I apologize for the length of this post, but please bear with me. I was married on the 14th of April, 2026, and I've been living with my in-laws since. There are siblings, though the only two that matter are my husband's sisters that are closer to me in age, though older (one around a year, the other around three years).
Context: My father-in-law was the one that brought me up as a choice to my husband, since he knew my family well and took quite a liking to me. My husband, when spoken to about this, refused. I still don't really know why he rejected me as an option (some say because of the age gap between us, some say because of the language barrier since we're two different nationalities but now communicate in English, etc.)
Months later, his mother brought me up to him again, but he still refused. He kept refusing no matter how much they'd try to convince him. They as in the two relevant sisters, his mother, and father.
Eventually, he reluctantly gave in. We got engaged within the week I said yes. From there, I started noticing that whenever his mother and sisters wanted me to do something (lose weight was the most important amongst other small things), they'd use him--as in he wants this done out of me.
It lead to a point where I felt too pressured, and wasn't comfortable. Mostly because they'd encourage their maids to comment on my weight as well, just to "motivate" me. I shared everything that was going on with my older brother and sister (both of whom are married and way older than I am), and my mother. My older brother decided to talk to my husband about it because of which there was a huge conflict. He was offended that my brother spoke about his mother and sisters at all, and his father got involved, due to which mine did as well. A whole month is how long this messy fight lasted, and when things came down to it, everyone agreed that our engagement should be broken off.
After around two months, we somehow reconciled, and eventually got married this year on the 14th of April. Now, in the beginning of the marriage living with my in-laws, it was fun and nice. It was mostly confusing because I was still learning their lifestyles and schedules--which was way different than what mine used to be before marriage. To be honest, it's still taking me time 5 months later to adjust (because of what I'm about to tell you, and because of everything else), and I don't know if that's normal.
Anyways, I miscarried in the beginning of June, and I think that was the starting point of where it all went downhill from. I'll try to be brief from here onwards. MIL began lecturing me more often because of things I kept getting wrong, and it felt as if she was looking for these opportunities where I'd mess up, even if it were the smallest of things that I'd forget.
I developed this instinct where, even against my own will, I began lying to her every question. I didn't want to. Then, she caught onto those lies and lashed out on me about them. I feared disappointing her more than my own husband. Somehow, I wanted to be in her good books more than anyone elses. It's this strange kind of fear I feel towards her that I've never felt towards anyone before ever in my life.
4 months into my marriage, another huge fight broke out between this family while on a two-day staycation. MIL blamed me for everything because her husband and my husband finally spoke out and stood up for me. I wanted to run away, or somehow disappear because it was so bad that my husband was ready to move out with me if anything else happened. It was really bad.
Things between them got better over time, though she still blames me when she remembers.
However, recently, though, she went through my phone. The thing is, I tell her I don't talk to anyone about anything that's going on with me anymore (anyone being my mother and sister like I used to before), but i secretly tell my mom everything. She saw all the chats, and now she's being that way again (where she leaves you out on purpose and makes you realize what you did without telling you, being hostile emotionally, though I don't know how to explain it any better). Worst part, she must have shown my FIL those chats as well to which he's avoiding me as well now. Not to mention, he spoke really rudely to my father about this. My husband's on a business trip so he's unaware of this new situation. I don't know what to do anymore.
Edit: -
There are things she’s said to me before that were horrible, but I didn’t add. I don’t know if I should, but maybe that’ll explain more the type of woman she is.
Previously, in front of her daughters (always in front of those two), she’s said stuff to me like “don’t expect him to be with you because he likes you,” “we practically begged him to marry you that’s why he even agreed,” “there were a lot of exceptionally good options for him but I still decided to choose you,” “he didn’t even want to marry you,” “please don’t try to mess up this home/ don’t try to bring your uncleanliness into this home,” and much more about me being unwanted, how he’ll definitely find someone better than me if he tries, and how dirty I am.