Georgia's POV

It was my first time visiting my boyfriend’s home. He had repeatedly told me that his mom was in poor health and asked me to be understanding.

So, I went out of my way to pick up a bunch of expensive health supplements to bring with me.

But to my surprise, the car pulled into a luxurious, top-tier postpartum care center.

Inside, his mom was lying comfortably in bed, cradling a newborn baby in her arms.

When she saw me, she lit up and grabbed my hand enthusiastically. “Come take a look! This is your little brother-in-law. Since you two don’t have kids yet, you can practice by taking care of him for the next couple of years.”

Before I could even process what was happening, she shoved a bill into my hand and added, “Here’s the invoice from the center. It’s forty thousand. Go ahead and cover it for now.”

I stared at her in disbelief and replied, “Mrs. Dawson, Jordan and I are just dating. Don’t you think this is a little… much?”

But she rolled her eyes at me and snapped, “What’s ‘much’ about it? My son became an investment director at such a young age. Plenty of girls would kill to marry him. It’s your luck he chose you!”

“A woman shouldn’t just expect to enjoy the good life. She should contribute to the family, too. If you can’t even show a little sincerity now, how do you expect to marry into our family?” she added sharply.

I was speechless.

If it weren’t for me, does she really think her son would’ve climbed the ladder to director so quickly?

——

I turned to look at Jordan Dawson. Yet he avoided my gaze and stared at the floor in silence.

I sighed and made myself clear. “Mrs. Dawson, I’m not paying that bill. That’s final.”

Immediately, Eva Dawson, his mother, turned stone-faced.

Seeing that, Jordan quickly pulled me aside and whispered, “Georgia, my mom’s not young anymore. Having this baby wasn’t easy for her. Just this once, could you give her a break for my sake?”

I looked straight at him. “Jordan, why didn’t you tell me your mom had a baby at fifty before we came?”

He scratched his head awkwardly as he replied, “I wanted to surprise you.”

Surprise?

I nearly laughed out of frustration.

Just then, Mrs. Dawson overheard us and barked, “What, now? I risked my life to give birth to a son, and my future daughter-in-law isn’t even happy about it and won’t even help with the cost?”

“Besides, when I’m discharged, the baby’s moving in with you two. And that nice condo of yours downtown with the good school district is perfect for when he starts school,” she added, getting more and more outrageous.

“But if it’s too much trouble for you, I can move in and help take care of him. That way, I can also keep an eye on you and Jordan. Maybe we’ll get a grandson sooner!” she excitedly shrieked.

But I let out a cold laugh and cut her off. “Mrs. Dawson, you must still be dreaming. Let me say it one last time. I’m not paying a cent, and I’m not raising that child.”

As soon as I said it, she clutched her chest dramatically and cried out. “Oh my heart! I just gave birth, and now I’m being driven to an early grave! How did I end up with such a hard life? Trying to control our family before you’re even married in? Who do you think you are?!”

Ignoring her, I turned to Jordan and asked, “Is that what you think, too?”

Yet he didn’t say a word, which said enough.

At that moment, it all clicked. He knew everything from the start—his mom’s plan to squeeze money out of me, to dump the baby on me, to turn me into their free nanny.

He knew and didn’t say a word.

This whole time, I was the fool who thought I was just visiting a sick elder. I even brought a bunch of expensive supplements like some naive girlfriend.

“Jordan, wow. You really fooled me,” I chuckled bitterly.

Slapping the invoice down on the table, I said, “This so-called ‘blessing’? Keep it. I want no part of it.”

Then I turned around and walked out.

Behind me, Ms. Dawson shrieked, “Georgia! Stop right there! I dare you to walk out! I’ll have my son break up with you!”

I paused for a second, glanced back at her, and smirked.

Did this old woman really think her son was some kind of prize?

Georgia's POV

The only reason Jordan landed that director position at such a young age was because I pulled strings and begged my brother to push it through for him.

Jordan chased after me and blocked my path. “Georgia, don’t overreact, okay? My mom’s just got a sharp tongue, but she’s soft at heart. Don’t take her words too seriously.”

Hearing him protecting his mother, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. “Soft at heart? Really? What does she think I am? Her personal ATM? A free babysitter?”

But then he started getting flustered. “No! It’s not like that. She just wants us to get married soon. And she thought having a baby around would help us practice, that’s all.”

I looked him straight in the eye and seriously asked, “And you? What do you think about all this?”

Jordan hesitated, then awkwardly and unsurely replied, “I… I mean… I think she kind of has a point…”

That was it. I was done.

This man never truly saw me. In his eyes, I was just an accessory to his family, a convenient woman to use.

“Jordan, let’s break up.”

His face dropped immediately upon hearing me say that.

“Georgia! Come on, don’t do this. We’ve been together for so long! You can’t just throw it all away over something so small!” he frantically said.

“Something small?” I stared at his panicked expression, bitterness welling up in my chest. “You know what? Doesn’t matter anymore. Don’t contact me again.”

As such, I walked right past him. As the elevator doors opened, I heard Mrs. Dawson screaming behind me.

“That little tramp! Thinks she’s something special?! Good riddance, saves me the headache of seeing her face!”

After leaving the postpartum center, I blocked Jordan’s number.

Still, that didn’t stop him. He kept calling me non-stop using different phone numbers, like a madman. But every time I’d hear his voice, I’d directly hang up.

It wasn’t until the twelfth call that I finally picked up, and his voice came through, choked with tears.

“Georgia, please. I’m begging you. My mom regrets everything. She booked a private dining room at the Le Luxe De La Mer just to apologize to you. You know how much I love you. We’ve been together for three years. Can’t you forgive me just this once?”

His voice cracked as he sobbed through the phone, and my heart softened just a little.

Maybe… maybe he really did feel sorry.

“Just an apology?” I asked, a bit doubtful.

“Yes! Just that. She promised no more talk about money,” he quickly confirmed.

I hesitated for a long time, but eventually gave in.

When I arrived at the Le Luxe De La Mer and stepped into the private dining room, I froze.

The room was packed.

At least a dozen people were there—every aunt, uncle, and cousin Jordan’s family had. And right at the head of the table was Ms. Dawson, smug as ever, cradling that baby like a trophy.

The moment she saw me, she stood up with a big fake smile plastered on her face and announced, “Everyone, this is my future daughter-in-law, Georgia! She even said she’s giving her little brother-in-law forty thousand dollars as a gift!”

What?!

I hadn’t even processed what she said when the relatives started crowding around me.

“Such a generous girl!”

“Eva, you’re so lucky with this one!”

“Youngsters really are thoughtful!”

Suddenly, one middle-aged woman in a loud floral blouse grabbed my hand and said, “Georgia, I heard from your mother-in-law that you’re also giving your condo near the school district for the baby to use when he grows up. That’s just so kind of you!”

Then another woman chimed in, “And since you’re clearly doing well financially, how about buying the kid a marital house too? You wouldn’t even notice the cost!”

Beaming, Mrs. Dawson remarked on the side, “Yesterday, she still tried to act all high and mighty. But clearly, she can’t stay away from my son.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let your kindness go unrewarded. Once my younger son outgrows his baby clothes, we’ll save them for you and Jordan’s baby. That’ll help you save some money,” she added, sounding generous.

Jordan, on the other hand, sat awkwardly beside me, forcing a smile as he kept putting food on my plate. While he wasn't saying a word, his eyes were pleading with me to just endure this.

Georgia's POV

Looking at that greedy crowd, I felt the anger in my chest rising like wildfire.

So this was Jordan’s idea of an apology?

He brought me here just to guilt-trip me in front of his whole family like I was some easy target he could manipulate.

Fed up, I set my knife and fork down and stood up.

“Everyone,” I said calmly, “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Everything you’re talking about, I never agreed to any of it. I’m not gifting a cent, and I’m certainly not handing over anything that belongs to me.”

At that, the smile on Ms. Dawson’s face disappeared instantly. She slammed her glass to the ground and pointed at me, screeching, “How dare you play me like this?! You shameless woman! You’re going back on your word in front of all these people?!”

The relatives also quickly turned hostile.

“What kind of girl is this?”

“Doesn’t even keep her word!”

“Jordan, this is the girlfriend you brought home?”

Panicked, Jordan grabbed my arm and whispered, “Georgia, don’t make a scene. Everyone’s watching.”

But I yanked my arm away and let out a bitter laugh. “Jordan, I gave you the benefit of the doubt because of everything we’ve been through. But you brought me here for a setup. From now on, if you so much as come near me again, I’ll take back everything I’ve ever given you.”

With that, I turned and walked out.

That night, I had just finished showering and was getting ready for bed when the doorbell rang.

I peeked through the peephole and nearly lost it.

There was Mrs. Dawson at my doorstep, holding that baby in her arms. And behind her, Jordan stood awkwardly with a massive suitcase.

Despite seeing them, I didn’t respond. I had no intention of opening the door.

But the next sound made my blood run cold. I heard a key turning in the lock.

Damn it! I forgot to take back the spare key I once gave Jordan.

The door then swung open, and Mrs. Dawson strutted in like she owned the place.

She looked around and announced boldly, “Well, since you refused to pay for the postpartum center, I’ll just move in. You can take care of me during my recovery instead.”

Then she turned to Jordan and barked, “Go change the sheets in the master bedroom. Georgia can sleep on the couch tonight.”

I felt my blood pressure spike. “This is my home! Who do you think you are—"

Before I could finish, she marched straight into my bedroom.

She flung open my closet and started pulling out my designer bags and jewelry.

“These things are way too flashy. I’ll hold onto them for you.”

“Put that down!” I yelled as I rushed over to stop her, but Jordan grabbed my arm and held me back.

“Georgia,” he said softly, “we’re family now. Why make a big deal out of this?”

I was about to explode when I saw Mrs. Dawson walk over to my nightstand and pick up the framed photo of my late parents.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust and commented, “Why would you keep this in the bedroom? It’s so unlucky!”

And then she moved like she was about to toss it into the trash can.

At that very moment, my vision went red.

“Don’t you dare!”

I ripped free from Jordan’s grip and lunged toward her, snatching the photo back.

Suddenly, she let out a dramatic wail and collapsed to the floor, still cradling the baby. “Help! She hit me! Jordan, you saw that, right?! She pushed me! I just gave birth, yet she attacked me while I was holding the baby!”

Before I could react, Jordan shoved me hard, sending me stumbling backward.

I slammed into the corner of the wall, and pain shot through my back.

But he didn’t even look at me.

Instead, he crouched down beside his mother and worriedly asked, “Mom, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

Mrs. Dawson groaned dramatically, clutching her waist. “My back… She pushed me so hard, I think it’s broken…”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll help you lie down and rest.”

Jordan helped her up gently, then turned to me with a cold expression.

“You should go stay somewhere else for a few days. We’ll talk after my mom calms down.”

Stunned at how far this had gone, I let out a dry laugh.

“Jordan,” I said flatly, “this is my house.”