The worst started when my mother-in-law slipped something into my champagne glass at the ceremony, assuming no one would notice. She expected me to drink it, but I switched our cups covertly instead 
My mother-in-law was acting weird all evening. She seldom left our table, circling around us with ridiculous justifications like she had to “fix” the napkins, make sure the glasses were in alignment, or just “happen” to pass. The more I tried to ignore it, the more unnerving her constant presence became.
Whenever I looked up, she would quickly turn away. I once went to dance with my husband, and when I returned, I noticed her standing by our glasses. She gave me a startled look, as though I had caught her. Her hands were trembling as she pretended to gaze at the flowers.
Later, while the people were preoccupied with the cake, I caught sight of her once more. She was leaning over my glass and standing with her back to everyone. She held a tiny vial in her palm that was nearly covered as she peered around nervously.
In an instant, she poured its contents directly into my champagne, certain that no one was seeing. She proceeded cautiously and slowly, like though she were putting the last drops of poison in one of those murder novels she enjoys talking about.
My hands grew really cold. I stood still, watching as she hurriedly put the bottle in her small handbag and went back to the party as though nothing had occurred. She thought I would return, get the glass, and take a sip. That everything would be silent and unheard.
But I swiftly changed the glasses as soon as she turned away. I put mine, with the dubious residue at the bottom, next to her dish and kept the crystal-clear one for myself.
After a short while, my mother-in-law lifted her glass and made a toast. Confident that she had finally gotten what she wanted, she grinned broadly. For a very different reason, I also grinned.
Furthermore, something surprising occurred when she took her first taste
She paled, wavered, and reached for the chair, but her hands failed. On the floor, the glass cracked after slipping. The visitors exhaled. My spouse ran to her:
– Mom? What is going on?
And I stood at his side, icy as ice, telling the truth now:
It appears that that glass was not intended for consumption.
I found out the rest at the hospital later. After listening to our talk a few days prior, my mother-in-law discovered we were expecting a child.
Instead of being joyful, she made the decision to “free” herself and us from the “shame.” She was prepared to do something very heinous because she was afraid of rumors, criticism, and murmurs.
However, she ultimately had to pay the price.
