Daniel knew his mother was paying a substantial amount, but he did not realize how much Victoria had come to expect from her.
And he did not know how Victoria spoke to Eleanor when he wasn’t around.
The Bride Who Couldn’t Stand Her Future Mother-in-Law
A Gift That Was Never Appreciated
Three weeks before the wedding, Eleanor visited Victoria’s apartment with a small gift.
Inside the box was a delicate gold bracelet that had belonged to Eleanor’s own mother.
“My mother wore this on her wedding day,” Eleanor explained. “I thought you might like to wear it during the ceremony. It would mean a lot to me.”
Victoria opened the box and examined the bracelet.
Then she closed it.
“It’s lovely, but it doesn’t match my accessories.”
Eleanor nodded, trying to hide her disappointment.
“Of course. I understand.”
Victoria placed the box on a table.
“And, Eleanor, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I want everything to look consistent on the wedding day. My family has a certain standard. I don’t want any awkward moments.”
“What do you mean?”
Victoria sighed.
“Just don’t improvise. Don’t make speeches that go on forever. Don’t bring up Daniel’s childhood. And please don’t wear anything that looks too casual.”
Eleanor glanced down at her simple navy dress.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
Victoria picked up her phone, already distracted by another message.
Eleanor left the apartment with the bracelet still in its box.
That evening, Daniel called his mother.
“Mom, are you excited?”
“Very excited,” she answered.
Rather than create a problem just before the wedding, Eleanor kept the conversation to herself. She had raised Daniel to be kind and wanted him to begin his marriage peacefully.
Victoria placed Eleanor at a table near the back of the reception room, but she said nothing. When the bride announced that family photographs would take place without her because the photographer had limited time, Eleanor stayed quiet. After Victoria instructed the wedding planner to keep her away from the bridal suite, Eleanor remained silent.
