In the car, David and Leah recounted what had transpired. They overheard Lisa and her in-laws discussing excluding us from the wedding while using the dinner to coerce us into covering the expenses. It was a revelation that left me speechless, and I silently thanked providence that David was behind the wheel, for I would’ve likely lost control.
David avoided discussing the incident thereafter, likely because I had advocated for Ric’s move-in with Lisa.
Was it all my doing?
The following morning, I skipped my classes and headed straight to Lisa’s. Despite my persistent knocking, they refused to let me in. Peering through the window, I witnessed Lisa and Ric’s parents behaving as though they owned the place. Lisa appeared to have surrendered her autonomy to them.
When Ric’s mother finally opened the door, she brazenly declared that we wouldn’t be invited to the wedding due to our purported influence on Lisa. It seemed they were controlling her like a puppet.
She went on to assert, “Your family is too different for us. Now Lisa is one of us. Let’s assume control. But don’t worry, we’ll send you the wedding bill.”
Lisa confirmed their stay with her before shutting the door. It was now their domain.
I returned home with a pounding headache from dealing with Ric’s mother. While Lisa had received the house from me, I made it clear over the phone that it still belonged to me. She had ten days to decide her next move, which I deemed ample time to vacate.
The silver lining? David and I sold the house, swiftly eliminating any delusions Ric’s family held about ownership.
In teaching our prospective in-laws the importance of boundaries, I inadvertently provided Lisa with a necessary awakening. Though Ric remains devoted to her, she now resides in a modest apartment near her workplace, a lesson learned.
As for Ric’s family, their whereabouts remain a mystery. However, their behavior allowed David and me to utilize the proceeds from the house sale to purchase Leah a car.
Now, tell me, was I in the wrong?