What was supposed to be a dream honeymoon in Bora Bora quickly turned into a battle for control when my in-laws demanded our luxury villa for themselves. But when my husband finally allowed me to handle them, I made sure they got exactly what they deserved.
When we announced our honeymoon plans, my parents were overjoyed. They had always been modest, easygoing people who never expected extravagance. Growing up, vacations for us meant road trips, budget-friendly motels, and simple joys like picnics by the lake. So when Mark and I invited them to join us on this luxurious getaway, they were stunned.
My mom wiped a tear from her eye. “Are you sure this isn’t too much?” she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. My dad kept shaking his head in disbelief, muttering, “This is the trip of a lifetime. We can’t believe you’re doing this for us.”
Mark’s parents, however, were a different story.
Before we even booked the trip, I got a glimpse of just how much control his parents had over him. We had originally planned to go in late May, but when Mark mentioned it to his mom, Linda, she immediately dismissed it.
“No, Mark. That won’t work for us,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Your father has his golf tournament, and I have my garden club’s spring luncheon. You’ll have to move it.”
I expected Mark to push back, to remind her that this was our honeymoon, not a family reunion. Instead, he sighed, shot me an apologetic look, and said, “We can reschedule, right?”
I blinked. “Mark, we already put down deposits.”
“I’ll cover the change fees,” he assured me. “It’s just easier this way.”
Easier for whom? Certainly not for me or my parents, who had to rearrange their schedules. But for Linda and Richard? It was perfect. And, as always, what they wanted came first.
That night, I confronted him. “You can’t keep letting them run our lives.”
He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Just this once,” he promised. “After this trip, no more. We’re setting boundaries.”
I smiled and squeezed his hand. “Next time, let me handle things.”
We had booked Mark’s parents a gorgeous overwater bungalow. It had a glass floor, an open-air bathroom, and a private deck with a view that could take your breath away. My parents were thrilled with theirs. They kept calling it “magical.”
But when Linda and Richard arrived? Their faces twisted with disappointment. They barely even said thank you.
Mark and I, on the other hand, had taken the only available villa—4,000 square feet of pure paradise. It had a sauna, an outdoor tub, a private pool, and the best part: an ocean slide that dropped straight into the crystal-clear water below.
I had a feeling trouble was brewing.
That evening, we gathered for dinner under the open sky. The warm air smelled of coconut and grilled seafood, the sun painting the horizon in pinks and golds. We were laughing, sipping pineapple cocktails, when my cousin Jason leaned over with a grin.
“That ocean slide of yours is insane! I saw the pics—can I try it tomorrow?”
I laughed. “Of course! It’s so much fun.”
Across the table, Linda suddenly gasped. “Wait… WHAT?” She slapped her hand on the table, her eyes darting to Mark. “You have an ocean slide?”
Richard frowned. “Your place has a slide?”
I felt my stomach twist. Here we go.
Linda snatched Mark’s phone off the table and scrolled through the pictures we had taken earlier that day. Her face turned red. “Mark, THIS is your place?!”
Mark hesitated. “Uh… yeah?”
Richard shoved his chair back. “And we’re stuck in a bungalow?!”
“Mom, Dad,” Mark started, “your place is amazing. It’s the best bungalow they offer.”
“But it’s NOT a villa,” Linda snapped. She turned to me, her voice sharp. “Why do YOU get the best place?”
I took a slow breath, keeping my voice steady. “There was only one villa available. It wouldn’t have been fair to give it to just one set of parents.”
Linda scoffed. “We are the elders! We shouldn’t live like peasants while our children enjoy luxury!”
I almost choked on my drink. Peasants? In Bora Bora?
Richard crossed his arms. “Mark OWES us. We raised him. He wouldn’t even be here without us.”
Linda nodded smugly. “You can’t even sacrifice a little for family?”
Mark sat frozen. His eyes darted between me and his parents. Linda’s nostrils flared, Richard’s jaw clenched.
“Mark,” Linda snapped, expecting him to cave. “Say something!”
He opened his mouth, then shut it. His hands curled into fists. Then, slowly, he looked at me and nodded. A small but meaningful nod.
My heart leaped.
I turned to Linda and Richard, smiling sweetly. “I understand you want something better. You’re right—family should be treated well. I’ll make sure you get the special treatment you deserve.”
Linda smirked. “Well, it’s about time.”
Richard grumbled. “Should’ve done that in the first place.”
That night, I made a quick call to the resort concierge. “I need an ‘upgrade’ for my in-laws.”
The woman on the other end hesitated. “Upgrade?”
“First-class tickets home,” I said sweetly. “Only the best for them.”
The next morning, I woke to the sound of suitcases rolling. I stepped onto our balcony just in time to see Linda and Richard at the front desk, waiting for their “upgrade.”
The concierge approached them with a warm smile. “Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, your special arrangements have been finalized.”
Linda beamed. “Finally! Where are our new keys?”
The concierge handed them an envelope. “Your first-class tickets.”
Silence.
Linda’s eyebrows shot up. “Tickets?”
Richard ripped open the envelope. His face turned beet red. “This is a joke,” he growled. “This is a goddamn joke.”
Linda’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. “YOU’RE SENDING US HOME?!”
I stepped forward, flashing them my sweetest smile. “You said you deserved the best… and home is the best place we could find for you.”
Richard’s face burned. “HOW DARE YOU?!”
“Oh, very easily,” I said lightly.
Linda turned to Mark. “You’re going to let her do this to us?”
Mark sighed. “Honestly? Yeah.”
Linda gasped. “We’re your parents!”
“And we’re on our honeymoon,” he replied. “You don’t even like Bora Bora, Mom.”
And just like that, resort staff took over. Their bags were already packed. Linda was still screeching when the boat pulled away.
Mark turned to me, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you actually did that.”
I wrapped an arm around his waist. “Believe it.”
He pulled me close, his voice soft. “Best decision ever.”
And finally, we got to enjoy our honeymoon the way we had always dreamed.
