My boyfriend, Cruz Hill, couldn't get the 5,000 dollar's deposit back. My future mother-in-law, Lane, taught him to break up with me and take advantage of me to the fullest.

On the eve of All Souls' Day, I secretly went to his house to give him a surprise without letting him know in advance.

I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and his mother.

"Who knows that this 5,000-dollar deposit can't be refunded?"

"Let your girlfriend buy you a car. She is an only child, and her family's money will eventually be yours."

When I asked him about this afterward, he insisted that it was just an April Fool's joke.

But his younger brother said casually, "Sister-in-law, once you marry into my family, I will have enough money to buy a house, a car, and marry a wife."

...

Their masks were all torn down.

——

Before All Souls' Day, I went to visit my boyfriend's family.

I was thrilled at the thought of him smiling in surprise.

I arrived downstairs.

As soon as his six-year-old brother, James, saw me, he ran towards me and held my hand with a smile.

His whole family liked me, and his brother liked me even more.

James pulled me upstairs. When the door opened, I heard a conversation between my boyfriend, Cruz Hill, and his mother, Lane Lee.

"What should I do, Mom? I just accidentally touched it. Why can't I return it?"

"Is this merchant a fraudster? Isn't it said that there is a seven-day guaranteed return policy?"

Recently, new car models had been launched. Many men have posted screenshots of their orders on their Instagram accounts.

My boyfriend was no exception.

"I just accidentally entered my payment password. When I woke up, it was like this."

Cruz looked anxious, worried that the 5,000 dollars would be wasted.

Lane, however, remained calm.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Your girlfriend is so rich. Let her buy one for you."

"She is an only child. Her money will eventually be yours, right?"

Upon hearing this, I felt a sudden jolt in my heart.

"Sister, why don't you go in?"

James, who went downstairs to buy candy, broke the silence.

Cruz and Lane ran to the entrance and indeed saw me standing at the door.

Both of them looked unnatural.

"Maria, why didn't you say anything before coming here by yourself?"

Cruz quickly stepped forward and took my luggage. There was a hint of cautious questioning in his tone.

"I want to give you a surprise."

Lane quickly came forward and held my hand.

"Surprise. This is such a big surprise."

Watching the three of them getting busy around me, I used to feel happy.

...

Today, I was a little uncomfortable.

Lane's words were meaningful.

James pushed me into the bedroom and asked me with concern, "How are you feeling? Are you tired?"

...

I shook my head.

"What's the deal with the car order in your Instagram post?

"Oh, don't mention it."

He was indignant as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"I just accidentally touched it. Who knew I couldn't return it?

Cruz looked aggrieved.

"The 5,000 dollars was the money I saved by scrimping and saving during my internship. I wanted to buy you a necklace with it."

"Now I can't return it. I'm sure you don't want the 5,000 dollars to go to waste, right?"

He looked at me cautiously, hoping that I would give him money like I had done before.

"Besides, a car can show a man's status. As my girlfriend, you wouldn't want me to take you to dinner in an electric car in the future, would you?"

"My money is with my parents. They've been strict with me lately."

Cruz didn't hold himself back for a moment.

"You don't have 200 thousand dollars with you either?"

I shook my head.

He pursed his lips, which was a sign that he was angry.

"What does Auntie mean by saying that my money will be yours sooner or later?"

Cruz, who had been furious, was shocked.

"What...what do you mean? Your money is yours. What does it have to do with me?"

I was about to ask him back.

Cruz said loudly to me, "Happy April Fools' Day!"

...

"Today is April Fools' Day. My mom loves to joke the most."

"Maria, you are working as an intern. You won't forget that today is April Fool's Day, right?"

I opened my cell phone and checked the date.

I chose to believe Cruz for the time being. After all, we had been in love for a long time.

He was a decent man.

After a while, relatives from his family arrived.

We discussed that we would go to pay respects to our ancestors later.

Cruz's relatives came. There were many people.

During the meal, Cruz's aunt asked about my dowry.

Cruz and I had discussed this.

He, who came from a farming background, didn't want to spend all his parents' savings on his marriage.

I could relate to him and agreed to get no dowry.

After all, my family was not short of money.

Cruz and Lane couldn't help but smile all the time upon hearing this.

But the conversation between the mother and son today always made me feel uncomfortable.

In my heart, I started to doubt them.

After thinking for a moment, I spoke up.

"When it comes to the issue of dowry, my parents have the final say."

The mother and son couldn't hold up anymore. They stopped smiling.

"Oh..."

Cruz's aunt spoke with a long tone, looking at them with sarcasm.

"So we need to discuss it. I thought your family could get a cheap daughter-in-law."

After dinner, Cruz couldn't wait to pull me aside.

"Didn't your family agree to no dowry? Why do we need to discuss it again? Did you change your mind?"

He held my shoulders tightly, and it hurt.

I casually spoke a few words to him, trying to break free from his grasp.

"Your family is supposed to be a scholarly family, but it's all a lie."

"You were so firm in your words before, but now you're going back on your word."

I explained that I had said it casually.

"Putting aside the issue of the dowry, with so many people at the dining table, we should consider my and my mother's face even if we need to discuss it. You can not say such things."

"Looking at the smug and sarcastic look on my aunt's face, I am so angry at the thought of it."