I Was Left in Tears When I Went to My Fiancé's House for Christmas — Hours Later, Karma Set In

I Was Left in Tears When I Went to My Fiancé's House for Christmas — Hours Later, Karma Set In

I'd always dreamed of a perfect Christmas, and this year was supposed to be special since I was finally going to be a part of Liam's family. I was excited to start a new chapter of our lives, unaware that this Christmas would be the beginning of the end.

Some families have their quirks,

 and Liam's family was no exception. They always seemed to share private jokes and playful banter that I couldn't quite understand.

When I first met Liam at that little coffee shop downtown last spring, I was instantly drawn to his infectious humor.

He was the type who'd draw silly faces on coffee sleeves and leave jokes for the baristas, while I was the quiet one who'd order my usual vanilla latte with a polite smile.

Our differences seemed charming then. He brought spontaneity to my structured world, and I brought stability to his chaos.

Seven months ago, he proposed in typical Liam fashion by hiding the ring in a fortune cookie at our favorite Chinese restaurant.

I nearly choked when I saw it, but that's Liam for you. Always the prankster, and always looking for a laugh.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes.

"Yes!" I said as tears streamed down my cheeks.

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world that day, unaware that I'd soon regret my decision.

A few days before Christmas, I carefully wrapped the presents I had bought for Liam and his family. At that point, I was nervous and excited because it was my first Christmas with them.

Suddenly, memories of past family Christmases flooded my mind.

I smiled as I remembered last Christmas when my mom surprised everyone with handcrafted photo albums filled with pictures from the past twenty years. My dad actually cried when he opened his.

Meanwhile, my sister Sarah got everyone personalized jewelry pieces that we still wear today. That's just how we are. We express our love through thoughtful, often expensive gifts.

"Do you think they'll like these?" I asked Sarah over FaceTime, holding up the designer scarf I'd bought for Liam's mom, Paula. "The saleslady said it's one of their most popular pieces this season."

"Two hundred dollars for a scarf? Mia, you're going all out!" Sarah laughed. "But hey, first Christmas with the future in-laws. Go big or go home, right?"

I had spent weeks choosing the perfect gifts.

I bought a limited edition watch for Liam's dad (he collects them), the latest gaming console for his brother Stephan (complete with three games he'd been talking about), and a custom-made leather jacket for Liam. I even got Paula those fancy cooking tools she mentioned during our last dinner together.

"Remember your first Christmas with Jake's family?" I asked Sarah. "Were you this nervous?"

"Oh my god, yes! But look at me and my MIL now. We get mani-pedis together every month!" She paused. "You know, Dad's words are what made me win her heart. He always told us to give thoughtful presents and be kind and courteous. I guess that's what helped me build a strong bond with Jake's mom."
A few days later, I loaded all the presents into my car. I was all set to go to Liam's place.

At that point, I remembered how Sarah, Mom, Dad, and I wore matching pajamas and sang carols in the most hideous way. It made me wonder if Liam's family had their own special traditions.

The drive to their house on Christmas Eve was picturesque. Fresh snow blanketed the ground, and every house along their street was decked out in twinkling lights.

Liam's family lived in one of those big Victorian homes that looked like it belonged on a Christmas card. My heart fluttered with excitement as I pulled into their driveway.

But the moment I walked through their front door, something felt different. Paula greeted me with a smile that seemed forced.

Meanwhile, Stephan barely looked up from his phone as he greeted me. And Liam's Dad? He just nodded while watching TV.

"Mia's here, guys!" Liam announced after noticing how his family almost ignored me.

The response was a chorus of half-hearted hellos and fake smiles.

What's wrong? I wondered, but Paula's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Let me help you with those gifts," she offered, eyeing my pile of carefully wrapped presents. It felt odd seeing how she was suddenly so interested in helping me.

I didn't think much about it and went to bed right after dinner.

Christmas Day started awkwardly and only got worse. In the kitchen, Paula kept "fixing" everything I tried to help with.

"Oh, honey, that's not how we do it here," became her catchphrase.

Moreover, every joke I made while we played board games fell flat, while their inside jokes went over my head.

"Remember when Mom got the turkey stuck in the dishwasher?" Stephan had said, and they all burst out laughing while I sat there feeling like an outsider.