I used to think being generous would always come back to you eventually.

Now I know some people see kindness as an opportunity.

My mother-in-law and I were never especially close, but we were civil.

We saw each other during holidays, birthdays, family dinners, the usual things. She could be dramatic sometimes, but I always tried to give her the benefit of the doubt because she was my husband’s mother.

About a year ago, she called me late at night crying so hard I could barely understand her. At first, I thought someone had died.

Instead, she told me she was in serious financial trouble. According to her, she was behind on bills, her car payment was overdue, and she was terrified she’d lose everything. She kept saying she had nobody else to ask.

I should probably mention that my husband has always had a complicated relationship with her. He loves her, obviously, but he warned me many times not to loan her money.

“She never pays people back,” he told me.

But when someone is sobbing on the phone saying they’re desperate, it’s hard to just say no. Especially family.

The next day, she came over to our house. I still remember her sitting at my kitchen table holding a tissue with red, watery eyes, apologizing over and over for even asking.

She promised she’d pay me back within a month.

I didn’t have a lot saved, but I had enough to feel stable. That money was supposed to be part of our emergency cushion. Still, I transferred her $4,500 because I genuinely believed I was helping someone during a hard moment.

The first couple of weeks seemed normal. She texted me constantly thanking me and calling me “an angel.” Then slowly, the messages stopped.

After a month passed, I politely asked if she had any update about repayment.

She suddenly became defensive.

“You know I’m trying,” she replied.

After that, every conversation felt tense. If I brought up the money, she acted insulted. Sometimes she ignored me completely for days. Other times she’d change the subject immediately.