He Married Into My Family, Then Tried to Steal Everything

The day I went into labor, the doctor asked for a family member's signature to authorize the surgery.

It should have been routine. But my mother-in-law snatched the pen away and refused to let my husband sign.

"The babies have to take the father's surname. Otherwise, we're not signing."

We'd been crystal clear about this when we got married.

No bride price. My family gave him a million-dollar dowry and a Mercedes on top of it. On paper it looked like I'd married out, but in reality, he'd married into my family. The children were supposed to carry my name.

The doctor kept urging them to hurry. I was shaking from the pain, so I forced myself to compromise.

Twins. One could take his name, the other mine.

Amelia Fox threw a screaming fit and refused.

It wasn't until I nearly blacked out from the pain, and the doctor snapped that any further delay would endanger both me and the babies, that my husband finally grabbed the pen and signed.

After the children were born, my parents rushed to the hospital.

They were told the birth certificates had already been filed. Both twins had been registered under my husband's surname.

My father's expression turned to stone.

"We agreed they'd take our name. How could you go back on your word?"

Amelia didn't flinch. "What family lets children take the mother's name? People would laugh at my son and say he's got no backbone."

She stared my parents down and added, "You want the names changed? Fine."

"Transfer the deed of the marital home into my son's name as a surname-change fee. Then maybe we'll consider letting one of the children switch back."

——

My face went white with fury. I turned on my husband and shouted, "Jim Fox! Does your mother even understand? You married into my family!"

"If you want to go back on everything, then let's just end this!"

Three years ago, I'd started going on blind dates. The moment Jim heard, he sent me a confession in the middle of the night.

I was stunned. He'd been my secret crush all through college.

I told him straight: my family required the husband to marry in, and any future children had to carry the Galloway name.

Jim's eyes had lit up. He said he was more than willing.

I pressed him. What about his family? What would they think?

He'd laughed, pulled me into his arms, and explained.

"My dad died when I was young. My mom remarried and left. I've been on my own ever since. Marrying into your family is a good thing for me. I won't be alone anymore."

"And since I'm marrying in, of course the kids will take your name. Don't worry about it."

Who could have predicted that the delivery room would turn into this nightmare?

My father patted my arm to calm me, then dropped the gentle expression. His voice went low and serious.

"Jim, we had a deal. The children take the Galloway name. How could you break your promise? That's not right."

Jim's face was ashen. He looked at his mother, helpless and lost.

"I... Mom..."

Amelia raised a hand, cutting him off. Her tone turned heavy, almost solemn.

"Don't blame him. This was my decision. My son had nothing to do with it."

"You think my son and I are just after your money? That we're making trouble because we're greedy?"

"No. I'm fighting for my son's dignity."

"No self-respecting man would choose to marry into his wife's family. You made my son do it, and he can barely hold his head up in front of his colleagues." She pressed a hand to her chest. "I've been here for the birth these past few days, and I've seen how much he's suffered because of this arrangement. It breaks my heart."

Tears glistened in Amelia's eyes.

"I was never there for my son. Now that I see how hard his life is, wanting to fight for a little compensation on his behalf—is that really so wrong?"

"Either let my son have at least one child carrying his name—Darlene Galloway can have more kids later and give them hers—or give my son a house to make up for it!"

The moment those words left her mouth, Jim's eyes reddened. He gazed at his mother with raw, overwhelming gratitude.

But...

All I felt was a knot of resentment burning in my chest.

These past few years, I had done everything I could to make things up to Jim.