My dad passed away when I was 16. Before that, he set up a wedding fund for me. It was under my mom’s name to manage, but it was his big gift.
Recently, my boyfriend proposed. My mom was weirdly cold about it, but I figured she was just surprised.
Then came the family dinner at my aunt’s house. My cousin Elise was there, along with the rest of our extended family.
Mid-meal, my mom tapped her glass and said,
“I have a little announcement.”
We all turned. She smiled and said,
“I decided to give the wedding fund my husband left for our daughter to our beautiful Elise. It would be a shame to let it sit unused.”
The room went silent.
“Mom. I am engaged now,” I said quietly.
Her response?
“Oh, sweetie… let’s be honest. You’re not exactly… bride material. You’re making it up. Elise is more likely to meet someone.”
I was stunned. I looked around, hoping someone would say something.
And then, my cousin Elise stood up.
Elise cleared her throat, her eyes flickering between my mother and me.
“Actually,” she said, voice steady, “I’m not accepting a single cent of that money.”
My mom blinked. “What? But honey—”
“No,” Elise interrupted, shaking her head. “This is wrong. That fund was left for her. Uncle David told me about it once when I was little. He said, ‘That’s my gift to my girl when her special day comes.’ You don’t get to rewrite that just because you’re bitter she found love first.”
My mom’s smile faltered. “Elise, don’t be dramatic. You’ve always wanted a big wedding—”
“I’ll pay for my own wedding when the time comes,” Elise said firmly. “And just so everyone knows, yes, your daughter is engaged. He proposed last weekend, and she said yes. Show her some respect.”
There was a beat of silence before my aunt chimed in, “Wait, you’re already engaged? Congratulations, sweetheart!”
Everyone else began murmuring, a few offering congratulations, and a couple shooting glares toward my mom, who now looked like she wanted to melt into the carpet.
But Elise wasn’t done.
“And one more thing,” she said, pulling something from her purse. It was an envelope. “This came to me last month. Turns out Uncle David had a backup plan in case something like this ever happened.”
She handed it to me.
Inside was a copy of a second trust—one that my dad had arranged separately, just in my name. Elise smiled gently.
“He knew. Somehow, he knew she might try this. You don’t just leave a piece of your heart with someone unless you’re sure it’ll be protected.”
My hands were trembling.
There it was, in black and white: a backup account my dad had quietly created through his lawyer, untouched and waiting.
$47,000. Just for me.
Tears filled my eyes. Not because of the money, but because my dad… hadn’t forgotten me. He’d protected me, even from the grave.
My mom stood frozen, her mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t breathe.
I stood.
“Elise, thank you,” I said, my voice shaking. “And to everyone here… thank you for seeing me. For standing up when I couldn’t.”
I turned to my mom.
“You tried to erase me. But all you did was remind me who I really have in my corner. I won’t be needing anything from you again.”
Then I walked out—with my cousin, my dignity, and my father’s love still intact.
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