When my mother-in-law complained of severe back pain, she said her therapist advised rest. Soon, she asked to move in “temporarily.” My husband and I weren’t thrilled, but we agreed. We cooked for her, made tea, and helped with everything. She always acted like she was in pain, barely able to move.
Still, something felt off. Two weeks earlier, I had installed a small hallway camera—mainly to check if she ever needed help while we were away. One afternoon at work, I opened the app. To my shock, I saw her dragging a huge suitcase with ease, heading for the door. I hit record immediately.
Minutes later, she called my husband, pretending to be hurt and unwanted. She claimed she was leaving because she felt “ignored” and “extra.” By the time I got home, my husband was furious—at me. He said I was disrespectful for spying on her. When I showed him the recording, he only grew angrier, insisting I’d crossed a line.
Now, he barely speaks to me, constantly apologizing to her on the phone, while I’m left wondering: did I really do something wrong? All I wanted was proof of what I suspected—that her pain was exaggerated, and her manipulative games had turned our kindness into blame.
