$2,000 to my boss. That’s the price my mother-in-law paid to end my career and make me a “better wife.” When your MIL tries to sabotage your job, would you get mad or get even? I chose option three: orchestrate an elaborate revenge to teach her an unforgettable lesson.

Have you ever encountered someone who’d pay your boss to fire you, all to make you a “better wife”? I never thought I would, but here I am—Tina, 35, career-oriented, and married to Alvin. That “someone” turned out to be my mother-in-law, Joyce. Despite being a woman, mother, and wife herself, she believed women belonged in the kitchen, not an office.

When Alvin and I got married five years ago, I had initially planned to become a housewife. But life has a funny way of surprising you. I landed a job at a local bridal boutique, quickly climbing the ranks to manager. My career took off, but Joyce couldn’t accept it. Then, she did the unthinkable: tried to bribe my boss to fire me.

I was stunned. If my MIL was ready to go that low, I decided I could go lower.