Laura works from home, but her mother-in-law (MIL) refuses to see it as a real job. She treats Laura like a stay-at-home wife, dropping by unannounced and offering unsolicited advice about being “clean and organized.” The constant disrespect chips away at Laura’s patience, but one incident finally breaks her.
During a crucial work meeting—one that could lead to a promotion—Laura’s MIL shows up unexpectedly. Laura makes her tea and returns to find her MIL in her workspace, tossing things into the trash. When Laura checks, she discovers her sticky notes—filled with ideas and plans for her presentation—crumpled and torn. She scrambles to salvage what she can, barely holding it together during the meeting.
Afterward, Laura confronts her MIL, who brushes it off: “What’s the big deal? I was just helping clean.” That comment, paired with the ruined notes, pushes Laura to ask her to leave.
Days later, at a family dinner, Laura finds her MIL’s car keys on the floor and pockets them—forgetting to return them. The next day, her MIL accuses her of stealing. Laura explains, but her MIL breaks down, revealing the keys held a locket of her late husband. Laura hadn’t noticed.
In a moment of bitter irony, Laura echoes her MIL’s own words: “Why make a fuss? I was just helping.” But the emotional damage is done. Her husband sides with his mother, and Laura is left questioning whether her reaction was justified.
She didn’t mean to hurt anyone—but she also didn’t deserve to have her career sabotaged. Her MIL’s grief is real, but so is Laura’s frustration. Both women care deeply—one for a lost husband, the other for a hard-earned career. And neither feels seen.
