My mom never liked my wife, warning me with tearful concern when I announced our marriage. “She’s not the one for you,” she said, but I believed she’d come around. Over time, she seemed to warm up. After Mom’s passing, I found a stack of papers under her bed while clearing her belongings—legal documents revealing she’d
paid off $48,000 of my wife’s debts, including loans and credit cards, using her retirement savings. She never told me. My wife confessed Mom had asked her to keep it secret, wanting to shield me from financial strain that could’ve hindered my education and future. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I realized Mom’s criticism masked deep love and sacrifice.
