When Joseph and I got engaged, we moved in with my mom to save money — just for a few months, we thought. At first, she seemed generous: cooking for us, doing laundry, making us feel welcome. But beneath the surface, things felt off. Joseph noticed first — his money was disappearing from his wallet, and when he calmly brought it up, my mom denied everything and stormed off.

Days later, I caught her red-handed at 2 a.m., slipping money from Joseph’s wallet. She didn’t hide it. “I’m collecting rent,” she said coldly. “You live here, I take care of things.” But she had never asked — she just took. And when confronted, she admitted lying out of spite. The mother I thought I knew suddenly looked like a stranger.

The next morning, Joseph and I packed our things and left quietly, leaving only a note: “We needed space. You know why.” Two weeks later, she called to apologize. I forgave her, but told her we wouldn’t be moving back.

Now, we keep our distance. She calls before visiting, knocks at the door, and never touches a wallet again. From afar, I’m learning to love her again — but this time, with boundaries, and my eyes wide open.