“Choke on it!” I said. — “The most important thing is that I have a loving husband by my side. And you clearly never knew true love or received gifts from your husband, if you’re so jealous. It’s not about the money — you’re just a spiteful, envious woman.”

The silence in the room became deafening. My mother-in-law, red with anger, stood up abruptly and left, slamming the door behind her.

I sat back down at the table, but my smile slowly faded away. Inside me, anger and pain were mixing. The joy of the gift had vanished. And now I wonder: did I go too far? Maybe I shouldn’t have stooped to her level?..