I thought my relationship with Jake was perfect.
Until his mother showed me who she really was.
Jake and I had been together for three years. When he proposed, I was over the moon. We had a cozy apartment, a cat named Cami, and dreams of a future together. I thought we were solid. Unbreakable.
Then my grandmother passed away.
Losing her was devastating. She had practically raised me, always telling me, “Layla, my child, you’re special. My little mini-me. I’ll always take care of you, even after I’m gone.”
And she did.
She left me $500,000.
I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t even ready for it. But when Jake’s mother, Denise, found out? She had plenty of ideas for how that money should be spent.
A week after Jake told his family about my inheritance, we were at Sunday dinner when Denise pulled me aside, smiling sweetly.
“I have something for you, sweetheart. I know mourning is tough, but the sun keeps shining, Layla. It’s time to move on.”
She handed me an envelope. I expected something sentimental, maybe a letter of support.
Instead, it was a list.
A demand list.
I scanned it, my stomach twisting.
A $10,000 Cartier bracelet for Denise, to show my appreciation.
A new car for Jake’s younger sister, Elena, because “family supports each other.”
A $20,000 gift (loan) to Jake’s parents to renovate their kitchen before our wedding.
A Rolex for my father-in-law.
A fully paid family vacation for ten people, first-class flights included.
A monthly “family contribution” of $2,000 to prove my commitment to the family.
My hands trembled as I gripped the list.
“You’re joking… right? This is a prank?” I asked, forcing a laugh.
Denise tilted her head, her smile unwavering. “Oh, honey. This is what’s expected of you. You’re about to marry into this family. We take care of each other. You’re lucky to have this opportunity.”
Lucky? My grandmother had just died. And this woman was treating my loss like a lottery jackpot?
Then she said the words that sealed her fate.
“If you really love my son, you’ll do this.”
I didn’t argue. I didn’t storm out. Instead, I smiled.
“Oh, Denise,” I gushed. “You’re absolutely right. I’d love to do this. Maybe I’ll even throw in a pair of gold cufflinks for Jake.”
Her eyes gleamed with greed.
“I knew you’d understand, sweetheart! Here, have some pie.”
I ate the pie. I smiled. I nodded as she talked about car models for Elena and bracelet styles for herself.
Inside, I was raging.
Later that night, I sat across from Jake in our apartment. The envelope rested between us like a loaded gun. Cami curled up on the rug, unaware of the storm brewing.
“I said yes,” I said flatly. “And you just sat there and ate pie.”
Jake blinked at me. “Well… that’s good, right?”
“Is it?” I let out a bitter laugh.
“Babe, you know how my mom is,” he sighed. “It’s just a gesture.”
“A gesture?” I echoed. “A gesture that totals more than a hundred grand?”
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “She didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s just… you suddenly have all this money, and my parents are struggling…”
“They’re not struggling, Jake. They just want more. And you let them do this to me.”
He exhaled, frustrated. “You’re overthinking this.”
I took a deep breath, then smiled.
“You know what? You’re right. I’m overthinking it.”
“See? It’s not a big deal.”
I stood. “I’m going to bed. You fill Cami’s bowl.”
But I wasn’t going to bed.
I was planning.
The following Sunday, I arrived at Denise’s house with gifts.
She clapped her hands in excitement as I handed them out.
To Denise? A Cartier box.
Inside? A plastic bracelet from the dollar store.
To Elena? A toy car. “I thought this was more your speed,” I said sweetly.
For my father-in-law? A fake Rolex.
For the family vacation? A pamphlet for a budget bus tour.
And for the $20,000 loan? A Monopoly “bank loan” card.
Denise’s smile vanished. “What the hell is this?” she hissed.
I leaned forward. “Oh, I thought I’d start with symbolic gifts. You know, just a gesture to show you I’m serious about the family.”
Her face turned red. “This isn’t funny.”
“No, Denise. What’s not funny is you treating me like a walking ATM. I’ve been in this family for three years, and you act like I’m a stranger.”
Jake sighed. “Babe, you’re overreacting again.”
I turned to him. “No, Jake. I’m not. Your mother tried to extort me. And the fact that you didn’t shut it down tells me everything I need to know.”
Then I dropped the final bomb.
“Oh, and don’t worry about our engagement. Consider it canceled. Consider us canceled. I’m done.”
Gasps filled the room. Denise looked like she might faint. Jake sat in stunned silence.
“Wait, what?!” he sputtered.
I slipped off my engagement ring and placed it on the table.
“Find someone else to fund your family, Jake.”
And with that, I walked out.
I wasn’t crying. I thought I might. But no. I just felt… done.
By the time Jake returned to our apartment, his things were packed into boxes.
“Layla,” he breathed, eyes wide. “Are you seriously kicking me out?”
I folded another of his shirts and set it on top of a box. “Yeah.”
“Wait, let’s talk about this!”
“We did talk, Jake. And you dismissed me.”
His jaw tightened. “She got carried away, okay? That doesn’t mean we have to throw everything away.”
I sighed. “Jake, I loved you. But when you let your mother treat me like a bank, I realized I loved the idea of us more than the reality.”
“Please, Layla—”
I shoved a box into his arms. “You can crash at your mom’s. And Cami stays with me.”
For weeks, Jake blew up my phone. Apologies. Excuses. Pleading.
His final message? “My mom got carried away, but we can move past this. I love you.”
I never replied.
As for Denise? She tried smearing me online, calling me a gold digger.
I didn’t care.
I used my inheritance to buy a beautiful home—one no greedy in-laws would ever step foot in.
And let me tell you, that was the best investment I ever made.