My Mother-In-Law Invested Her Retirement Savings in P2P Through Me, Then Demanded Ten Times the Money After It Collapsed

At my wife Mia’s birthday banquet, my motherinlaw Margaret slammed that stack of bank statements into my face, “Ethan, you lowlife traitor, aren’t you afraid of getting struck by lightning?” “$800,000 was the retirement money I saved my whole life, and now there’s only $120,000 left.

How am I supposed to live?” I looked at the statements scattered on the floor.

More than a year ago, Margaret heard that I worked at an internet finance company and insisted that I help her invest her money. I refused right away.

I told her financial products all carried risk, especially highinterest ones like this, and there was no guarantee of principal. How had she responded back then?

She grabbed my hand, smiling so hard her face was full of wrinkles: Ethan, Mom trusts you. You came out of the financial regulator, so you’re an expert.

A guaranteed product is definitely safe. If I lose money, then it’s just my bad luck, and I will never blame you.

But now, the P2P platform had blown up, the whole industry had collapsed, and I had not escaped it either. “Mom, I signed a risk disclosure form with you back then, and I also warned you that this kind of product…” Before I could finish, Mia’s slap cut me off.

Mia’s eyes were red as she pointed at me and shouted, “Risk disclosure form?

Isn’t that just worthless paper your company uses to trick people into signing?” “Ethan, how can you even bring up some disclosure form?” “That was my mom!

You took her money to patch the holes in your company. Are you even human?” The relatives at the next table started whispering to each other.

My wife’s uncle took a sip of liquor and set his glass down hard. “Ethan, this is on you.” “How did you promise us back then?

You said that money in your hands was ten times better than in the bank.” “Now that it shrank to this, you need to take responsibility.” My wife’s aunt added in a sneering voice, “I heard about this kind of investment product.

The internal commission for employees is insanely high.” “Eighty grand went in, and Ethan probably took at least eighty or ninety grand in kickbacks, right?” “Look at your car and your watch.

You just bought them, didn’t you?” As soon as she said that, Margaret rushed up and grabbed my collar with both hands. “So that’s it!

You used my retirement money to buy a car and a watch! You parasite!” While scratching at my face, she cried out to the people around us, “Everybody, come look!

My soninlaw cheated his motherinlaw out of her money. Eight hundred thousand dollars!

I’ve never seen that much money in my life, and he blew it all!” I pushed her hand away and took two steps back. “I never took a single cent in commission.” “All the money flows are on the books.” “The company has already filed for bankruptcy, and I lost my job too.

I’m a victim as well.” Mia let out a cold laugh and slapped a printed divorce agreement onto the table from her bag. “Victim?

Only you know how much dirty money you took.” “Ethan, I’m not wasting words on you. You have to pay for this money my mom lost.” “Ten times compensation, eight million dollars.

Miss one cent, and you can wait to go to jail!” Eight million dollars. In this toptier city, that was enough to buy a pretty decent house.

When Margaret heard that number, she stopped crying at once, and greed flashed in her eyes. “Pay me eight million!

If you can’t get it, I’ll go hang myself at your parents’ door!” “I’ll make sure the whole world knows your family produced a scammer!” I looked at Mia, the woman I had been married to for three years. “She clearly knew that I quit because I discovered irregular fund flows inside the company and offended people I should not have offended.” “She clearly knew I spent the entire year staying up late just to help her mom keep an eye on that account.” Now, all she saw was that madeup eight million. “Mia, are you sure you want to do this?” I asked.

Mia turned her head away and said firmly, “Whatever my mom says is what I mean.” “You hurt my mom, so this marriage has to end, and you still have to pay.” I gave a bitter laugh and bent down to pick up that stack of statements. “Fine.

Since you think I’m a scammer, let’s go through the legal process.” I walked through the latenight streets and remembered how, three years ago, Mia had red eyes when she begged me to lend money for her dad’s surgery.

Back then, she would still say thank you, and she would still loop her arm through mine and say, “Marrying you was the best thing ever.” And now? She did not even ask.

She had already decided I was a scammer.

Early the next morning, before I even got out of bed, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and several men in black suits pushed past me and barged straight in.

The one in front was a middleaged man with glasses and a briefcase, and he looked very shrewd. “Mr. Ethan, I’m the lawyer hired by Ms.

Margaret.” “Regarding your use of your position to scam Ms.

Margaret out of $800,000, we are formally filing a lawsuit in court.” I leaned against the entryway and watched coldly as they sized up my living room.

Mia came out from behind the lawyer carrying several large woven bags. “This house was paid for with the down payment my mom gave us, and even though it’s under your name, now that you owe compensation, the house should go to my mom.” As she spoke, she directed the men to pack things into the bags.

My computer, projector, and even my treasured tea set were stuffed into them like trash. I pulled out my phone to call the police.

Mia screamed and lunged at me, snatching the phone away and smashing it hard onto the floor. “Call the police? Go ahead!

You scammer, the police will arrest you first!” The screen was shattered. I bent down and picked it up, but it would not turn on anymore.

I took a deep breath and gave up on calling the police. If I fought them headon now, it would only make things messier.

I watched them run wild through the home I had spent three years carefully building.

That tea set was a promotion gift from my dad, and one of the men in black accidentally smashed it to pieces on the floor, sending shards everywhere.

Mia did not even look at it. “Ethan, the lawyer said this counts as classic illegal fundraising and workplace fraud.” “If you sign this compensation agreement now and admit that you owe my mom eight million, we can consider not issuing a letter of leniency,” “and you might spend fewer years inside.” The lawyer handed me a printed document.

I took it and looked it over. The terms were vicious.

Not only did I have to pay eight million, I also had to admit that all the investment products were forged by me, and that I had embezzled public funds.

Once I signed, my life would be over for good. “What if I don’t sign?” I crumpled the document and tossed it into the trash.

Margaret rushed over and slapped her hand on the dining table. “Don’t sign? I already found the media!” “Tomorrow I’ll have you on the front page!

I’ll make sure everyone sees how the elite from the financial regulator eats people alive!” At that moment, my phone started vibrating wildly. It was my mom calling.

The instant I answered, noisy shouting and crying came through the line. “Ethan, come back now!” “Your motherinlaw brought more than a dozen people to block our front door and hung up banners saying you stole someone’s lifesaving money.” “Your dad got so mad that his heart condition flared up.

He was just taken away by ambulance!” My hand tightened so hard my knuckles turned white. “Mia, Margaret. You went to harass my parents?” My voice was as cold as ice.

Mia’s eyes flickered, but she quickly lifted her chin again. “That’s because you refuse to take responsibility! If a child owes a debt, the father pays it.

They raised a scammer like you, so they should suffer for it!” I took a deep breath and put my phone back in my pocket. “Get out.

All of you, get out.” I grabbed the fruit knife on the coffee table and drove it hard into the solid wood tabletop. “Before the court ruling comes down, if anyone dares touch a single thing in my house, I’ll trade lives with them.” The killing intent in my eyes clearly frightened them.

The lawyer tugged on Margaret’s sleeve, signaling that they should retreat first. Mia pointed at me and said through clenched teeth, “Ethan, just wait. See you in court tomorrow.

I’m going to make you kneel and beg my mom for forgiveness!” The door slammed shut. I collapsed hopelessly onto the floor covered in broken porcelain.

This was the marriage I had protected for three years. This was the family I had poured my heart into.

I opened the safe and reached for the USB drive hidden in the compartment—it was still there.

Inside were all my operation records from the past year, video of every time Margaret came to me for investment advice, and some secrets Mia did not even know about.

I had originally wanted to leave the relationship with the last shred of dignity. Now it looked like I did not need to.

When I got back to the hospital in my hometown, my dad had just been moved from the emergency room to a regular ward.

He lay in bed with a pale face, an oxygen tube in his nose, looking ten years older than he actually was. My mom sat by the bed wiping away tears.

When she saw me come in, she quickly pulled me to the end of the hallway. “Ethan, what exactly happened?” “Your inlaws brought more than a dozen people.

They splashed paint and burned fake funeral money.” “She says you cheated her out of $800,000 and still want her to pay you $8 million.” “That number is terrifying.

How could we possibly have that kind of money?” I steadied my mom’s trembling shoulders. “Mom, I’ll handle the money.” “I didn’t cheat anyone.

The money was lost when the company blew up, and all the paperwork was legal.” “But they don’t believe it!” My mom was crying so hard her voice was hoarse. “Now the neighbors are all pointing fingers and saying you turned into a bigtime con man out there.” “Your dad cares about his face more than anything in this world.

He can’t take this.” Just then, a burst of noisy footsteps came from down the hall. It was Margaret again.

Mia was behind her, along with several young people holding phones to livestream. “There he is!

Everybody look, this is that scammer Ethan!” Margaret shouted at the top of her lungs, making sure the entire ward could hear.

The livestream cameras were almost pressed against my face. “Mr.

Ethan, we heard you used your old connections from the financial regulator to run fake investments and scam your motherinlaw out of money. Is that true?” “Mr.

Ethan, your wife says she’s suing you for fraud.

What do you have to say in your defense?” Mia stood in front of the camera looking like a victim, constantly wiping away tears. “I never thought the person sleeping next to me would turn out to be such a devil.” “My mom’s retirement savings were the very money he begged to manage, and now it’s all gone.” “I just hope the law will give my mom justice.” I stood in front of my mom and looked at Mia coldly. “Mia, dare to tell the truth in front of the reporters?” “Those $800,000, did I really beg for them?” Mia froze for a second, then cried even louder. “You still want to argue now!

Do you think my mom would joke about her life savings?” Margaret rushed up and tried to slap me. I grabbed her wrist in one hand. “Don’t make trouble here. This is a hospital.

My dad is still inside.” “If you dare shout one more time, I’ll expose everything that happened back then.” Panic flashed in Margaret’s eyes, but her shrewish temper quickly covered it up. “Expose it?

Go ahead and expose it!

I’m scared of you?” “If you’ve got the guts, say right now in front of everyone how you stripped that $800,000 clean!” I let go of her hand and pulled out a backup phone. “Since you want to see it that badly, I’ll show you.” I opened a video.

I have this occupational habit.

I spent five years doing compliance inspections at the financial regulator, and any conversation involving money, I would subconsciously keep a record of it.

I never expected that habit to save my life today. It was from the first time Margaret came to my house carrying two boxes of cheap tea.

In the video, she pushed a deposit slip into my hand in a flattering tone. “Ethan, Mom heard you’re a manager at that financial company.” “You help Mom put this $800,000 in.

I don’t ask for much. Just double it for me in one year.” “Aren’t you an expert?

You must have a way.” The me in the video refused in a serious tone. “Mom, company rules say I can’t handle accounts for relatives.” “And the market is bad right now.

Products with this kind of high yield carry huge risk.

I don’t recommend you invest.” In the video, Margaret dropped straight to her knees and started throwing a tantrum. “If you won’t help me, then you’re looking down on me!

You want to watch me die without money for treatment!” “If you don’t agree, I’m not getting up!” By the time the video reached that point, the expressions on the faces of the young people livestreaming had turned a little strange, and one of them had quietly aimed the camera at Margaret.

Margaret’s old face turned red, then white. She suddenly snatched the phone and slammed it onto the floor, then stepped on it hard twice. “Fake!

This is an edited video!” “Don’t believe him.

He works in finance, so making something like this is too easy for him!” Mia quickly jumped in to smooth things over too. “Ethan, that trick is way too cheap.

A choppedup video like this won’t save you.

See you in court!” I looked at the young people livestreaming and said calmly, “Everyone, whether this video is real or fake, the cost of a technical authentication is low.” “The material in your hands is enough to make a reversal news segment.” Mia dragged Margaret away in a panic.

Before leaving, Margaret even spat at the ward door. “Ethan, just wait to die!

The lawyer said your kind of behavior can get you life in prison at most!” I turned back and looked at the tightly shut ward door.

The last trace of pity in my heart vanished completely the moment she spat.

The court summons came right on time. The day before the hearing, I went back to the old office address.

The place had already been cordoned off, and the entrance was piled high with wreaths and banners from debt collectors.

The once glorious internet finance giant was now a total mess.

I ran into an old coworker across the street, and he was now so broke he was driving for a rideshare app. “Ethan, what are you doing back here?” He handed me a cigarette, and his hand was still shaking. “I came back to get something.” “Don’t bother.

All the systems have been sealed, and the boss ran off long ago.” “We’ve all become scapegoats.” “Especially you.

You handled so many large transfers, and now people outside are saying you took several hundred million and ran.” He patted my shoulder. “I heard your motherinlaw is suing you for fraud.

Man, in times like this, the most dangerous people are the ones closest to you. Good luck.” I said nothing, just stared at the pitchblack office tower.

They all thought I had nothing. But they forgot that I had spent five years doing compliance inspections at the financial regulator. In my eyes, every flow of money left a trace.

When I got back to the rental apartment, Mia sent me her final ultimatum. It was a photo she took at the courthouse entrance. The caption said: Your last chance.

Sign this $8 million debt transfer agreement, and I’ll drop the lawsuit. Otherwise, tomorrow is the beginning of your total disgrace. I did not reply. I just blocked her.

That night, I sorted through all the evidence again. I found a huge loophole.

Margaret had been insisting that the $800,000 was her retirement savings, but the bank records showed that after the money was put into the investment product and before it blew up, she had secretly transferred out a full $500,000 in several installments. $300,000 went into an account tied to a pyramid scheme that the police had already identified, and another $200,000 was transferred directly to Kyle.

In other words, the socalled “losing everything” actually meant only $300,000 was really exposed to risk, and after the blowup that $300,000 still had $120,000 left.

Her actual loss was only $180,000, yet she wanted me to pay $8 million. I let out a cold laugh. So the socalled retirement savings were dirty from the start.

And Mia probably still did not know what her own mother had been doing behind everyone’s backs. The next day, the courthouse entrance was packed with people.

Besides reporters, the whole Margaret family was there too. Her uncle and aunt led the chants, demanding that I, this “finance rat,” be brought to justice.

I wore a simple black suit, carried my briefcase, and walked calmly into the defendant’s seat. Mia sat at the plaintiff’s table, with that shrewd lawyer standing beside her.

Margaret sat in the first row of the hearing section, making faces at me and silently mouthing curses.

The judge struck the gavel. “Court is now in session.” The plaintiff’s lawyer attacked first.

He pulled out a pile of fake chat screenshots and even a “principalguarantee commitment letter” bearing my signature. “Your Honor, the defendant Ethan used his family ties to repeatedly induce the plaintiff Margaret to invest large sums of money.” “And knowing the company was about to blow up, he still used deceptive methods, even forging a principalguarantee promise, which constitutes serious fraud.” Mia, at the right moment, began to sob softly beside him. “I never thought he would do this to my mother.” “That was my mom’s lifetime savings from blood and sweat.” There was a stir in the gallery, and someone cursed me as a beast.

The judge looked at me. “Defendant, what is your defense?” I stood up and straightened my tie. “Your Honor, every word the plaintiff said is a lie.” I took out a stack of bound original documents from my bag. “First, about inducing the investment.

This is Ms.

Margaret’s activity log on the investment app.” “We can clearly see that every deposit was made through her own realname verified phone.” “And because the amounts were huge, the system triggered five risk warnings.” “Each warning was clicked as ‘I fully understand the risks and am willing to bear the consequences.’” “Not only that, I also kept screen recordings of her actions.” I projected the video onto the big screen.

In the video, Margaret kept tapping the screen while muttering, This is the one that doubles it, right? These words are such a pain. Just hit confirm.

The plaintiff’s lawyer’s face stiffened. “That only proves she used the app, not that the defendant didn’t induce her!” I let out a cold laugh. “Second, about that socalled principalguarantee commitment letter.” I held up the original. “Please compare the signature, Your Honor.” “The signature on this letter is indeed mine, but it was cut out and composited from an old employment contract of mine.” “The paper texture is obviously different.” “Last, and most important.” I turned and stared at Margaret. “The plaintiff keeps saying that was $800,000 in retirement savings.” “Bank records I applied to obtain show that after the money was put into the investment product and before it blew up, she secretly transferred out a full $500,000 in several installments.” “$300,000 went to a pyramid scheme that had already been officially identified, and another $200,000 was sent directly to your son Kyle.” “Dare to tell everyone where that $500,000 went?

Your socalled ‘losing everything’ was a lie from the start!”