My mother-in-law Linda is a master of fake niceness. I’m 30, married to Mark, and since day one, Linda’s been a perfectly polished thorn in my side—always smiling but quick with a snarky jab.
I’ve always played along, showering her with thoughtful gifts: designer perfumes, silk scarves, rare teas, even handmade candles. Every time, she’d clutch them like treasures and gush, “You’re so thoughtful.” I believed she meant it… until last month.
At a flea market, I spotted a gold silk scarf—just like the one I gave Linda for Christmas—being sold at a vendor’s stall. Turns out, Linda regularly drops off my gifts to resell under a fake name. Porcelain teacups, diffusers, even my homemade candles—all flipped for pocket money.
Betrayed but keeping calm, I planned a little payback for her birthday. I gave her a cheap, chipped vase wrapped elegantly, with a fake $40 check slipped inside the gift bag.
At the party, Linda fawned over the vase and awkwardly noticed the check. A week later, at a family dinner, I “accidentally” told everyone I’d given her the wrong gift—the vase was actually a rare $3,500 antique meant for my boss.
Linda went pale, confessed she’d sold it at the market for $40, and the room froze. Then I revealed it was just a $6 thrift find, but that I’d seen it for sale at the flea market.
The family burst into laughter. Linda apologized, admitting she thought I’d never notice. She promised to stop selling my gifts, and we finally shared a genuine moment.
A few weeks later, I gave her a potted orchid. It’s still thriving on her windowsill—and hasn’t been sold.
Sometimes, a little cleverness is the best way to teach a lesson wrapped in kindness.
