Oliver paled. «You eavesdropped?» «Accidentally heard.»
«You and Mom discussed my savings, plotted how to get them.» «We just… consulted…» «Consulted how to fool wife. Very nice.»
Oliver sat on couch, covered face with hands. «You misunderstand everything.» «Mom really dreams of cabin.»
«And I want to help.» «At my expense.» «At our expense.»
«We’re family.» «If family, why not ask my opinion early? Why plot behind back?» Oliver silent.
No answer for those questions. Monday, Valerie decided to transfer money to another account. If husband and mother-in-law really plotting, better safeguard.
She went to bank, opened new savings in another branch. Transferred funds there, closed old account. Now even if Oliver accesses her bank data somehow, no money there.
Tuesday, what she feared happened. Returning work, Valerie found husband at her laptop. He sat in her home office, typing something.
«What are you doing?» she asked sternly. Oliver startled, quickly closed browser. «Oh, just browsing internet.»
«My computer’s broken.» «My laptop has saved bank passwords.» «You know that.»
«I didn’t poke in your accounts.» «Show browser history.» «Why?»
«Show if nothing to hide.» Oliver hesitated, then sighed and opened browser. History showed bank sites, including hers.
«You tried logging into my account?» «Just wanted to check.» «Ensure money’s there.»
«Without permission?» «Valerie, we’re husband and wife.» «No secrets between us.»
Valerie sat at laptop, checked login logs. System showed three failed attempts last hour. «You tried guessing password?»
«Not guessing, recalling.» «Thought maybe you mentioned it once.» «I never told you my bank passwords.»
Oliver sat on chair beside her. «Valerie, why like this?» «I meant no harm.»
«Just worry about our savings.» «My savings.» «And I’ll worry about them myself.»
«But we’re family.» «Family trying to steal from each other.» «No one’s stealing.»
«I wanted to confirm all okay.» Valerie closed laptop, took it with her. «Next time ask permission.»
«Valerie, don’t be mad.» «I won’t again.» But Valerie no longer believed husband’s promises.
Clear he was ready for deceit to get her money. Wednesday, Theresa called, suggested meet at cafe. «Want to talk without Oliver.»
«Woman-to-woman heart talk.» Valerie agreed, curious what mother-in-law devised. Met at small cafe near home.
Theresa looked friendly, ordered cake and coffee, asked about work. «You know, Valerie,» she began after half-hour chit-chat. «I worked with people all life.»
«In accounting, met all types.» «Learned to understand wants.» «And what do I want?» Valerie asked.
«You want independence.» «Understandable, modern girls are so.» «But you overlook one thing.»
«What?» «Absolute independence doesn’t exist.» «We all depend on someone.»
«You depend on clients, suppliers, economy.» Valerie silent, waiting where talk led. «Family has dependence too,» Theresa continued.
«Wife on husband, husband on wife.» «And it can be different.» «Explain.»
«Can be voluntary, mutually beneficial.» «Or forced.» Valerie tensed.
Mother-in-law’s words held hidden threat. «What do you mean?» «That Oliver has rights to your property.»
«Rights he hasn’t used yet.» «What rights?» Theresa pulled papers from purse.
«Here’s income statement for your store.» «Guess where from?» Valerie took sheet.
Official IRS statement on her business income last year. «Where from?» «Oliver requested.»
«As husband, entitled to wife’s income info?» «He has no such right.» «He does,» mother-in-law smiled.
«Read family code.» «Spouse can request property info of other for disputes.» Valerie studied document.
It was real, with stamps and signatures. «Why this?» «Studying situation.»
«Seeing our options.» «What options?» Theresa pulled second document.
«And this claim to recognize part property as joint.» «Oliver prepared too.» Valerie read claim.
It stated savings from business during marriage were joint spousal property. «This untrue.» «My store predates wedding.»
«But grew after.» «Profit earned in marriage.» «So part savings can be joint.»
«You want to sue?» «Good idea,» mother-in-law smirked. «Court decides who owns what.»
«Might rule half money Oliver’s.» Valerie realized trapped. Husband and mother-in-law studied legal angles, found pressure ways.
«But that’ll take months.» «Cabin sells meantime.» «No need wait court,» Theresa explained.
«Can file for freeze on disputed assets.» «While case ongoing, money frozen.» «I can’t dispose them?»
«Neither you nor Oliver.» «But can’t expand store either.» «Money just sits in bank under freeze.»
Valerie felt stomach clench in anger. Mother-in-law found way to block her plans even without getting money herself. «This is blackmail.»
«This protects family interests,» Theresa countered. «We don’t want court.» «But if you persist.»
«So you threaten me?» «We offer reasonable compromise.» «Give money for cabin voluntarily; no courts.»
«All happy.» Valerie rose from table. «You know, Theresa? Go with your threats to hell.»
Theresa shook head. «Such rude words.» «And pretended polite girl.»
«Polite people don’t blackmail relatives.» «Selfish people don’t help family,» Theresa parried. «Fine, dear.»
«Your choice.» «But remember, we warned fairly.» Valerie left cafe furious.
Situation serious. Husband and mother-in-law ready to go all out, using all pressure methods. Home, Oliver awaited with guilty look.
«Well, talked with Mom?» «Talked. She threatened court.» «Valerie, not threat.»
«Mom just explained our rights.» «Your rights to my money.» «Our rights as family.»
Valerie sat opposite husband. «Oliver, answer honestly.» «Really ready to sue me over money?»
Her husband averted eyes. «Won’t come to court if you’re reasonable.» «So ready?»
«Valerie, why extremes?» «Just give money for cabin; all good.» «If not?» Oliver paused.
«Then we’ll defend interests all legal ways.» Valerie saw talking useless. Husband fully backed mother, ready against wife.
Next day, she consulted lawyer. Attorney listened carefully, gave discouraging forecast. «Technically they’re right,» he said.
«Part income in marriage can be joint property.» «Especially if business grew via family resources.» «But grew on my account.»
«Need to prove.» «While proceedings, court can freeze disputed assets.» «How long?»
«Months, even years.» «Depends on case complexity.» Valerie left lawyer depressed.
Turned out husband and mother-in-law could block her money even without gaining it. Thursday evening, Theresa called. «Well, dear, thought? Tomorrow Friday, last decision day.»
«What decision?» «Cabin buying tomorrow.» «Either give money, or we file court Monday.»
«File,» Valerie said, hung up. Friday morning, she woke with heavy foreboding. Oliver acted odd, avoided gaze, answered curtly, clearly nervous.
«What’s with you?» she asked over breakfast. «Nothing.» «Just work issues.»
«What issues?» «Oh, paperwork.» «Nothing serious?» Valerie didn’t believe.
Husband hid something. Leaving for work, Oliver kissed her cheek first time in week. «Good day, dear!»
«Good day to you!» Around lunch, bank employee called Valerie. «Hello! Valerie Hayes! We got request to change access details for your account.»
«Confirm if you submitted.» «What request?» «I submitted nothing.»..
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