But then his mother showed her true colors, and everything started to unravel.
Jake and I had been together for three years, and when he proposed, I thought I was the luckiest woman alive. We had this lovely life together—our small but warm apartment, a love I thought could survive anything, our little cat Cami, and plans for a future we were building together piece by piece.
And then my grandmother passed away, and my world shattered.
Her loss left me heartbroken.
“Layla, my child,” she would often say. “Out of all my grandchildren, you’re the one that will always be special to me. From the time you were born, I knew that you would be the mini-me. I will always take care of you, my girl. Even after I die.”
And true to her word, she left me $500,000 in her will.
Honestly, I had no idea how to even handle that kind of money. But once Denise, my future mother-in-law, found out?
Well, she instantly saw an opportunity—and it didn’t include me in the picture.
This all happened just a week after Jake casually mentioned my inheritance to his parents over dinner.
“I have something for you, sweetheart. I know that it’s been difficult, mourning the loss of your grandmother. But it’s time to move on now. The sun keeps shining, Layla,” she said softly, handing me an envelope as if it were a loving gesture.
I smiled politely, thinking it might be a letter filled with kind words or maybe a cherished family keepsake. Something heartfelt, at least.
It was a list.
A list of demands, actually.
Gifts I was somehow expected to provide as Jake’s fiancée, before I could be “fully accepted” into their family circle.
As I scanned the paper, my stomach knotted. Each request more absurd than the last.
Next? A brand-new car for Jake’s younger sister because “family supports each other, and you know, Elena needs a car.”
And, of course, a hefty $20,000 gift—or “loan”—so Jake’s parents could renovate their kitchen before our big wedding.
A fully paid family vacation for ten people, complete with first-class airfare.
And to top it off, a monthly “family contribution” of $2,000 to prove that I was “committed to the well-being of the family.”
I forced a strained laugh as I looked around the dinner table—Denise slicing into a pecan pie, Elena scooping out ice cream, Jake pouring more wine, and my father-in-law picking his teeth like nothing unusual was going on.
“You’re joking… right? This is just one big prank?” I finally blurted out, unable to hold it in.
“Oh, honey. This is just what’s expected of you. You’re about to marry into this family, and we take care of each other. You’re lucky to have this opportunity.”
Lucky? Did she seriously just call me lucky?
My grandmother had just passed away, and this woman was acting like I’d hit the jackpot.
And then Denise dropped the line that sealed the deal for me.
“If you really love my son, you’ll do this.”
Strangely enough, I didn’t storm out. I didn’t start a fight right there at the table.
“Oh, Denise,” I said, dripping with fake enthusiasm. “I totally get it. You’re right. Family takes care of family. I’d love to do this. For you… for everyone. Maybe I’ll even throw in a pair of gold cufflinks for Jake.”
Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction, like a predator catching its prey.
“I knew you’d understand, sweetheart,” she replied, handing me a slice of pie. “Here’s a slice of pie, Layla. Enjoy!”
I just kept smiling, even though inside I was screaming.
Later that night, back at our tiny apartment, I sat across from Jake. The envelope sat between us on the coffee table like a ticking time bomb. Cami purred quietly nearby, curled up on the rug, blissfully unaware of the tension in the room.
I was furious. And crushed.
Because instead of focusing on grieving the woman who raised me, I was dealing with this nonsense. My grandmother was gone, and I should’ve been mourning her properly.
But instead, there I was—staring at a list of outrageous demands like my grief had a price tag attached.
They never saw me as one of them. Not truly.
If they had, they wouldn’t be treating me like a piggy bank, hoping to cash out on my pain.
They were treating my inheritance like it was community property before I even got married.
“I said yes,” I finally said, sounding hollow. “I told your mom I’d do it. And you sat there and just ate pie.”
Jake’s brows shot up. He clearly hadn’t expected that.
“Oh. Well… that’s good, right?”
“Is it?” I answered with a bitter chuckle.
I stared at him like I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. A gesture?
“That’s what she called it too,” I muttered, shaking my head. “A gesture to prove I’m worthy of marrying you. A gesture to show I take ‘family’ seriously. A gesture that just so happens to total more than a hundred grand.”
Jake let out a long sigh and rubbed the back of his neck, like I was the one making things difficult.
That hit me like a punch to the gut.
“They’re not struggling, Jake,” I snapped. “Do you think I don’t feel sick every time I remember where this money came from? That I wouldn’t trade every cent of it just to have one more day with my grandmother?”
Jake’s confidence wavered as guilt crept into his expression.
“If your family had treated me like a daughter, I wouldn’t have hesitated to help them. I would have gladly spent my inheritance on things that mattered. Wanting a kitchen remodel isn’t struggling.”
Jake just leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling like the conversation was exhausting him.
“But that’s not what happened, Jake. Your mother didn’t come to me with love. She came with a list.”
“Babe, you’re overthinking this. She’s just old-fashioned. She wants to make sure you’re committed to the family.”
I locked eyes with him, letting all the anger and sadness bubble to the surface.
“You know what?” I whispered firmly.
“You’re right. I’m overthinking it.”
“See?” Jake smiled weakly. “It’s not a big deal.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral.
“I’m going to bed. You fill Cami’s bowl and give her some fresh water.”
If Denise and the family wanted a gesture, well, I was going to deliver one they wouldn’t soon forget.
Over the next few days, I carefully put everything together. I wasn’t just going to walk away. I was going to make a statement.
Denise’s face lit up when she saw me. She looked thrilled, clapping her hands together like she was about to open a mountain of luxury presents.
One by one, I handed out the gifts—each wrapped with care and precision.
For Denise? A sleek Cartier box that she couldn’t open fast enough.
She gasped when she flipped it open… only to find a plastic bracelet from the dollar store inside.
“I thought this was more your speed, Elena,” I told her, as if I were genuinely proud of the gift.
For Jake’s father? A cheap knockoff watch, the kind you’d find in a bargain bin.
And for the family vacation? A brochure for a local budget bus tour around the city.
Denise’s face went pale as the realization hit her.
“What the hell is this?” she hissed, clutching the toy bracelet like it might bite her.
I raised my eyebrows, acting as innocent as possible.
Her face flushed deep red, her lips trembling with rage.
“This isn’t funny. Not at all.” she snapped.
I leaned in, lowering my voice for just the two of us.
“No, Denise. What’s not funny is you demanding that I buy my way into your family like I’m some outsider who needs to pay a membership fee. I’ve been in this family for three years. And you’re acting like I’m a stranger!”
“Babe, you’re overreacting again!” he sighed, sounding exhausted.
“No, Jake,” I replied calmly. “I’m not. Your mother tried to manipulate me into handing over my inheritance like it was owed to them. And the fact that you didn’t shut it down when it happened? Or when I spoke to you about it at home? That tells me everything I need to know.”
Then, I inhaled deeply and dropped the final blow on them all.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Denise looked like she might faint right there at the table.
Jake sat frozen, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.
“Wait, what?!” he finally blurted out, clearly blindsided.
“Find someone else to fund your family, Jake.”
Then, without looking back, I walked out.
I thought I might break down, but strangely enough, I didn’t feel sad.
After three years of building a life with Jake, I expected devastation. But instead, I felt light, like a weight had been lifted.
I felt free.
I didn’t even glance up when he walked through the door. He froze, eyes darting from the packed boxes to me calmly folding the last of his shirts.
His clothes, shoes, and even his gaming console—all boxed up, neat and ready to go.
“Layla,” he whispered, sounding completely blindsided.
I calmly closed the final box and taped it shut, keeping my emotions in check.
“What… what is this?” Jake sputtered, gesturing wildly at the boxes. “Are you… are you seriously kicking me out?”
I finally looked up at him, meeting his eyes.
“Wait, let’s talk about this, Layla.”
“We did talk, Jake,” I continued, my voice steady. “I told you exactly what your mother did. I told you how much it hurt me. And you dismissed it like it was nothing.”
Jake’s jaw tensed, and he clenched his fists.
“I didn’t dismiss it! I just thought that we could move past it. Sure, you’re not allowed to go to family dinner for a while… but…”
I actually laughed—loud and bitter.
His knuckles went white as he clenched harder.
“She got carried away, okay? That doesn’t mean we have to throw everything away.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Jake, just stop talking. I loved you. I really did. But the moment you let your mother treat me like a walking ATM, without even defending me? That’s when I realized I loved the idea of us more than the reality.” I said with finality. “Please, Layla, don’t do this.”
I handed him the last box and nudged it toward him without another word.
“You can crash at your mom’s. And Cami will be staying here with me.”
He flinched but didn’t argue this time.
For weeks after that night, Jake bombarded me with messages—apologies, justifications, desperate pleas.
“My mom got carried away, but we can move past this. I love you.”
I never replied.
As for Denise? She tried to drag my name through the mud online, calling me every name under the sun—including a gold digger.
I took my inheritance and bought myself a beautiful home, one far away from anyone who thought I owed them something for being part of their family.
And honestly? It was the best decision—and investment—I could have ever made for myself.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the author’s or publisher’s views.
