I thought I had the perfect fiancé, but his parents were a different story. When they publicly snubbed me, I decided to teach them a lesson at our wedding rehearsal dinner. Little did I know, this risky plan would change everything.
I’d been engaged to Nathan for a year, and everything was perfect—except for one small, festering cloud: his family. From the moment I met them, they were cold. They gave me sidelong glances, everything passive-aggressive. But they never gave me a reason in person.
An old man giving a cold stare | Source: Pexels
By the way, my name is Cora. I’m a biologist and I’m about thirty years old. I lead a rather modest life, despite… well, we’ll get to that later.
Last week, I was shopping for the wedding when I spotted Nathan’s parents, Evelyn and Robert, at a fancy restaurant. They were with a young woman I didn’t know.
I waved at them, trying to be friendly. But when they saw me, they both pulled faces and pretended not to recognize me. That was the final straw.
A woman waves as she passes by | Source: Pexels
I told my best friend, Vanessa, about it later that day. We were having coffee at my place.
“They just… ignored you?” Vanessa’s eyes widened. “That’s so rude!”
I nodded, stirring my coffee absently. “I don’t understand. What did I do to them?”
Vanessa leaned forward. “Maybe they think you’re not good enough for their precious son.”
“But why?” I frown. “I mean, I know I’m not flashy, but I’ve succeeded in my field.”
A woman frowns in confusion | Source: Midjourney
“They probably don’t know,” Vanessa pointed out. “Have you ever told them about your job?”
I shake my head. “They never seemed interested. And honestly, I wanted them to like me for me, not my job or… you know.”
Vanessa nodded. She knew about my family’s business. “So what are you going to do?”
A slow smile spread across my face. “I have an idea. The rehearsal dinner is next week…”
“Oh no,” Vanessa said, laughing. “What are you planning?”
“Let’s just say they’re in for a surprise.”
A woman smiles slyly, hinting at a surprise plan | Source: Pexels
Vanessa raises an eyebrow. “Cora, are you sure? What if it backfires?”
I sigh. “I know it’s risky, but I’m tired of being treated like I’m not good enough. They need to see me for who I am.”
“And you, who are you exactly?” Vanessa asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
I started laughing. “A woman about to give a lesson in humility to her future in-laws.”
The week flew by, and soon it was time for the rehearsal dinner. I hadn’t told Nathan about my plan—I didn’t want to disrupt his relationship with his parents.
When we entered the restaurant, I saw that Evelyn and Robert were already there. They avoided looking at me.
A woman walking towards the door of a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“Cora! I heard a familiar voice. I turned to see my parents, William and Margaret, walking towards us.
“Mom, Dad!” I hugged them both. “I’m so glad you could come.”
I noticed Evelyn and Robert staring at us, their mouths slightly open. I suppressed a smirk.
Nathan greeted my parents warmly. “Dr. and Dr. T—, it’s nice to see you again.”
A man extending his hand in greeting | Source: Pexels
“Please, Nathan,” my father said, patting him on the shoulder. “We told you, it’s William and Margaret.”
I could practically see the gears turning in Evelyn and Robert’s heads. They started whispering to each other, glancing in our direction.
We all approached them at their table, and Evelyn put on a fake smile. “Hello, I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Evelyn, Nathan’s mother, and this is my husband, Robert.”
I looked at them blankly. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
Their faces fell. Robert stammered, “But… we’re Nathan’s parents. Surely you remember us?”
An elderly couple at a restaurant table | Source: Pexels
I maintain my confused expression. “Nathan, honey, have we met your parents yet?”
Nathan looks stunned. “Cora, what are you talking about? Of course you’ve met them before.”
Evelyn’s face was turning red. “Cora, we’re so sorry. We didn’t realize…”
I interrupted her with a smirk. “Of course, I’m joking. I know you like those kinds of jokes, don’t you?”
The silence that followed was deafening. Nathan looked between us, confused. “What’s going on here?”
A man in a restaurant looking down | Source: Pexels
I took a deep breath. “Your parents pretended they didn’t know me at the restaurant last week. I thought I’d return the favor.”
Nathan’s eyes widen. “Mom, Dad, is this true?”
Robert had the courtesy to look ashamed. “We… we didn’t mean any harm.”
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “Because I felt like it hurt me.”
Evelyn stepped forward. “Cora, we have been unfair to you. Please forgive us.”
I looked at them calmly. “So now I’m worth your son even though you’ve met my parents?”
A woman standing in a crowded restaurant | Source: Midjourney
They flinched at my words. Nathan placed a hand on my arm. “Cora, what do you mean?”
I turned to him. “They’ve been cold to me from the start, Nathan. I think they assumed I wasn’t good enough for you because I live modestly.”
Understanding dawned on his face. He turned to his parents. “Is that true?”
Evelyn wrung her hands. “We were wrong, Cora. We judged you without knowing the whole story.”
“We’re really sorry,” Robert added. “We hope you can forgive us.”
An old man in a restaurant, looking remorseful | Source: Midjourney
I took a deep breath. “I appreciate your apology, but please remember that my worth isn’t defined by my family or my profession. It’s a shame you found out that way.”
They nodded, still looking uncomfortable. Nathan squeezed my hand. “I had no idea, Cora. I’m so sorry.”
I reciprocated. “It’s not your fault.”
My mother cleared her throat. “Maybe we should all sit down and start again?”
We went to our table. When we sat down, Nathan leaned towards me. “So, are you going to tell them about your business?”
A man and a woman chat in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
I smile. “Maybe. But first, I think we need to get some things straight.”
Dinner started awkwardly. Evelyn kept glancing at my parents, clearly curious but unsure how to ask them about their backgrounds.
“So, William,” she finally ventured, “what field of medicine did you practice?”
My father smiled. “Margaret and I are both surgeons. Cardiothoracic, specifically.”
Robert’s eyebrows raised. “That’s… impressive. And you’re retired now?”
A restaurant customer looking surprised | Source: Midjourney
“Semi-retired,” my mother adds. “We still consult occasionally, but we devote most of our time to our business now.”
I see Evelyn and Robert exchange a glance. Nathan, bless him, didn’t seem to realize what was going on.
“Cora,” Robert said, obviously trying to smooth things over, “Nathan told us you’re a biologist, but we’d like to know more about your work.”
I took a sip of wine, considering what to reveal. “Actually, I own a lab. We do biotechnology research.”
Evelyn almost choked on her water. “You… own a lab?”
A woman reacts with surprise at the table | Source: Midjourney
I nodded. “It’s part of my family business. I’m one of the major shareholders.”
Robert’s eyes widen. “Your family’s business?”
My father chimed in. “Thompson Biotech. Margaret and I founded it after taking a step back from surgery.”
The look on Evelyn and Robert’s faces was priceless. Nathan squeezed my hand under the table, smiling.
“I… we had no idea,” Evelyn stammers.
“You never asked,” I said simply.
An awkward silence fell around the table. Nathan, as peaceful as ever, tried to lighten the mood.
A man at a restaurant table, smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, did I ever tell you about the time Cora and I went hiking and got lost?”
As Nathan launched into the story, I caught my mother’s eye. She gave me a subtle nod of approval.
The rest of the evening passed more pleasantly. As I was leaving, Evelyn took me aside.
“Cora, I know we can’t undo our behavior,” she said, “but I hope you’ll give us a chance to work things out.”
I looked at her for a moment. “I’m willing to try if you are.”
She nodded seriously. “It is. And… thank you for waking us up. We needed it.”
A woman talking outside a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
As Nathan and I walked home, he turned to me. “That was one hell of a dinner.”
I laughed. “That’s true.”
“You know,” he said, “I’m falling in love with you a little more every day.”
I smiled, feeling the tension of the last few weeks finally dissipate. “Me too, Nathan. Me too.”
He was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry about my parents. I should have noticed how they treated you.”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. They were careful never to be openly rude when you were around.”
A woman smiles contentedly while driving | Source: Midjourney
“Still,” he insisted, “I should have been more aware. But I have to ask… why didn’t you tell me about your family’s business before?”
I sigh. “I wanted to make sure you loved me for me, not for my money or my family’s status. And besides… I think I was just waiting for the right moment.”
Nathan nods. “And for the record, I’d love you even if you were completely broke. You know that, right?”
I laughed. “I know. It’s one of the reasons I love you.”
When we pulled up in front of our house, Nathan turned to me. “So, what now?”
A classic car parked in front of a house | Source: Pexels
I thought for a moment. “Now we move on. Your parents know the truth, and they seem genuinely sorry. I’m willing to give them another chance.”
Nathan smiled. “That’s right, my daughter. You always act righteously.”
I smiled back. “Well, someone has to keep this family in check.”
As we walked into our home, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. The road ahead might not be easy, but with Nathan by my side, I was ready to face whatever came our way—in-laws and all.
A couple approaching a house at night | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done? If you liked this story, here’s another one for you, about a woman who took her fiancé to visit her parents, only for him to run away from home in the middle of the night screaming.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of events or character portrayals and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the opinions of the author or publisher.
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