I, Joana, 34, was looking forward to finally marrying the man of my dreams, my fiancé Leo, 35. But I didn’t expect that his family would try to come between us.

Here’s some background before I get into how we got here. Leo and I have been together for two blissful years. We are finally getting ready for our big day, which is coming soon. But what I didn’t expect was to overhear my fiancé’s family making ulterior plans against me.

So this is what happened. I woke up the other day feeling unwell and decided to call in sick to work. The plan was for me to just stay home nursing myself back to health. Since Leo had already left the apartment for his job, I decided to text him, saying:

“Hi babe, I hope you’re having a good morning. I woke up feeling under the weather and decided to stay home for the day. I already called in sick, so please bring me lunch if you can. I love you!”

I remember the day clearly. Leo surprised me by arriving at our apartment during his lunch break! I thought he’d read my message and had actually brought me some food.

In my excitement, I was about to go out of the bedroom to hug him and thank him for coming to check on me when I heard other voices.

My fiancé had come over with my future mother-in-law (MIL) and sister-in-law (SIL). From the conversation they were having, it seemed they’d come over to pick something up from our apartment during Leo’s lunch break. He was helping his sister move.

Yet, Leo didn’t look for me when he arrived, which made me realize he hadn’t read my text. So he didn’t know I was home. “You guys wait here, let me go and throw this trash out, and then we can go,” he said as he emptied the bin and went outside.

The moment he went out the door, his mother and sister began trashing me! They were mocking everything from my kitchen decor to my personal style! “Who chooses such colors for a kitchen,” my future SIL laughed as I listened.

“Never mind the kitchen, what about the way she looks?” my future MIL added laughing at me too. “She’s not a good fit for Leo,” she commented, continuing to say disgusting and quite hurtful things about me.

Lying in bed I seethed with a mixture of shock and anger! I couldn’t believe the disdain they harbored for me. Quietly, I reached for the old dictaphone on my nightstand and pressed record because my phone was flat. Every harsh word, every cruel laugh captured, unbeknownst to them.

I was SO hurt! I didn’t know that they felt this way about me. Every time we conversed or I was around them, they were kind and supportive. They’d even offered to help with the wedding planning, for goodness sake!

Just when I thought I’d heard enough and they couldn’t stoop any lower, it got even worse! My future MIL continued speaking ill of me, dropping a huge bombshell to her daughter about her crazy plan, saying:

“The silly girl doesn’t even suspect that she’ll NEVER become a mother to our future grandkid because I’m going to use Leo’s ex as an egg donor.”

My jaw DROPPED! The ex she mentioned was Eve, the blonde model-looking woman that Leo dated for four years before me. He’d broken up with her after proposing when he found out she’d been cheating on him.

The infidelity happened with different men and throughout their relationship!

That was the person whose grandchildren Leo’s mother wanted!? The reason why they didn’t want my grandchildren was because my genes were “tainted” by my “fat and diabetic parents,” and weren’t good enough.

I mean, I understood that I was nothing like Eve. I was short, and a bit chubby, and I spoke my mind when forced to, but I didn’t deserve to be trashed like that!

That evening when Leo and I were alone, I played back the recording. The hurt was clear in his eyes as he listened to his mother’s unfiltered opinions.

At first, he tried to downplay it, suggesting they were venting. But the reality of their betrayal sank in as he continued to listen.

He confronted his mother the next day, demanding she apologize, but she refused. The woman was adamant that there was nothing wrong with her behavior! Leo, torn between his family and me, devised a plan.

“Let’s show everyone her true colors,” he said, his resolve hardening. My future MIL didn’t even suspect she would regret what she said on our wedding day as my fiancé and I made our plans.

The wedding day arrived with tension simmering beneath the surface of every smile and congratulations. Leo’s mother delivered her toast, her voice dripping with fake affection and well-wishes.

As the applause died down, Leo stood and nodded at me. My heart pounding, I hit play on the speaker system. The venomous words filled the room, each syllable a sharp contrast to the loving speech she had just given.

We had decided that after his mother’s “sweet” toast at our wedding, we would play the recording of her talking to my SIL in our apartment for all to hear.

The room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop as the reality of her duplicity settled over the crowd. Leo’s mother, her face a mask of horror and embarrassment, stood frozen in her seat.

Then, as the recording ended, she walked out, her exit a walk of shame under the stunned gazes of family and friends. My SIL also darted her eyes around at everyone before following suit!

Leo, a supportive and loving new husband, squeezed my hand, his eyes apologetic, and yet fierce. “I’m sorry you had to endure that,” he whispered. “But I hope now we can start fresh, without secrets or lies.”

As the wedding continued, the atmosphere lightened. People approached us, offering words of support and expressing their shock. Leo and I realized that this ordeal, as painful as it was, might have purged the venom that threatened our future together.

Looking back, I often wonder if happiness in marriage can truly coexist with familial strife. That day, Leo chose us over the blind allegiance to his family’s pretenses.

In doing so, he gave our love a fighting chance.

Despite the drama, or perhaps because of it, we understood that together, we could face anything. As we danced under the soft glow of the reception lights, I felt a sense of triumph, not from revenge, but from the affirmation of our unity in the face of adversity.

While Joana’s tale ended on a good note with her new husband choosing her over his family, things were not the same for Jane. In the following story, Jane discovers her fiancé’s true nature and with the support of their friends, she leaves him choosing to know her true worth.

My Fiancé Mocked My Anniversary Gift in Front of Our Friends — I Dumped Him like a Hot Cake!

Poor Jane experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on her anniversary among close friends. It started with such a delightful surprise—a thoughtful gift from her fiancé Mike that had her heart soaring! That diamond heart pendant wasn’t just any piece of jewelry; it was the very necklace she’d admired, making it all the more special. But then, the tides turned dramatically!

Jane poured her heart into a handmade book, a compilation of their shared memories, hoping it would touch Mike just as deeply. Yet, his reaction was shockingly harsh! Instead of appreciating the effort and love behind her gift, he belittled it publicly, leaving her embarrassed and heartbroken amidst what should have been a celebratory gathering.

His hurtful remarks not only dampened the spirit of the occasion but also revealed a side of him she hadn’t seen. It seemed his appreciation was tied to monetary value rather than sentimental worth. This revelation was a painful but clear indicator of where his values lay, starkly different from the love and effort she had invested in their relationship.

As tough as it was, the aftermath of this incident brought a silver lining. Their friends rallied around Jane, offering not just comfort food but also a protective, supportive presence. They reminded Jane that Mike’s actions spoke more about his character than hers, helping her see through the veil of shame to recognize her worth and the sincerity of your gift.

In those tough moments, surrounded by true friends, Jane found a strength she didn’t know she had. The strength to move on from a conditional love and discover a future filled with genuine, unconditional affection. This ordeal wasn’t just about the end of a relationship; it was about the beginning of a new, more self-aware chapter in her life. Sometimes, the hardest lessons teach us the most valuable truths about love and self-worth.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

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 views of the author or publisher.