When I started a new job in IT, my mother-in-law, Linda, made it clear she didn’t respect my career. She brushed it off with sarcastic comments like, “So you fix printers now?” I stayed polite for the sake of family harmony, but her judgment always lingered.

At a family dinner weeks later, Linda mocked me again, suggesting I pay for everyone’s meal since I was “Miss IT.” I calmly handed her the bill and said, “If your career’s more successful than mine, feel free to treat us.” Then I paid—for everyone, generously. She tried to jab back, asking if I had any money left. I smiled and said it was just a bonus.

Since then, she’s avoided family events altogether—and now my husband thinks I should apologize. But I don’t feel sorry. I’ve put up with constant jabs and silence for years. I finally stood up for myself, and the peace that followed has felt like a relief.

What hurts most is that my husband still attends those gatherings without me. He hasn’t stood by me, hasn’t asked his mom to make amends, and now blames me for the fallout. But I’m left wondering—was I really wrong for drawing a line?