My mother-in-law and I had never gotten along, despite my efforts to change that. Then, out of nowhere, she started acting surprisingly nice—only for me to later discover the shocking reason behind her change.
For three years, Cynthia treated me like an unwelcome outsider in her son’s life. Holidays were a battlefield, with passive-aggressive remarks disguised as politeness. Then, one day, her attitude shifted. She became warm, friendly—even affectionate. At first, I was suspicious, but I tried to rationalize it. Maybe she was changing. Maybe she was finally accepting me.
But I was wrong.
After months of unexpected kindness, Cynthia invited me out for coffee—just the two of us. There, she held my hands, looked me in the eyes, and revealed her true motive. “Susan… I need a favor,” she whispered. “I need one of your kidneys.”
Shock washed over me as she explained that she had already confirmed I was a match—without my knowledge or consent. She had orchestrated her entire change of heart, not out of love, but out of necessity. I realized then that her sudden affection had never been genuine.
I smiled politely and told her exactly what she had always told me: family isn’t just about blood—it’s about choice. And I didn’t feel close enough to her to make such a sacrifice.
She was devastated. My husband, for the first time, saw through her manipulations and stood by me. Cynthia eventually found another donor, and once she recovered, she went right back to despising me—this time with even more bitterness.
But now, it didn’t hurt. Because I finally understood the truth.
She never wanted a daughter-in-law. She wanted a spare body part. And I wanted nothing to do with her.