The wedding of my sister-in-law was approaching. I went home early to help with the preparations, but as soon as I reached the gate I overheard my mother-in-law excitedly discussing something inside:

“The plot on my sister-in-law’s wedding day”

A wedding should have been a happy day, but it became the turning point that changed my life forever.

Coming home early

We originally planned for my husband and me to arrive home one day before my sister-in-law’s wedding. But since work finished early, I decided to come back three days ahead to help with the preparations. I thought my mother-in-law would be pleased—she always liked things to be perfect.

However, the moment I stepped through the gate I froze, because I heard voices from inside the house. My mother-in-law’s voice was sharp, threaded with a faint laugh:

“I’ve had it with that driver. If we just push him off the cliff, we’ll get 50 billion in inheritance!”

I stood still. It felt as if someone were squeezing my heart.

Suspicion and obsession

At first I thought I must have misheard, or that she was joking while drinking. But the serious faces of those at the table made me tremble. A relative sneered:

“You’re bold, but make sure you make it look clean. Traffic accidents happen all the time.”

I didn’t dare go inside; I quietly turned away, a thousand questions racing through my mind. The driver she mentioned was Mr. Công — a man in his fifties who had been driving for my husband’s family for months. He was gentle, hardworking, with a wife and children in the countryside. Why would my mother-in-law speak of him as if he could net such a huge inheritance?

That night I tossed and turned, my heart racing. If it was just a joke, why did it sound so premeditated?

The tragedy

Two days later, before I could investigate further, terrible news arrived: Mr. Công was found dead at the bottom of a winding slope just a few kilometers from home. Police initially concluded it was a traffic accident caused by the vehicle losing control.

People were shocked and mournful. But in my mind my mother-in-law’s words echoed chillingly: “Push him off the cliff…”

Gathering evidence

I knew if I spoke up bluntly no one would believe me; they might even accuse me of fabricating a story to slander my mother-in-law. So I gathered evidence quietly. I spoke to several neighbors who said they had seen my mother-in-law frequently ride alone with Mr. Công, whispering about being “too intimate.”

A close friend of Mr. Công even showed me messages: he had complained about being “forced into an unspeakable relationship,” but before he could explain the details the accident happened.

Most importantly, I had the recording from that day: my mother-in-law’s words, clear as day.

Bringing the truth to light

I brought all the evidence to the police. At first they were reluctant—this looked like a simple accident. But after listening to the recording, the investigation was immediately expanded.

Police reviewed footage from cameras near the accident site and discovered that Mr. Công’s car showed signs of a strong impact from behind before it plunged into the ravine. Abnormal marks on the vehicle further supported the hypothesis that someone had caused the crash intentionally.

My mother-in-law was summoned. She denied everything, saying she had only “spoken carelessly while joking.” But when witnesses, messages, and technical evidence emerged one after another, she had no way out.

A family shattered

On the day the court delivered its verdict, I saw my mother-in-law in prison clothes, her gray hair disheveled, her face still trying to look proud. She was sentenced to many years in prison for murder by conspiracy.

My husband’s family was stunned. Those who had laughed along that day were called to testify—some were ashamed, others fearful of being implicated. My sister-in-law—the bride—broke down in tears; the wedding was postponed indefinitely.

My husband fell into crisis. He felt both pity and shock that his own mother could be so cruel. He apologized to me, but I knew that fracture could not be mended.

What became of everyone

Mother-in-law: once a powerful, ambitious woman, she became a convicted criminal reviled by society. She lost her freedom, her honor, and her family ties.

My husband: torn between filial duty and truth, he ultimately chose to divorce to free me. He now lives quietly, avoiding contact with others.

Mr. Công’s family: devastated, but at least they received justice. They were compensated, though that cannot make up for their loss.

Me: I left that house with a bitter lesson—sometimes the people you trust most can hide cruelty beyond belief.

Final words

On my sister-in-law’s wedding day I had only planned to return early to help cook. Instead, that return led me to overhear a shocking secret that exposed a crime thought to be buried forever.

My mother-in-law’s words—“Push him off the cliff and you’ll get 50 billion in inheritance”—became the sentence she ultimately wrote for herself.