Laura and Duane’s decision to start diet pills seemed like a promising step toward achieving their desired figure. However, their journey took a harrowing turn when Laura received a disturbing ultimatum from her mother-in-law, Colleen. The sudden intrusion of Colleen’s ominous message shatters Laura’s sense of security, throwing her into a state of panic and uncertainty about her marriage and family dynamics.
As Laura grappled with the fallout from Colleen’s threat, she was confronted with the underlying tension that had existed between them for years. Colleen’s disagreement with Laura, stemming from past disagreements and differences of opinion, cast a shadow over their relationship and added layers of complexity to the unfolding situation. Laura’s sense of isolation and uneasiness intensified as she struggled to cope with the aftermath of Colleen’s accusation.
When Laura and Duane start taking diet pills, they think they’re shaping into their dream bodies. But when Laura receives an absurd text from her mother-in-law, she discovers that there is more to the pills than she thought. I never imagined that a simple text could change everything I knew about my marriage. You must divorce my son or I will turn your life into a nightmare.
Goosebumps went up my arms when I realized it wasn’t a random message from an unknown number. No, it was from my mother-in-law. Panic shot through my veins and I dialed my husband’s number without hesitation. “Pick it up, Duane,” I repeated, pacing the bedroom. Three calls later and still no answer. Colleen, my mother-in-law, didn’t like me. She loved Duane, my husband, and Danielle, my daughter. But she couldn’t stand me.
It started when Dani was born – Colleen wanted to name her own sister Jessica. But Duane and I always wanted to name our daughter Danielle. Colleen, my mother-in-law, didn’t like me. She loved Duane, my husband, and Danielle, my daughter. But she couldn’t stand me. It started when Dani was born – Colleen wanted to name her own sister Jessica. But Duane and I always wanted to name our daughter Danielle.
“You’re so spoiled, Laura,” Colleen told me, holding Dani hours after she was born. “Throughout your pregnancy, I was here to help you whenever you needed me. But you can’t do this one thing for me.” Anyway, since then – twelve years ago – Colleen has been cold and distant to me. This morning was like any other.
I made breakfast for Duane before he left for work – it was one of those rare Saturdays when he went to work. “Pack me some trail please,” he requested as he sipped his coffee. “I tend to snack more now that we’re on diet pills. I laughed because I felt the same way. Recently my sister told me about her new obsession – diet pills. “You have to try them, Laura!” she gushed. “They really helped me shed the extra pounds I was trying to shed. “Fine, but I’ll make Duane do it with me too,” I said, ordering the pills while we talked. Since then we have been taking two pills with each meal. And we also started eating cleaner. I felt great, I really believed they were working. I was standing at the kitchen counter cutting fruit for Dani’s breakfast when she burst in, her eyes on fire.
I needed to keep busy until Duane called me. I didn’t know what his mother was up to. “How could you do that to Dad?” she asked, placing a bottle of water on the counter. Her tone shocked me. “Mom!” she said as I paused before asking her what happened.
“What is your business, darling?” I asked, pushing a plate of fruit over to her. “Grandma called me and said you poisoned Dad!” she accused, tears streaming down her cheeks angrily. “Danielle, what on earth are you talking about?” I asked again, my voice firmer. “Now grandma called and asked if I heard from dad. I said no and that he was working today. Grandma told me they took him to the hospital. She said you poisoned him.” My daughter was looking at the fruit on the counter. The word ‘poison’ rang in my mind. Obviously, I did not poison my husband, but the reality was absurd and terrifying. Things developed quickly after that. I called Colleen who refused to return my calls.
“Dani, call your grandma. Ask her what hospital Dad is in. Come on, come to the car.” Colleen immediately answered Dani’s call and told her she would wait for her in the parking lot. “Don’t take mom with you,” Colleen said bitterly. “It’s all her fault. It turned out that in our quest to improve our bodies, I was hurting my husband. Duane got sick at work – vomiting and excruciating pain in his side. His colleagues took him to the hospital. “It’s all because of the pills,” Colleen spat at me as she filled me with Dani. “How did you find out?” I asked her. “Duane’s friend called me,” she said simply. The hospital visit was a blur.
“We found a high concentration of various substances in your husband’s bloodstream,” the doctor explained in a clinical tone but still tinged with concern. “That’s why doctors don’t promote these plans. The supplements Duane was taking seem to have played a significant role in his health.” Guilt consumed me. Especially since I was also on the pill and was perfectly fine. My mother-in-law’s accusation hung over me like a dark cloud as I approached my husband’s bed. Duane’s eyes met mine, not with anger, but with an unsettling calm. “Honey, I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Looking at him, IV attached to his arm, I felt hot tears welling up in my eyes. Duane took my hand, his grip weak but warm. “I know, Laura,” he said. “I know you didn’t do it on purpose, you’re taking them too. But it has to stop.”
What if you get sick too?” I nodded. “But your mother thinks I did this to you on purpose. How do we get through this?” I asked, aware that Colleen was in the hallway with Dani. I hoped she wasn’t trying to convince my child that I poisoned Duane on purpose. “We’ll get past this after we explain it to him. My mom is just scared and confused, but everything’s going to be okay.” I smiled at him. He needed to know I was going to try with Colleen—even though we both knew how he felt about me. Duane’s recovery was slow, difficult conversations with Colleen “You have to understand that I didn’t mean for that to happen,” I said to Colleen as we were making soup for Duane. “Because we were both?”. So Duane and I wanted to try them.” “Are you okay?” Colleen asked out of character. “Yeah, I didn’t have any side effects. But Duane made me promise to stop taking them.” She nodded and scooped the soup into bowls.
My mother-in-law and I then stepped on a fragile truce. I understood that she was worried about Duane, but so was I. She is less cold towards me now, but still keeps me at a distance. But I’m not afraid – at least we can talk now. Do you have any similar stories? Here is another story for you | The woman’s accident led to her mother-in-law confessing a truth she had been trying to process but couldn’t ignore because one of her children had exposed it. As a result, the elderly woman was removed from her son’s family.
After suffering from diet pills and accusations from her mother-in-law, Laura finds herself in a fragile truce. Despite the tension, she and Colleen managed a few conversations, albeit cautiously. While Colleen’s attitude towards Laura had softened slightly, there was still a palpable distance between them. However, Laura still hoped that with time and effort, their relationship could continue to improve.
As for Duane, his recovery has been slow but steady. The experience served as a wake-up call for both him and Laura about the dangers of relying on quick fixes and unregulated supplements. They promised to prioritize their health and well-being in a safer and more sustainable way.
While the incident strained their family dynamic, Laura and Duane emerged from it with a deeper understanding of each other and a renewed commitment to their relationship. And although there were still challenges ahead, they faced them together, strengthened by the trials they had overcome.