Fearing that I might suffer after getting married far from home and moving to Mexico City, my mother sold her small bakery in Guadalajara to buy yasme a fully paid penthouse in Polanco.
It wasn’t excessively luxurious.
But it was close to Paseo de la Reforma, and from the balcony you could see the endless golden lights of the city every night.
My mother told me:
“My daughter, you don’t need to depend on anyone.
Even if your marriage falls apart someday, at least you’ll have a place to return to.”
The property was registered solely in my name.
Not even my husband, Alejandro Herrera, knew the truth.
Not because I wanted to hide it from him.
But because I knew his family far too well.
Especially my mother-in-law, Carmen Herrera.
A woman who always talked about “the importance of family,” though in reality the only thing she truly cared about was money.
On the third day after the wedding, Alejandro brought his mother and sister to the apartment.
Outside, a light drizzle was falling over Mexico City.
As soon as Carmen crossed the door, she stood motionless for several seconds.
Her eyes traveled across the marble floor, the minibar counter, and finally the piano my mother had given me.
“My God…
A place like this in Polanco must cost a fortune in rent, right?”
My heart skipped a beat.
I was about to answer when Alejandro spoke first.
“Analia got a good deal, Mom.”
I immediately smiled and went along with the lie.
“Yes, we’re renting it.
A friend helped me find it at a cheap price.”
As soon as she heard that, Carmen’s expression changed completely.
The caution she had shown when entering disappeared.
Now she looked like someone who had just discovered a gold mine.
She sat slowly on the white leather sofa and crossed her legs.
“Rented?
Ah, then that’s perfect.”
I stared at her.
And a bad feeling began to grow inside me.
Just as I imagined, her next sentence froze the atmosphere.
“If this is rented…
Then what is your mother doing here?”
She turned her head toward my mother, who was coming out of the kitchen carrying a tray of hot chocolate.
“A penthouse like this is no place for another person to live.
Newlyweds already living with the mother-in-law… that doesn’t look good.”
My mother’s smile stiffened immediately.
She hadn’t even set down the tray when Carmen continued:
“It would be better if she returned to Guadalajara.
This is my son’s home.”
Alejandro remained silent.
As always.
Every time his mother spoke, he seemed to automatically lose the ability to have an opinion.
My sister-in-law Sofía even let out a little laugh.
“Honestly, yes, Mom.
If my friends find out Alejandro lives with his mother-in-law, they’ll die laughing.”
I clenched my hands so tightly that my nails left marks in my skin.
My mother had sold the only business she owned.
She had used all her retirement savings.
Just to make sure I had a backup after marrying far from home.
And now…
Inside the apartment she herself had paid for…
They were throwing her out as if she were an intruder.
I still hadn’t spoken when Carmen looked at me again.
“And one more thing.
From now on, the two of you will hand me the rent money.
Twenty thousand pesos a month will be enough.
Young people spend without thinking. Better that I manage the money.”
I almost laughed.
Twenty thousand pesos.
She not only wanted to take over the penthouse.
She also wanted to empty our pockets every month.
And the most ridiculous part was that she spoke in such a natural tone… as if she were doing us a favor.
I looked at my mother.
Her eyes were red, though she was still trying to smile.
And in that moment, something inside me changed completely.
I walked slowly toward them.
And smiled with absolute calm.
“Of course, Mother-in-law.
We’ll give you the rent money.
And my mother will leave tomorrow.”
The entire Herrera family immediately showed triumphant expressions.
Alejandro even let out a relieved sigh.
My mother gently tugged at my sleeve.
“Analia…”
I squeezed her hand discreetly.
Asking her to remain silent.
Because I knew perfectly well…
That the real show was only just beginning.
02
That night, after leaving my mother at a temporary hotel, I stayed alone on the balcony.
The red lights of Reforma looked like rivers of fire stretching beneath the rain.
Then I called Lucía.
My best friend.
And one of the most feared real estate attorneys in Mexico City.
After hearing the whole story, she was silent for a few seconds.
Then she let out a cold laugh.
“Your mother-in-law has big ambitions.
She walked in as a guest and in less than ten minutes was already trying to become the owner of a penthouse in Polanco.”
I leaned back in the chair.
“I need you to help me with something.
I want you to pretend to be the owner.”
Lucía understood immediately.
“How cruel do you want the contract to be?”
I looked at the illuminated city below me.
And answered slowly:
“Eighty thousand pesos in monthly rent.
Split equally between the two of us.
No woman over fifty is allowed to stay overnight.
If they violate the rule, immediate eviction.”
Lucía laughed so hard that I had to pull the phone away from my ear.
“Analia…
You’ve finally grown fangs.”
An hour later she sent me the contract.
Electronic signatures.
Legal seals.
Everything perfect.
The next morning, I printed three copies and left them on the glass table in the living room.
That evening Alejandro returned from work in an excellent mood.
As soon as he came in, he wrapped his arms around my waist.
“My mom called me today.
She said you’re a very smart wife.
I knew you were the best woman in the world.”
I gently removed his hands.
“The lease agreement arrived.”
Alejandro took it without much concern.
Three minutes later…
His face turned completely pale.
“EIGHTY THOUSAND PESOS?!”
His shout echoed through the entire penthouse.
He flipped through the pages frantically, his hands trembling.
“Analia, this is robbery!
Forty thousand each!
How are we supposed to pay that?!”
I leaned calmly against the kitchen counter while sipping wine.
“What’s the problem?
Didn’t your mother want to handle the rent?
Then give her the money.
Let her deal with the owner.”
Alejandro stared at me in disbelief.
“But Mom thought it was twenty thousand!”
“Oh…”
I smiled slowly.
“Then she miscalculated.”
He began breathing heavily.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?
You already knew the real price!”
I set my glass down on the counter.
And for the first time, I looked directly at him without lowering my eyes.
“Yes.
