The next morning, they stormed back, screaming.

**”WHERE IS THE MONEY?!”** MIL shrieked, her face red with fury.

I sipped my coffee calmly. **”Oh, you mean my house fund?”** I asked sweetly.

FIL jabbed a finger at me. **”Don’t play dumb! We checked the account. It’s empty!”**

My husband stood behind them, looking bewildered. **”Babe… where did it go?”**

I set my mug down and leaned forward. **”I spent it.”**

Silence.

MIL’s jaw dropped. **”ON WHAT?!”**

I smiled. **”A house. Just like you wanted.”**

FIL blinked. **”Wait… you mean for us?”**

**”Oh, no,”** I said, shaking my head. **”For me. Since I saved every single penny, I figured I should do something for myself too.”**

MIL gasped. **”You ungrateful little—”**

**”Ah-ah,”** I interrupted, raising a finger. **”Didn’t you say I owed you? That I should give back?”** I leaned in and whispered, **”I did. I gave myself the future I deserve.”**

My husband finally spoke, his voice cracking. **”You bought a house… without me?”**

I stood, grabbed my purse, and walked to the door. **”Correction: I bought a house without a leech, a manipulative MIL, or a spineless husband dragging me down.”**

Then I opened the door and gestured. **”Speaking of… You all need to leave. This is my house. But don’t worry, I did get you something.”**

MIL perked up suspiciously. **”What?”**

I grinned and handed her a receipt—for a **motel reservation.**

Her face turned purple. **”YOU CAN’T DO THIS!”**

I tilted my head. **”Oh, but I can.”**

As they spluttered and cursed, I turned my back on them, walked out the door, and headed straight to **my** new home—finally free of them forever.