This day was unusual for the young woman. She wasn’t sure whether to be happy or wary. Her mother-in-law had offered help for once.

An unexpected situation arose. The nanny got sick, and Mary couldn’t get time off work. She had an important meeting scheduled.

Helen Johnson was called last, though they knew she was home, but also knew she always had things to do and feared they’d impose the grandson on her. She’d just mentioned yesterday why she took a week off. She wanted to pamper herself and not be bothered.

They barely mentioned the nanny’s food poisoning and the daughter-in-law’s important meeting before she volunteered to babysit the grandson. Daniel even drove her over so she wouldn’t strain herself. Everything worked out conveniently.

The nanny was ill, and the mother-in-law was free. It seemed she was slowly warming up and would soon accept being a grandmother. Of course, this pleased the daughter-in-law.

Mary was a smart woman; she saw her mother-in-law disliked her and wanted to fix it. It seemed the ice was breaking. Helen Johnson greeted her daughter-in-law with a smile and immediately started enthusiastically recounting how she’d played with the grandson, not rushing to leave.

Though before starting, she’d asked Mary not to be late, citing urgent errands. Now she wasn’t in a hurry. The daughter-in-law thought her plans had fallen through.

But at some point, the mother-in-law suddenly remembered them and prepared to go home. The hostess saw her guest out and got to her tasks. Mary sometimes brought work home, like today.

She reached into her bag for papers and, to her surprise, found a packet of white powder there. Pieces started falling into place in Mary’s mind. No wonder she’d felt uneasy.

She couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Now no psychics were needed; it was clear someone wanted to set her up. Surely questions would arise about what that packet was doing in her bag.

Mary went pale. Could it be the mother-in-law? This refined woman who could recite Shakespeare poetically and discuss brilliant performances by actors in her theater? It was hard to believe, but no one else could have done it. What was in that woman’s head? Why? For what? The daughter-in-law knew her husband’s family history.

But it wasn’t that bad there. Helen Johnson had never lived well, but she was used to her modest life. Working as a wardrobe attendant in the theater let her mingle in the acting world.

The only thing that really upset her was never being married. In her youth, she had a son just for herself. Raising him alone for eighteen years was a heavy burden…

But later, the woman was glad it turned out that way. At first, she feared the child would hinder her personal life. And honestly, it did.

She argued with her mother, left the boy with friends, gave up on herself, thinking it was a lifelong burden. But then Daniel grew up, and she got used to him. The son became a helper, growing independently, as she’d taught him early that there was no man in the house, so he had to become one.

In the end, the son made it big, and very well. He got into a state university on scholarship for construction engineering, while doing repairs on the side. Over time, he hired crews and assigned them to sites.

Then he opened his own firm. They developed projects and handled full construction oversight. Things went smoothly from there.

Word of mouth spread, clients increased, the business grew steadily. Meanwhile, the mother still languished in the theater, working in the wardrobe. But it didn’t bother her.

She was proud to touch the arts. She didn’t just take and give coats; she knew every hook blindfolded. Most importantly, she chatted with actors, directors, and other theater folks.

Though pay was low, cultural life buzzed. She knew all premieres and could get good tickets for friends through connections. The esteemed wardrobe lady tried pulling her son in too.

Helen Johnson dreamed her son would become an actor, so she could boast about him. She’d arrange with the right people to get him into drama school, but Daniel flatly refused. His soul wasn’t in it; he had no pull toward the arts.

Ignoring his mother, he went his own way. At first, Helen Johnson was upset, but then she still bragged about her boy. She could boast to friends about his successes.

Once the son started earning big, the mother realized construction was fine too. Helen Johnson felt more confident. She hinted for gifts from her son.

Not directly begging, but saying, «I raised you. Look how successful you are. And I don’t even have a nice dress to go out with you. People will laugh.» Though Daniel wasn’t one to care about opinions or follow fashion. And they rarely went out together…

But he fulfilled her requests. He respected her. And Helen Johnson got a taste for it.

She bought a couple of expensive purses. Updated her wardrobe. Went to salons.

Her social life sparkled anew. She partied as always, her whole life. The mother truly didn’t get why her son wasn’t interested.

What would Daniel do in that crowd? Actors were actors offstage too. Playing to the audience with fake smiles. He’d seen enough of his mom’s suitors.

One romance with an actor, then another. They just wanted fun. No responsibility.

Look, she got pregnant with him that way. Though she claimed she was married and the husband died young. But grandma told a different story.

Daniel’s mother didn’t even know who his father was. Helen Johnson didn’t get along with her mother. She barely helped with the grandson.

Thought since the daughter got knocked up, she should raise him herself. Then she died, at least freeing up the apartment. More space.

Then the son rose up. Tossed her money. Finally, the woman lived decently.

The mother was thrilled how it turned out. Then the son announced he was getting married. Handsome, young, rich guy.

«Isn’t it too soon, son?» the mother worried. «Sure she’s marrying you, not your money?» Helen Johnson feared her son might meet a gold digger.

They’d just made it, got money, and suddenly takers appeared. But Daniel asked her to calm down. He wasn’t dumb; the girl was good, all love.

At first, it was fine. No complaints about the daughter-in-law. Decent girl, earned well too.

The young couple lived in her apartment; Daniel started renovations there. The mother tolerated the son cutting her allowances at first.

Renovations cost a lot. Though she didn’t understand why he should renovate his wife’s place? He was nobody there. Mary should invest herself…

Nicely set up. Bossing the man around, then wave goodbye. The mother-in-law had concerns.

But the son ignored them. Then Helen Johnson saw the light. She visited the young couple to see the renovations.

«Are you expecting?» she puzzled, seeing a ready nursery. The son and daughter-in-law smiled. Yeah, you guessed it.

And Helen Johnson got upset. Imagining becoming a grandma made her ill. Felt like her blood pressure spiked.

Though she’d never had that before. Thanks a lot, son. Now all money would go to the kid, leaving her out.

But the mother-in-law pretended to be happy. Good she didn’t blurt anything, as little changed for her. When the kids finished renovations, the son helped her again.

But then the grandson was born. Soon the daughter-in-law returned to work half-time, and things worsened. They wanted to dump the kid on grandma, but Helen Johnson refused.

She liked her freedom. Loved her job. She’d just gotten her son on his feet.

Now she could live for herself. And they wanted to impose this. Let them handle it.

Though they didn’t offer the grandson full-time, just sub for the other grandma, the mother-in-law dug in. Start small, then colds, errands. Soon it’d seem she must babysit.

Though Helen Johnson refused flatly, the kids weren’t offended. Both son and daughter-in-law accepted calmly. They hired a nanny for the baby, which Helen Johnson jealously approved.

Wish she’d had that luxury young. Wouldn’t have tired so much or fought her mother. She often refused to babysit too.

In the end, for the mother-in-law, things seemed perfect. She didn’t spot the catch right away. Thought it’d be like renovations…

Hard at first, then back to normal. Well, the grandson was six months, and she was still cut in spending, stuck on her small salary. Whatever she asked the son, he refused.

«Mom, why do you need that?» Daniel brushed her off. Then he’d say she had plenty already and such. More than once, he mentioned big expenses on the child now.

Hired a nanny. But the mother saw everything. Daniel spared no money on the daughter-in-law.

She strutted in new clothes, while he forgot his own mother. It bugged the mother-in-law that the son’s income went to the daughter-in-law. And Mary earned decently herself.

She could avoid mooching off her husband. But Daniel kept spoiling her. He ran around happy.

A son, after all. Now he owed his wife everything. And the daughter-in-law was always cheerful.

But no one cared the mother-in-law suffered. Helen Johnson thought such bliss couldn’t be. Surely the son’s wife had skeletons.

Daniel wore rose-colored glasses, noticing nothing. The mother decided to fix it. Once she told her son his Mary was cheating.

«Did you see it yourself?» the son tensed. No, the mother pouted. But rumors reached me.

People saw. Got it, Daniel exhaled relieved. Some old lady in the yard said, you picked it up and spread gossip…

He didn’t believe, no matter how she persuaded. Even scolded her for gossip. And Helen Johnson realized that wouldn’t work.

Instead, she was turning her son against her. But anyway, she set a goal. Break up the young couple.

Soon the mother-in-law devised how to ditch the daughter-in-law. The day before, she came by afternoon, brought the kids home-grown tomatoes. A friend sells hers, so she grabbed some.

The nanny was leaving and offered her a candy. Next day, she volunteered to help with the grandson. Somehow the nanny felt unwell.

Grandma babysat successfully. As soon as the daughter-in-law closed the door behind her, she called the police. Helen Johnson was sure they’d arrest the daughter-in-law.

Lock her up. And she’d console her son as a loving mother. Tough luck with the wife.

But the mother-in-law didn’t guess Mary knew everything. Helen Johnson had planned years ahead. No more nanny.

The other grandparents doted on the grandson, but wouldn’t take him. And not ten minutes after the mother-in-law left, she returned with police. But a nasty surprise awaited…

Her plan failed because she forgot the apartment had a camera. The daughter-in-law had installed it recently in the hallway to monitor the nanny.

The nanny and all relatives knew.

But apparently, it slipped the mother-in-law’s mind.

At first, Helen Johnson watched triumphantly as police pulled the packet of illegal substance from the daughter-in-law’s purse. Then she paled, as Mary suggested the police view the camera footage.

In the end, the mother-in-law lost not just the daughter-in-law, but her son, grandson, social life, and freedom. She went to prison.

For possession and distribution, the court sentenced her to seven years in a general population facility.

The son visited her twice in pretrial detention before court. He couldn’t believe his mother capable of that. But facts don’t lie.

Daniel was furious and couldn’t forgive her. Didn’t even send care packages. In this, his wife and son mattered more.