Eventually, Ruby did file a lawsuit, claiming that I had manipulated Anthony into leaving the condo entirely to him and that she, as his mother, was entitled to a portion of its value. The legal battle was long and draining. It tarnished the joy of my engagement and strained my finances

It was a chilly autumn evening when I decided to share the news with my ex-mother-in-law, Ruby. Anthony and I had been divorced for over three years, but Ruby had always kept in touch, under the guise of wanting to see how I was doing. In reality, I knew she was just keeping tabs on me for her own curiosity.

Anthony and I had a whirlwind romance that began right after college. We were both from modest backgrounds. My parents, who had always rented, couldn’t offer any financial help. Anthony, on the other hand, had inherited a small but cozy condo in downtown from his father, Gary. Gary had divorced Ruby when Anthony was just a toddler, citing irreconcilable differences. From the stories I heard, those differences mainly involved Ruby’s controlling nature.

The condo wasn’t luxurious, but it was a significant asset, especially in a city where real estate prices were skyrocketing. When Anthony and I married, we moved into the condo and started our life together. However, our marriage began to crumble after a few years. Our constant bickering and differing life goals led us to a mutual decision to divorce. We parted ways amicably, and I moved out, leaving the condo to Anthony as it was rightfully his inheritance.

Fast forward to the present, I had recently gotten engaged to Serenity, a kind-hearted teacher I met at a local community event. We planned to marry next spring. When I told Ruby about my engagement, her reaction was far from what I expected. Instead of congratulations, she launched into a tirade about the condo.

“You know, when you married my son, that condo partly became yours too. Anthony told me he never paid you out for it. Now that you’re remarrying, I think it’s only fair you give us half of its current market value,” Ruby asserted, her tone sharp and demanding.

I was taken aback. “Ruby, the condo was Anthony’s inheritance from his father. We agreed that he would keep it after the divorce. There was never any discussion about me receiving a payout.”

Ruby scoffed, “Well, you should have thought about that before deciding to remarry. It’s only fair. You’re moving on with your life, and that condo’s value has doubled since you left. Anthony could use that money.”

I tried to reason with her, explaining that legally and morally, I had no claim over the property. But Ruby wouldn’t have it. She threatened to take legal action if I didn’t comply with her demands. The conversation ended with her hanging up on me, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

Over the next few weeks, Ruby’s threats became more frequent. She bombarded me with calls and emails, each more aggressive than the last. It strained my relationship with Serenity, who couldn’t understand why Ruby was so fixated on the condo.

In the end, the court ruled in my favor, recognizing that the condo was Anthony’s inheritance and that I had no financial claim over it. However, the victory felt hollow. The stress had caused a rift between Serenity and me, one that we couldn’t mend. We called off the engagement, and I was left to rebuild my life, scarred by the ordeal.

Ruby never apologized for her actions, and Anthony remained distant throughout the entire process. It was a harsh lesson in how greed and vindictiveness could destroy relationships and tarnish new beginnings.