My sister-in-law always believed she was entitled to anything she desired, but nothing could have prepared me for her most audacious demand yet — she wanted me to have a baby just so she could keep it as a gift. When she refused to accept no for an answer, I knew it was time to teach her a lesson she’d never forget.
Think you have outrageous relatives? Let me tell you about mine — you might just reconsider.
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Harry and I had been married for seven years and together for nearly fifteen. We built a beautiful life with our two amazing children, Maya and Luke.
Our little family meant the world to me, but dealing with our extended family was a different story.
From the moment I met my mother-in-law, Charlotte, and my sister-in-law, Candice, I knew something wasn’t quite right.
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I convinced myself it was only anxiety, that I was reading too much into things. Little did I know the chaos they were about to unleash in my life.
Before my wedding, Candice revealed just how self-absorbed she truly was. She had a complete meltdown simply because I dared to pick another person as my maid of honor.
To make matters worse, she whined that my gown looked better than hers. As if my big day was supposed to cater to her!
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She almost ruined the entire day, but thankfully, Harry’s grandmother, Grace, intervened.
Grace was the only genuinely kind heart in that family—aside from my husband. Sadly, she lived too far away to come to our rescue often.
But right before Candice’s thirtieth birthday, something happened that made me question reality itself.
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Candice rarely stopped by, and when she did, she avoided the kids, constantly griping that they were “too loud” or “made her head hurt.”
But that particular day felt off. She spent hours entertaining Maya, and an uneasy feeling crept over me. Turns out, my instincts were right.
At dinner, Candice kept sneaking looks at me and Harry. It was obvious she craved attention. I just had no clue what for.
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“I have an announcement!” Candice’s voice echoed through the dining room. “I’m going to be a mom!” she declared.
Harry choked on his food, coughing as he reached for his water. I sat frozen, my fork suspended midair.
“What?” I managed to ask.
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Harry dabbed his mouth. “Who… is the dad?” His brows knitted together. “You’re not even seeing anyone.”
He had a point. Her last boyfriend bolted after she lost it on him for refusing to buy her a pricey handbag.
Candice flicked her wrist. “That’s actually why I dropped by today.” She sat up straighter. “The people raising my daughter will be you two.”
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My stomach tightened. “What?!”
Candice sighed, as if I were the unreasonable one. “I’m almost thirty, and I don’t have a husband,” she said with a smile. “The perfect birthday gift would be a daughter.”
I opened my mouth, then shut it again. My mind struggled to make sense of her words.
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Harry massaged his temples. “You’re asking Stephanie to be your surrogate?”
Candice shook her head. “No, I want you both to have a baby for me.”
I rested my hands on the table. “So, it would be our baby, and you think we’d just hand it over to you?”
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Harry’s chair scraped against the floor as he sat up. “No, Candice. Stephanie is right. We’re not doing this.”
“But why? You already have two! What’s the big deal about having one more?” Her voice hit a high-pitched whine.
I clenched my fists. “I am not an incubator! A child is not an object! A child is a person!”
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Harry’s chair screeched against the floor as he straightened. “No, Candice. Stephanie’s right. This isn’t happening.”
“But why? You already have two! What’s so wrong with adding one more?” Her voice turned into a sharp whine.
I balled my fists. “I am not a baby machine! A child isn’t some possession! A child is a human being!”
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“You just don’t want me to be happy! You want to be the only one with kids!” Candice shrieked.
Harry slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! Leave. Now.”
Candice’s face flushed with rage. She stood, trembling with anger. “I’ll tell Mom about this!” she spat before stomping to the door, yanking it open, and slamming it shut behind her.
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I let out a breath. “Where did she even get this idea?”
Harry sighed, shaking his head. “She’s totally lost her mind.”
Candice stayed silent for a while. I hoped that meant she was finally dropping it. I should have known better.
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One afternoon, Candice arrived at our house with Charlotte right beside her.
Her arms were overflowing with shopping bags from baby stores. At first, I thought she had finally decided to be a good aunt and brought gifts for Maya and Luke. But the smug expression on her face told a different story.
Charlotte stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, settling onto the couch as if she owned the place. She motioned for Harry and me to sit. Candice stood nearby, grinning like she had already won.
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“Candice said you both agreed to have a baby for her,” Charlotte stated.
“What? No, we made it clear we weren’t doing that,” I replied.
“Why not?” Charlotte questioned.
“Because it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Harry shot back.
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Charlotte sighed dramatically. “Is it really that difficult? Stephanie, as a woman, you should understand that the older you get, the harder it is to have children. Candice is nearly thirty,” she pressed.
I kept my voice steady. “I am not handing over my child to your daughter, who has no clue what it means to be a parent.”
“That’s not true! I’m totally ready—I already bought everything!” Candice declared, yanking baby clothes and tiny dresses from her bags like proof of her preparedness.
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“You do understand that a baby isn’t a toy you can just dress up, right? Babies wail, fuss, make messes, and do plenty of frustrating things,” Harry pointed out.
“My daughter won’t be like that. She’ll be just like your Maya—I’ve never once seen Maya cry,” Candice said smugly.
“That’s only because you’ve never been around her long enough,” I shot back.
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Candice shrugged nonchalantly. “Then I’ll just bring my daughter to you when she cries.”
“Babies cry all the time, day and night. Are you planning to bring her to me every single time?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
Candice looked at me, genuinely puzzled. “Yes. What’s the problem with that?”
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Harry pressed his hands against his face. “This is unbelievable. Candice, you are nowhere near ready for motherhood. And expecting someone else to have a baby for you is absolutely insane,” he said.
“But you’re my brother!” Candice wailed.
As they kept arguing, I realized Charlotte had vanished. I went searching for her and caught her in our bedroom—poking holes in our condoms.
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“What are you doing?!” I shouted, my frustration boiling over.
“Making everyone’s life easier,” she replied, completely calm.
“Have you lost your mind?!” I screamed, unable to contain my disbelief.
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“Look, having another baby wouldn’t be difficult for you, but it is for Candice. So, I figured I’d just give her a little help,” she said.
“Help?!” I shouted. “You’re crossing a serious line in our lives!”
“Not everyone is as fortunate as you, having a husband like my son. You should appreciate that,” Charlotte responded.
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You’re treating me and your son like an incubator! Why can’t Candice just go to a sperm donor?!” I snapped, my anger flaring.
“Donors are just random people. But you and Harry already have two healthy children, so Candice would know for sure her baby would be fine,” Charlotte argued, completely missing the point.
“That would be our child! Ours!” I shouted, my voice trembling with frustration.
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“But you’d be having the baby for Candice, so it would be hers,” Charlotte insisted.
“Do you honestly think I’d hand my child over to someone who thinks you can pick a baby’s gender? Or that babies never cry?” I countered.
“I will make sure she gets what she needs,” Charlotte said.
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“That makes…” I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue, holding back the words that would only escalate the situation further.
Then, a thought struck me—an idea that could turn the tables, teach both Candice and Charlotte a much-needed lesson, and show them just how absurd their request truly was.
“You know what? If you’re going to help, then I agree,” I said, my voice steady and full of resolve.
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Charlotte lit up. “At last! Why didn’t you just say that sooner?” she said, then rushed off to share the “wonderful news” with Candice.
The moment they were gone, Harry spun toward me, stunned. “Did you seriously agree to this?” he asked.
“I have a plan,” I replied.
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For the following nine months, leading up to Candice’s birthday, I played my part perfectly.
I smiled constantly, stroked my belly as though I were the happiest pregnant woman alive.
Whenever Candice called, I reassured her that everything was going smoothly. I even let her talk on and on about nursery themes and baby names, pretending to listen with genuine interest.
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It was draining. Pretending wore me down, but I had to follow through.
When the moment arrived, I declared I’d be giving birth in another city. Candice sulked but went along with it—I told her the “gift” had to stay a secret until her birthday. After all, it was a present, wasn’t it?
On the big day, the entire family came together for the reveal. Even Grace had made the trip to be there.
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Candice had told everyone about her “grand surprise,” hyping it up as if she had just won the lottery.
Harry and I entered the room, walking in as everyone took their seats. I carefully held a baby carrier, wrapped with a huge bow, cradling it gently. Candice gasped, her hands clasped in excitement.
“Let me see her!” she squealed, leaning forward, eager to peek inside.
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“Not yet,” I said. “Wait for the grand moment.”
At last, Candice stood up, practically radiating excitement. “I have an extraordinary announcement!” she proclaimed. “Harry and Stephanie have given me the most amazing birthday present—a baby!” Gasps rippled through the room. All eyes fixed on us.
Candice spun around, arms wide open. “Alright, hand her over now!” I grinned and placed the carrier in her hands.
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Candice ripped off the bow, her excitement evident as she reached into the carrier with trembling hands. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation, but as she pulled out the doll, her expression shifted to one of pure horror.
“WHAT IS THIS?!” she screamed, holding up the doll in disbelief.
The room went silent. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on her, and then Harry and I couldn’t hold it in any longer—we burst into laughter.
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“The only baby you’re actually suited to care for,” I said with a smirk.
Candice’s breathing quickened. Her fingers clenched around the doll’s stiff plastic limbs. She glared at me, eyes blazing with fury.
“But you were pregnant!” she shrieked. “I saw your belly!”
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“Fake bellies,” I said casually, shrugging. “I went out of town to ‘give birth’ just to sell the illusion.”
Candice let out a sharp, guttural sob, her face contorting with frustration and disbelief. Charlotte gasped, her hand flying to her mouth before she shot up from her seat in fury.
“You heartless witch!” Charlotte screamed, her face turning bright red.
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“And tell me, who’s truly heartless?” I snapped. “The ones who refused to give away their own child? Or the ones who treated a baby like a wrapped-up gift?”
Candice clutched the doll tightly, tears streaming down her face.
“But… but I already bought so many dresses!” she wailed. “Who am I supposed to dress up now?”
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“The doll works perfectly,” Harry said, still chuckling, his voice light with amusement.
Candice’s hands trembled as she clutched the toy, her body shaking with disbelief. Her eyes, wide with shock, stared at the doll as if it were the last thing she ever expected to see.
It was then that I noticed Grace, sitting quietly off to the side. Her wrinkled hands rested in her lap, her sharp eyes moving between Candice and Charlotte, taking in every moment with a quiet intensity.
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“Can someone tell me what exactly is happening here?” she asked, her tone firm.
I faced her. “A year ago, Candice demanded that we give her a baby as a birthday present.”
Grace’s expression contorted in confusion. “You mean… like a surrogate? Is she unable to have children?”
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“No,” Harry said firmly. “Our baby.”
Grace’s frown deepened, her expression growing more solemn with each passing second.
“Candice is perfectly healthy,” I continued, my voice steady. “She just doesn’t have a husband and thought we should give her a child.”
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Grace’s face flushed with rage. She shot up from her seat, jabbing a trembling finger at Candice and Charlotte.
“ARE YOU BOTH COMPLETELY INSANE?!” she thundered.
Candice recoiled. “W-what? What’s so bad about it?” she stammered.
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“You’re just like your mother, Candice! I warned my son not to marry you, Charlotte, but he didn’t listen! And this is the result!” Grace spat, her voice full of fury.
“Grandma, how could you say that?!” Candice cried, her voice trembling with shock.
“I’m saying the truth!” Grace snapped back. She took a deep breath, her anger simmering, then fixed them both with a look of pure disgust.
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“I’m cutting you both out of my will.”
The room went still. Grace’s estate was substantial, and everyone knew it. Candice and Charlotte stood frozen in disbelief.
“You’re serious?” Charlotte murmured, her voice shaky.
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“Absolutely,” Grace said coldly. “I will not let insane people like you have any control over my wealth.”
A deep, satisfied sense of justice washed over me as I watched the reality of the situation sink in for both of them.
“But—” Candice began, her voice trembling.
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Grace raised a hand. “Enough. We’re leaving. I want to spend time with my great-grandchildren—the real ones.” She turned to Harry and me. “Let’s go.”
We didn’t think twice. Harry and I rose and walked out, hand in hand. Behind us, Candice wailed uncontrollably.
Charlotte yelled in frustration. But we didn’t look back. They got exactly what they deserved.
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