Have you ever had a relative that pushed you to your limits? Well, let me tell you about mine. Maybe you’ll think yours are normal after hearing this story.

Carl and I had been happily married for seven years and together for nearly fifteen. We had two wonderful children, Maya and Luke. Our little family was everything to me, but when it came to our extended family, things were far from simple.

From the moment I met my mother-in-law, Chloe, and my sister-in-law, Candace, something felt off. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but I soon realized just how much trouble they would bring into my life.

Before our wedding, Candace had already shown her true colors. She threw a massive tantrum when I chose someone else as my maid of honor. She even claimed that my wedding dress was prettier than hers, as if my wedding was supposed to revolve around her!

She almost ru!ned the entire day, but thankfully, Carl’s grandmother, Gelly, stepped in. Gelly was the only kind person in that family, and I wish she could have helped more often.

But the real sh0ck came just before Candace’s thirtieth birthday. Normally, she barely visited us and when she did, she kept her distance from the kids, always complaining that they were too noisy or gave her headaches. That day, however, something was different. She spent hours playing with Maya, and there was something about the way she did it that sent a shiver down my spine.

Later that evening, during dinner, Candace did something that would change everything.

“I have an announcement!” she suddenly shouted, her voice breaking the silence of the room. “I’m going to be a mom!”

Carl choked on his food, while I froze in disbelief.

“What?” I asked, still trying to process her words.

Carl wiped his mouth and looked at her. “Who... is the father? You’re not even dating anyone.”

Candace waved her hand dismissively. “That’s actually why I came over today,” she said. “The parents of my daughter will be you two.”

My st0mach twisted. “What?!”

She smiled, like she had just announced something normal. “I’m almost thirty, and I don’t have a husband. The perfect birthday gift would be a daughter.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “You want us to have a child... for you?”

“Yes! But not just any child. I want you to give her to me as a gift for my birthday,” Candace replied casually, as if she were asking for a sweater.

My mind raced. “You seriously don’t see the problem? I’m not having a baby just to hand it over to you,” I said, my voice rising.

Carl was shaking his head. “You want Stephanie to be your surrogate?” he asked, his disbelief obvious.

Candace shook her head. “No, I want you two to have a baby for me.”

“You want us to have a child, and then just give it to you?” I repeated, stunned.

“I don’t see the problem,” she shrugged. “I’m almost thirty. I want a daughter. Why is it such a big deal?”

At that moment, I couldn’t keep it together any longer. “I’m not an incubator!” I shouted. “A child isn’t an object. It’s a person!”

But Candace didn’t see the issue. “You just don’t want me to be happy. You’re the only one with children,” she cried.

Carl slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! Leave. Now.”

Her face turned red with anger, but she stood and stormed out, shouting she would tell her mother. We were left in silence, both of us trying to process what had just happened.

For the next few days, I hoped she would forget about it. But I should’ve known better.

One afternoon, Candace showed up at our house, and this time, Chloe was with her. Candace carried shopping bags full of baby clothes, and I thought for a second that maybe she had finally accepted her role as an aunt. But the smug look on her face told me otherwise.

“I hear you agreed to give Candace a baby,” Chloe said, sitting on the couch without waiting for an invitation.

“No, we told her we weren’t doing that,” I replied firmly.

Chloe raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“Because it’s insane,” Carl responded, his voice heavy with frustration.

Chloe continued, “You should understand, Stephanie. As a woman, you know that the older you get, the harder it is to have children. Candace is almost thirty.”

“I’m not going to give my child to someone who has no clue what it means to be a parent,” I said firmly.

Candace quickly defended herself. “That’s not true! I bought everything!” she said, pulling out baby clothes from the shopping bags.

“You do realize that babies are not dolls, right? They cry, they scream, they get sick. They’re a lot of work,” Carl pointed out.

“My daughter won’t be like that,” Candace replied, with too much confidence. “She’ll be like your Maya—I’ve never seen Maya cry.”

“That’s because you’ve never spent enough time with her,” I retorted.

Candace then made another ridiculous comment. “Then I’ll just bring my daughter to you when she cries.”

“Babies cry all day and night. Are you planning to bring her to me every single time she cries?” I asked, incredulous.

“Yes. What’s the problem with that?” Candace asked, genuinely confused.

Carl’s patience finally snapped. “This is impossible! You’re not ready to be a mother, and asking someone to have a child for you is completely insane,” he said.

But Candace wasn’t done. “But you’re my brother!” she cried.

In the middle of their argument, I noticed Chloe had slipped away. I went to find her, and to my horror, I found her in our bedroom, poking holes in our condoms.

“What are you doing?!” I shouted, horrified.

“Making life easier for everyone,” she said calmly, as if what she was doing was perfectly normal.

“You’re interfering with our lives!” I yelled.

“Not everyone is as lucky as you,” she replied. “You have a husband who’s perfect for you.”

“You’re treating me and your son like incubators!” I snapped. “Why can’t Candace just go to a sperm donor?”

“Donors are random people. But you and Carl already have two healthy children. It’s a guarantee that Candace’s child will be fine,” Chloe argued.

I couldn’t believe my ears. “That would be our child! Ours!” I shouted.

“But you’d be having it for Candace,” Chloe said.

I couldn’t take it anymore. “You know what? If you’re going to help, then I agree,” I said, a plan forming in my mind.

Chloe’s eyes lit up. “Finally! Why didn’t you just say so earlier?”

As soon as they left, Carl turned to me, sh0cked. “You agreed to this?” he asked.

“I have a plan,” I said with a smile.

Over the next nine months, I played my part. I acted pregnant, smiled at Candace’s calls, and even let her ramble about nursery themes and baby names.

Finally, the day came. We gathered the family together, and Candace waited in anticipation.

“Here’s your gift,” I said, handing her the carrier with the fake baby.

Candace eagerly opened it, only to find a doll. Her face twisted with sh0ck and rage.

“You were pregnant?!” she screamed.

“Fake pregnancy,” I smirked. “I went out of town just to sell the illusion.”

Candace’s eyes filled with tears, and Chloe yelled in outrage. But it was too late. The lesson had been taught.

And then, Gelly, Carl’s grandmother, stood up and gave them both a piece of her mind. “You’re both out of your minds,” she scolded. “I’m writing you both out of my will.”

As she walked out with Carl and me, I knew that Candace and Chloe had gotten exactly what they deserved.