My MIL Gave Me a Broken Car as a ‘Gift’—Then Wanted It Back After I Fixed It

My MIL ‘Gifted’ Me a Car That Hadn’t Run In over 10 Years – After I Restored It, She Demanded It Back

When my mother-in-law gave me an old car that hadn’t been driven for more than a decade, I was under the impression that she was trying to make me feel ashamed of myself. She had no idea that I would transform it into a masterpiece that would be worth thousands of dollars. However, just as I was about to have a party to celebrate my accomplishment, she asked that I give it back.

My name is Elisa, and I’ve always had a strong fascination with automobiles.

My father was a racecar driver who competed at a semi-professional level, and I was hooked on the sport from the moment I was able to go over to the garage. Everything, from how to properly tighten nuts to how to understand engines, was taught to me by him.

It took me a record amount of time to replace a tyre by the time I became 12 years old. When I was a teenager, I spent more time in garages than I did in shopping malls, and I didn’t mind.

I have always been interested with automobiles, and I always knew that I would one day make a living by working with them.

When I reached adulthood, I advanced my career to that of a senior technician.

Having a job did more than just pay the bills. I was able to fuel my passion.

I was under the impression that my life was wonderful. That is, until I met Christine, who is now my mother-in-law.

But I’ll get to her at a later time. First, allow me to explain how I came to know Henry.

A mutual buddy was the one who brought us together.

Honest to God, I wasn’t anticipating anything at all. Considering that I am a free spirit, the concept of dating a physician seemed, to put it mildly, uninteresting to me. But as soon as we met, all of my preconceived notions were completely disproved.

Henry was not in the least bit of a dull person. Surprisingly, he had a genuine passion in automobiles, in addition to those qualities of warmth and flare.

In the course of our initial talk, which took place one evening, I casually stated that I was a mechanic. His eyes became bright with excitement.

The question he asked, which sounded more impressed than I had anticipated, was, “Wait, you actually fix cars?”

“Yep,” was my response. “Engines, transmissions, you name it.”

That is really incredible, he exclaimed. Whenever I was a kid, my dad would drive me to different automobile exhibitions. Even though I’ve always had a soft spot for them, I can hardly change a tyre without a manual handbook.

It turns out that we shared more similarities than I had initially imagined. Car exhibits, antique car auctions, and even road trips to discover hidden automotive jewels were some of the activities that we participated in together over the course of the subsequent several months. Whenever we laughed together or went to the petrol station together, our relationship got stronger.

Henry informed me that it was time for me to meet his mother at some point in the future.

During the time that he brought it up, we were having takeaway while sitting on my couch.

In the beginning, he began by pushing a stray piece of broccoli around his plate. “So, I’ve been thinking,” he said. “It’s probably time you met my mum.”

A unexpected sensation that I had been given a test caused me to pause in the middle of my bite. “Your mum?”

“Yeah,” he asserted, appearing to be embarrassed. “She is… well, she seems to have a bit of a personality. On the other hand, I want her to talk to you.

Despite the fact that I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable knot that was building in my stomach, I smiled.

“Okay,” I responded. “When?”

“How about the weekend after next? In order to set things up, I will phone her.

As soon as it happened, I was on the verge of meeting Christine.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this would be the beginning of a relationship that would be unlike any other I had ever experienced.

During the weekend that followed, Henry and I made our way to Christine’s residence.

Having the intention of making a favourable impression, I made the decision to bring flowers. In spite of the fact that Henry was telling me that his mother might be “a bit of a character,” I believed that if I gave her flowers, it would at least make her smile.

I did not waste any time in putting on my most friendly grin and extending the bouquet to her as soon as she opened the door.

“These are for you, Christine,” I responded, making an effort to sound kind and friendly.

She remarked, “Oh, how sweet,” as she took the flowers without displaying much pleasure over them. The drawl that she used was as thick as molasses, and her tone did not exactly scream excitement. She was from the South. “Come on in, y’all.”

The aroma of coffee and lavender was just barely detectable in the living room. Henry and I made ourselves comfortable on the couch, while Christine sat in an armchair and looked at me as if she were attempting to evaluate my personality.

Therefore, she began by folding her hands in her lap and said, “Henry has informed me that you and Henry have been seeing each other for some time now.”

I replied, “Yes, ma’am,” to her. “It’s been about eight months.”

With a nod, she shifted her attention to Henry. “And you’re happy, I take it?”

Henry wore a grin. “Very happy, Mom.”

She said, “Well, that’s good,” but her tone did not correspond with the words that she was saying. With a little narrowing of her eyes, she switched her attention back to me. “And what is it you do, Elisa?”

I was thinking, “Here we go.”

I boldly answered, “I’m a mechanic,” while meeting her stare.

As she repeated the question, she raised an eyebrow. “A mechanic?” “You mean you fix cars?”

“That’s right,” I responded, maintaining a calm tone on my voice.

The chair that Christine was sitting in was tilted back, and she let out a dry laugh.

It was then that she asked, “A woman fixing cars?” “That’s not a real career!”

It was as if the air had suddenly become more dense. Next to me, I could sense Henry becoming more tense.

“It’s not like that, Mom,” he stated in a convincing manner. “Mechanics earn well and it’s a nice job.”

A look of scepticism appeared on her face.

“Oh, honey, I’m sure it is,” she quipped with a chuckle. When I think about it, I find it quite peculiar. These days, women are continually attempting to do the tasks that men do.

I put on a fake smile, but really I was simmering with rage.

Henry made a statement before I had a chance to answer. It is necessary for you, Mom, to acknowledge that I have feelings for Elisa. I am so proud of her since she is remarkable in everything that she does.

She nodded, despite the fact that Christine’s lips clenched. “Well, if you’re happy, that’s all that matters, I suppose.”

Even the remainder of the visit was just as uncomfortable.

I could see that she was not happy about the fact that I was a part of her son’s life, despite the fact that she claimed to accept me. Following our departure, I turned to Henry.

I told her in a direct manner, “Your mother does not like me.”

“She’s just… set in her ways,” he said with a sigh. You need not be concerned, Elisa. “I’ve got your back,” she said.

A year later, we tied the knot, and despite the fact that Christine was there at the ceremony, her lukewarm attitude towards me had not altered.

Due to the fact that Henry and I purchased a home that was located only a few blocks away from hers, I was required to see her more frequently than I would have liked.

She would find a way to make a snarky remark about my work or gently insinuate that I wasn’t good enough for her son each and every time we went to visit.

Afterward, my birthday arrived.

The celebration that Henry arranged for me was a tiny one, and Christine showed up with a smug smile on her face and a set of car keys in her hand.

“Well, she wishes you a happy birthday, Elisa,” she remarked in a tone that was phoney pleasant.

As she handed me the keys, I uttered the words “thank you,” but I was perplexed.

With a sneer on her face, she continued, “Here’s a project for you because you are such a ‘amazing’ mechanic to begin with.”

A few minutes later, I followed her to her garage, where she revealed a deteriorating 2008 Ford Mustang GT that was covered in dust and cobwebs that had accumulated over the course of three decades.

As she spoke, she was obviously having a good time. “It hasn’t run in over ten years,” she added. “Try to fix it if you are so skilled. Happy birthday to you!”

I can say without a doubt that this was the most peculiar present I had ever been given. When we arrived at the garage, my buddies, who had followed us there, exchanged expressions of bewilderment.

Before leaving, Christine bestowed upon me one final grin before leaving. It was at that moment that I realised she had the intention of putting me in my place by purchasing that so-called “gift.” Nevertheless, she was unaware that she had presented me with a challenge through her actions.

In addition, I cherished a good challenge.

The day following my birthday, I went back to the garage to get some things.

I could see the potential even though there was a lot of dirt and grime on it. I had no doubt that if I put in the necessary amount of love and work, this infant could once again shine brightly.

In spite of the fact that it required some work on my part and a sizeable portion of my own money, I was determined to get the car towed to my garage.

I focused all of my energy and resources on that Mustang over the course of the subsequent half year. I was able to get several uncommon components, some of which I had to locate from collectors located all across the country. I worked through the night, replacing the engine, repairing the suspension, and even restoring the interior to its former grandeur since I was so dedicated to the project.

At that point, it was not simply a matter of regaining the ability to run it. It was my goal to make it appear as though it had just been moved from the production floor.

Henry would frequently visit me in the garage while I was working, either to bring me snacks or to simply hang out with me in order to prevent me from being bored.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” He’d remark this while he watched me make adjustments to the engine. “My mum has no idea who she’s dealing with.”

By the time I had finished, the Mustang was not simply operating on its own. It was a work of excellence.

The engine purred like a satisfied cat, and the slick black paint shone brightly under the lights since it was illuminated. I was aware that I had transformed that discarded pile of metal into a vehicle that stood at least $20,000 in value.

Even several of my customers, in addition to my friends and neighbours, came by to take a look at it.

As word swiftly spread, Christine was able to learn about my accomplishments in a short amount of time.

Christine showed around unannounced one afternoon, and I was in the middle of admiring the finished car that was sitting in my garage. It seemed as if she had no interest in making pleasantries.

It was her declaration that “that car is still legally mine,” and she waved the title around as if it were a sword. “And I want it back.”

My eyes blinked as I attempted to make sense of what I was hearing. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” she remarked while crossing her arms over her legs. You’ve had a lot of fun putting it back together, but now it’s time to hand it over to someone else. I will be the one to conduct the sale.”

In a state of amazement, I glanced at her. Was she requesting that I return the present that she had given to me? You mean that, Christine?

I am grateful to you, Christine, for the gift of this automobile. Keep in mind? When it is my birthday?

A smirk formed on her lips as she smiled. “A present, without a doubt. But I never once suggested that you may retain it.

Even though I could feel my anger boiling, I was determined to keep my calm and not lose my cool.

Then I said, “Well, here’s the thing,” while maintaining a steady tone in my voice. There are witnesses who heard you expressly declare that it was a gift, and I have receipts for every single cent that I spent on this automobile. I also have photographs that chronicle every stage of the repair process. That being said, you will not be receiving it back.

Despite the fact that Christine’s sneer was shaking, she did not retreat.

“We’ll see about that,” she said before storming out of the room.

And as you can see, we did.

When I hired a lawyer, the court matter moved along rather quickly. My attorney presented all of the evidence, which included comments from members of my family and friends who had attended the birthday celebration I had organised.

They verified that Christine had stated that the automobile was in fact a gift. According to the judge’s decision, the Mustang was legally mine. This decision was in my favour.

Christine was even forced to pay for my legal bills on my behalf.

However, the frosting on the cake was what happened after the victory, which was sweet in and of itself.

I was able to sell the Mustang for a total of $20,000, and I put some of the proceeds towards purchasing a new vehicle for myself as well as funding a road trip with Henry. We took our dream automobile and drove across the country, stopping at car shows along the way and creating experiences that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

Christine, on the other hand, was not overly enthusiastic with the outcome.

On top of that, her son had at long last established some clear boundaries.

“Mom, if you can’t respect Elisa, then you’re not welcome in our lives,” he informed her of this.

And just like that, her interference started to decrease more and more. It is not clear to me whether or not she has fully recognised my employment as a “real career,” but I am certain that she will give it some serious consideration before handing me another car key.