I have deadlines!
— So, your work is more important than family? — he threw his briefcase on the couch.
— I’m working for us! So we can travel, buy a car!
— And your mother should sit alone? — Boris clenched his fists. — You’re selfish!
— No! — Oksana jumped up. — I’m thinking about us! But your mother calls five times a day! She needs medicine, she wants me to iron the laundry! I’m not made of iron!
— It’s her right! — her husband barked. — She’s the elder in the family!
— In your family! — Oksana exhaled. — Not mine!
Boris’s face twisted with rage.
— My family is now yours! You must love it like your own!
— But not be a slave! — Oksana shouted for the first time. — She even goes through my things — says, “Daughters-in-law in our family don’t dress like that!”
— She gave us the apartment! — Boris hissed.
— No! — Oksana shook her head. — Your parents gave it to us together! But why is it only your mother who decides how I should live?
The argument lasted until morning.
Oksana begged him to understand, Boris kept talking about “family values.”
The next day, the phone rang when she was getting ready for work.
— Come here urgently! Guests will be here! — Svetlana Davidovna commanded.
— I can’t! I have a meeting!
— So work is more important again? — suddenly Boris’s voice came through the phone. — Mom, don’t worry! She’ll be here now!
It turned out that the mother-in-law had put the call on speaker.
When her husband entered the bedroom, Oksana was standing with a suitcase.
— I won’t go. And I won’t ever again.
In her eyes, for the first time, he saw not pain, but cold determination.
“You will go!” — Boris grabbed her by the shoulders so tightly that Oksana realized — there would be marks.
“You must obey me! Respect my mother — that’s your primary duty!”
“Duty?” — Oksana broke free from his grip.
“Exactly!”
“I owe your mother nothing! She’s not my relative, and I won’t bend to her demands!”
This was a turning point.
Boris’s face twisted in anger, and he struck his wife.
Oksana fell, hitting her head against the wall.
Everything went dark before her eyes, but she managed to get up.
“You… You raised your hand against me!” — she whispered, covering her face with her palm.
“You insulted my mother!” — he snarled, approaching her.
“And this is just the beginning!”
Everything developed rapidly.
Boris grabbed her by the hair, ripped the phone from her hand, and smashed it against the wall.
“Talking is useless! We’ll do this differently!” — he growled, squeezing her wrist.
“Pack your things! We’re going to mom’s!”
“Borya, please, think it over!” — Oksana tried to break free.
“Let’s talk…”
“Enough talk!” — he cut her off, pushing her towards the wardrobe.
“Live with mom until you learn respect!”
Realizing the futility of the argument, Oksana gathered a few things, wincing in pain.
Boris didn’t step away, watching every move she made.
“I’ll call your work and say you’re sick!” — he said, leading his wife out of the apartment.
“Forget about the meetings! Only family and respect for the elders!”
The journey to Svetlana Davidovna’s house was filled with oppressive silence.
Oksana stared out the window, realizing: the person she loved had just used violence and was now forcefully taking her away.
Svetlana Davidovna greeted them with poorly concealed triumph.
“What’s with your face?” — she asked, noticing the bruise.
“I fell!” — Boris answered shortly.
“Mom, Oksana will stay with you! She needs to learn respect!”
Svetlana Davidovna nodded and pointed to a small room.
“Settle in! And straight to the kitchen — in three hours, guests will arrive!”
The following days became a real nightmare for Oksana.
Svetlana Davidovna exploited her like a servant, making her work from morning till night.
Boris came every evening to check on the “training process” and then went home.
“So, have you become smarter?” — he asked, looking at his wife scrubbing the floor.
“Ready to respect my mother?”
Oksana remained silent, pretending to have accepted it, but inside she was already forming a plan to escape.
On the third day, the mother-in-law announced she was going to visit a neighbor, strictly forbidding Oksana to leave.
But she forgot to take the spare set of keys.
As soon as the door closed, Oksana rushed to the wardrobe.
In the pockets of her old coat, she found the money she had stashed away.
She stuffed it into her pocket and carefully left the apartment.
The elevator wasn’t working, so she descended the stairs, pausing on every landing.
Once outside, she ran off aimlessly.
A small shop on the corner became her salvation.
Breathless, with a bruise on her face, she burst inside and approached the shopkeeper.
“Help! I need to call a taxi and the police!”
The shopkeeper, a plump middle-aged woman, looked carefully at the visitor.
“So you’re Svetlana’s daughter-in-law? What happened?”
After briefly explaining the situation, Oksana received unexpected support.
The shopkeeper, introducing herself as Nina Petrovna, shook her head.
“You’re doing the right thing! Svetlana has been annoying everyone with her arrogance for a long time! We’ll get everything sorted!”
Fifteen minutes later, a taxi arrived.
Nina Petrovna handed Oksana an old flip phone.
“Call your family! And here…” — she handed over a bag of food.
“Don’t disappear! The police will take care of these scoundrels!”
Hugging the woman, Oksana cried with relief.
“Thank you! I’ll never forget your help!”
In the taxi, she first contacted her friend Ira, asking for shelter.
Then, she called the police, reporting domestic violence and unlawful detention.
The police acted swiftly.
Boris and Svetlana were detained the same day.
Although the injuries were minor, the fact of coercion was proven.
The divorce was processed quickly.
Oksana refused any shared property, wanting only her freedom.
She changed jobs and moved.
Boris tried to come back, waiting outside her new office, sending threats and apologies.
But Oksana was resolute.
When the situation became unbearable, she took decisive action — quitting her job and moving to another city.
Now, she has a new life — work, an apartment, freedom.
And a firm understanding: no one has the right to strip a person of their dignity and independence.
The last words she said to Boris became a symbol of change for her:
“I owe your mother nothing!”
This phrase reminds her of everyone’s right to respect and independence…
