"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—

"Don't do anything rash! We'll go borrow the rest right now! We'll get you the full million, okay?!"

Mom choked the words out through tears, then urged Dad to start making calls.

Dad's face was grim. Phone in hand, he dialed one number after another—relatives, friends, business partners—working through every contact he had.

After a full hour of scraping together every dollar they could, they managed to come up with just over a hundred thousand more.

Dad dropped the case of cash in front of Amelia.

"We're only short by a few tens of thousands! You can put the baby back now!"

"I guarantee the rest will be wired tomorrow. The second the clock strikes midnight, it's done!"

Amelia sneered.

"Not good enough. Who knows what you people are scheming? You'll probably freeze my son's accounts first thing tomorrow morning, and we won't see a dime. Then who do we complain to?"

"Your family's far too clever for that."

I watched my parents scramble, foreheads slick with sweat.

The baby's cries from the swaddling blanket were growing weaker.

A sharp pain twisted through my chest. I turned to look at my husband.

Fighting back tears, my voice cracking, I asked:

"Jim Fox. I'm only going to ask you once. Are you absolutely sure you need this million dollars?"

"If we can't come up with it tonight, what are you going to do? Just stand there and watch your mother hold our child's life over our heads?!"

His gaze darted away. He was silent for a long time before he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Honey... don't you have shares in the company?"

"Maybe you could transfer them to me."

"Think of it as covering that last hundred thousand..."

A ringing filled my ears.

"What did you just say?"

Amelia's eyes lit up and she jumped in immediately.

"Yes! Shares work too!"

"Since you have shares, hurry up and transfer them to my son."

Dad's expression darkened. He shot to his feet.

"Absolutely not! The company doesn't go to outsiders!"

"We can pay the money! Double! Will double do?!"

"Just give us three more hours. Three hours!"

"Past midnight, the money hits the account. Guaranteed!"

"Put the baby down first!"

Amelia wasn't listening.

"Transfer them now! I'm counting down from five. If you don't, I jump!"

The room erupted into chaos.

I swallowed every ounce of pain inside me. Tears brimming, I looked at Jim.

"You're sure this is what you want?"

I drew a deep breath, wrenched the ring off my finger, and hurled it onto the table.

My voice broke as I cried out:

"Mom, Dad! Call the lawyer. Have him draw up the agreement."