When we got married, my family didn't ask for a single dollar in bride price. On top of that, they gave him a dowry worth a million dollars.

I bought him a Mercedes E-Class so he could keep up appearances.

I even told everyone that I was the one marrying out, terrified he might feel emasculated.

How was that not enough?

When we found out it was twins, I was the one who brought it up first.

"How about one takes your last name and one takes mine?"

And he'd said, "No need. I married into your family. They should both be Galloways."

So why now—just because he'd taken some heat, just because his mother suddenly couldn't stand it—did they get to go back on everything?

And at the most critical moment of my life, while I was on the operating table fighting to survive, he'd let his mother use this to hold me hostage.

To say I wasn't heartbroken would be a lie.

I steadied my breathing and looked at my husband.

"What do you think? You really believe I owe you something?"

"This is our marriage. It has nothing to do with your mother. She doesn't get a say."

He stood there, head bowed.

He fumbled for words for a long time before lifting his damp eyes to mine.

"Just do what my mom says."

"This is the first time she's ever really fought for me."

"I don't want to let her down."

I stared at him, and something inside me went cold, piece by piece.

The truth was, I wasn't afraid of him trying to take my house.

Just two days ago, I'd been discussing with my parents the idea of adding his name to the deed so he'd feel more secure.

But now, he had let me down.

My emotions surged, and a rush of warmth spread between my legs.

I'd barely been out of the operating room. I was bleeding again.

My mother's face drained of color. "Stop talking. Get her to the ER. Now."

By the time they finally stabilized me, my father was pacing back and forth beside my bed.

The doctor spoke gravely. "I don't care what's going on in your family. For the next few days, do not let this woman get upset."

"No anger. No arguments. She needs rest."

My father patted my hand after hearing that.

"Sweetheart, you can't be getting worked up during recovery. This can't go on."

"Jim married into our family. He's one of us now. Giving a little more just means it's shared property between the two of you."

"It's just a house. If he wants it, let him have it. Anything that can be solved with money isn't worth losing sleep over."

My mother chimed in too.

"Money is money. It doesn't matter. What matters right now is your health."

"Besides, you just had babies. You can't possibly get divorced before you're even out of recovery. Those children need their father."

She trailed off, her voice tinged with worry.

"The grandparents are waiting for you two to bring the babies home. Their health is fragile. If this blows up any bigger... I'm afraid..."

I closed my eyes.

My grandparents had just had heart surgery not long ago. They couldn't handle any kind of shock.

Right now, the only thing those two old people were living for was to see me and my husband bring the Galloway babies home.

Just minutes ago, they'd texted me asking when I'd be discharged.

If things really escalated to divorce, word would reach them. There was no way it wouldn't.

My mother, always the sentimental one, pressed further.

"Jim has been so good to you. Can you really bring yourself to leave him?"

I thought about the porridge he'd make for me late at night. The breakfasts he'd prepare with little heart-shaped garnishes every morning.

Then the pregnancy—how he never missed a single checkup, how he'd stay up through the night sitting by my bed, massaging my swollen feet.

My heart couldn't harden all the way.

But that house—I couldn't give it up.

It wasn't just a house.

It was where my parents got married.

It was where I grew up. It was twenty-some years of roots for our entire family.

I wasn't handing it over to anyone.

My parents had already thought of that.

"We can give you a property, but not this one."

"This apartment means the world to our family. We can transfer the suburban villa to Jim instead."

"The location is great, and it's much bigger! It's worth even more than this place."

But my mother-in-law's expression darkened. "No. It has to be this apartment."

"A suburb is a suburb. It'll never compare to this place. This is a premium home in a top school district. Who knows how much it'll appreciate in the future."

"It has to be this one."

My father frowned, his displeasure barely contained.

"We understand you want to look out for your son and secure something for Jim. But there's no need to make this difficult for us. I've already told you this apartment is off the table."

He waved his hand and spoke bluntly. "The suburban house, plus eight hundred and eighty thousand dollars on top. That should be more than enough. Even with appreciation, this place would never be worth that much more."

My mother-in-law shook her head. "No. I want this one. You say the school district won't lose value, but who's to say the suburban house won't tank?"

"All I know is this apartment is in a top school district. It'll always be worth something."

My mother sighed. "If you're worried about depreciation, let Jim sell the suburban house and buy a new place in the school district. Why does it have to be this apartment?"

Listening to all of this, the anger inside me surged again.

Jim noticed the look on my face and leaned close to my ear, pleading.

"Babe, you can't get worked up right now. Please, just stay calm."

"Just play along for my sake. Agree to it for now. The second my mom leaves, I'll give it right back."

"I'll even sign an IOU if that's what it takes."

My parents overheard him. They exchanged a weary glance.

"Fine," my father said. "We'll agree to your terms. Now can we change the names back?"

The notary was called in. The documents were spread across the table.

Once the signatures were down, the transfer agreement took effect.

My mother-in-law finally cracked a smile.

"Alright. Go ahead and change the names."

Relief washed through me. I signaled for my parents to handle the paperwork.

Watching my son's and daughter's names revert to the ones my parents had painstakingly chosen, names brimming with love and good wishes, the anger that had filled my chest gave way to something warm.

My mother-in-law seemed pleased too. She pulled out her phone and started a voice call with someone, bragging about how her son now owned a sprawling apartment in the heart of downtown.

I didn't know what the person on the other end said, but her expression shifted in an instant. She set the phone down and rushed over.

She slammed her hand down on Jim's, stopping him mid-signature, and looked up at me.

"I changed my mind. One apartment isn't enough."

The color drained from all three of our faces at once.

My father held his temper, his voice low with warning. "We respected your concern for your son. We agreed to your terms."

"If you keep pushing, you're going to burn through every last shred of goodwill between these two."

My mother's expression turned cold. "If you have more demands, you'd better lay them all out right now."

"Going back on your word like this? You're just toying with us."

My mother-in-law straightened in her seat.

"Fine. I won't beat around the bush."

"You need to pay my son a marriage settlement. Ten million dollars."

The air in the room turned to ice. My parents and I froze at the same time.

"How much?" My mother's voice cracked.

My father was already shaking with fury. His palm cracked against the table. "You've lost your mind! Do you have any idea how much ten million dollars is? You're out of your goddamn mind!"

"Oh, I know exactly how much it is." My mother-in-law didn't flinch. "I just asked around. These days, the going rate for a live-in husband starts in the tens of millions."

"Look at the casino mogul's son-in-law. After he married in, the old man handed over his entire empire as a dowry!"

"My son graduated from a top university. He makes a million a year. He's an only child. His looks and credentials are every bit as good as that mogul's son-in-law! So why should he settle for one measly house?"

She shot me a glance and kept going.

"Just earlier, one of my relatives told me that the biggest real estate developer in our state is also looking for a live-in son-in-law! He sent my son's resume over, and they said if my son married in, they'd give him ten million dollars!"

"And after the first baby? Another ten million!"

Her voice rang with self-righteous conviction. "My son has already given your family two children! Asking for a million is perfectly reasonable!"

I turned to Jim, my expression dark.

"Jim Fox! I had no idea your mother was still setting you up with other families while I was in labor giving birth to your children!"

Jim pressed his lips together and kept his head down.

"I didn't know. I really didn't know."

I drew a deep breath and said it outright.

"Jim Fox, I'm only going to ask you once! Today, right now, do you choose me or your mother?"

"If you're any kind of man, if you still care about me at all, then sign the papers and change the kids' last name!"

Amelia's face flushed scarlet. She threw herself onto the floor, thrashing and wailing.

"You're standing right in front of me, turning my own son against me! What kind of daughter-in-law does that?!"

"Don't test me! I'll make him divorce you!"

My expression went cold. I looked straight at Jim, enunciating every word.

"Fine. If you won't sign, then we're getting a divorce."

Jim dropped to his knees beside my hospital bed, tears streaming down his face.

"Honey, I don't want a divorce..."

Looking at him like that, I felt equal parts fury and heartbreak.

Did he really think I wanted a divorce?

I'd just given birth. I was weak, exhausted, desperate for my husband to be by my side. The last thing I wanted was to end my marriage.

And a divorce wouldn't just affect us. It would affect my parents too.

If the elders found out, the stress alone could put them in the hospital.

My father looked at Jim with undisguised disappointment.

"Jim. Tell us. How do you want to resolve this?"

Jim was silent for a few seconds. Then, in a small voice, he said, "Dad, this is the first time my mom has ever been this good to me. I don't want to let her down."

"I'll write you an IOU. After my mom leaves, I'll pay back every cent, with interest."

My father stared at him for a long moment, then let out a heavy sigh and waved his hand.

"Fine. We'll scrape it together."

"But this is the last time, Jim. There won't be a next time."

My parents started wiring money, transfer after transfer into his account.

At eight hundred thousand, the system flagged a daily limit.

My father tried to reason with Amelia.

"It's not that we won't pay. The bank has a transfer cap. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll send the rest."

Amelia's face twisted instantly. "Transfer cap? Why don't you just bring cash? This is nothing but an excuse!"

Before anyone could react, she snatched the baby from the bassinet and clutched the infant to her chest.

"How do I know you're not taking advantage of my son's good nature? The second I leave, you'll pretend the money never existed!"

"If you don't pay up, I'm taking this baby home with me tonight! You can see your grandchild again when the money's in my hands!"

My mother went white as a sheet.

"The baby can't leave the incubator! Put the child back, now!"

Amelia dug in. "Then pay up! No money, no baby!"

When she saw security rushing toward her, she scrambled onto the windowsill and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Stay back! One more step and I jump with the baby!"

My mother panicked. She started talking fast—