I never expected my rich daughter-in-law’s fancy dinner invitation to turn into a nightmare. When she abandoned me with a $5,375 bill, I knew I had to teach her a lesson she’d never forget.

My name’s Ruth, a retired teacher. Veronica, my son Michael’s wife, invited me to celebrate my retirement. “Don’t worry about the cost,” she said. “It’s my treat.”

We dined at an upscale restaurant, but after the meal, Veronica excused herself and never returned. I was left with the astronomical bill. Realizing her deceit, I paid the bill but plotted my revenge.

The next day, I called Carla, a friend with a cleaning service. We cleaned Veronica’s house and left a list of her snide comments and a note: “A clean slate for a fresh start.”

I also enlisted Charmaine, my lawyer friend, to draft a lawsuit threat. I confronted Veronica, who reluctantly agreed to apologize, reimburse me, and treat me with respect.

Veronica’s public apology went viral, and my bank account was $5,500 richer. Surprisingly, she started calling more, seeking advice and inviting me out. Last week, we planned Michael’s surprise birthday together.

“You taught me a lesson,” Veronica admitted. “You’re tougher than you look.”

I laughed, “Well, I did wrangle middle schoolers for four decades.”

As we planned the party, I realized sometimes tough love is needed to set things right. Respect isn’t given; it’s earned. I may have left the classroom, but I’m not done teaching just yet.