The birthday gift that went too far

My sister-in-law has always felt entitled to everything she wanted, but nothing prepared me for her most outrageous request yet: she wanted me to have a baby so that she could keep it as a gift. When she refused to accept no for an answer, I decided to teach her a lesson she'd never forget.

Think your relatives are crazy? Well, let me tell you about mine, and maybe you’ll change your mind.

Harry and I had been married for seven years, together for almost fifteen, and we had two wonderful children, Maya and Luke.

Our little family meant everything to me, but when it came to our extended family, things weren’t so simple.

I realized something was off with my mother-in-law, Charlotte, and my sister-in-law, Candice, the day I met them.

I told myself it was just nerves, that I was overthinking things. I had no idea what was coming and how much they were going to complicate my life.

Before our wedding, Candice showed how selfish she could be. She threw a massive tantrum because I had the audacity to choose someone else as my maid of honor.

Worse yet, she said my wedding dress was prettier than hers. As if my wedding day was supposed to revolve around her!

She nearly ruined the whole day, but thankfully, Grace, Harry’s grandmother, intervened.

Grace was the only truly kind soul in that family, apart from my husband. Unfortunately, she lived too far away to rescue us often.

But just before Candice's thirtieth birthday, something happened that made me question reality itself.

Candice rarely visited us, and when she did, she always kept her distance from the kids, complaining they were "too loud" or "gave her headaches."

But that day was different. She spent hours playing with Maya, and something about it gave me chills. By the end of the day, I realized I had every reason to be concerned.

At dinner, Candice kept staring at Harry and me. I knew she wanted attention, but I didn’t understand why.

“I have an announcement!” Her voice echoed through the dining room. “I’m going to be a mom!” she exclaimed.

Harry choked on his food, coughing and grabbing his water. I froze, the fork halfway to my mouth.

“What?” I asked.

Harry wiped his mouth. “Who... is the father?” He frowned. “You’re not even dating anyone.”

He was right. Candice’s last boyfriend ran off after she yelled at him for not buying her an expensive purse.

Candice waved her hand dismissively. “That’s actually why I came today.” She straightened up in her chair. “You two are going to be the parents of my child.”

My stomach twisted. “What!?”

She sighed, as if I were the crazy one. “I’m almost thirty, and I don’t have a husband.” She smiled. “The perfect birthday gift would be a daughter.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. My brain struggled to process her words.

Harry rubbed his temples. “You want Stephanie to be your surrogate?”

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

I put my hands on the table. “So, you want us to have a child, and then you expect us to give it to you?”

“Not just give it—give it to me for my birthday. What’s the problem?” Her tone was light, casual, as if she were asking for a sweater.

I stared at her. “You really don’t see a problem with this?” My voice rose. “Harry and I aren’t having any more children. I’m not having a baby just to hand it over to you.”

Candice laughed. “Stephanie, you’ve always been so selfish.”

Harry’s chair screeched as he stood up. “No, Candice. Stephanie is right. We’re not doing this.”

“But why? You already have two! What’s the big deal about having one more?” Her voice reached a high-pitched whine.

I clenched my fists. “I’m not an incubator! A child isn’t an object! A child is a person!”

“You just don’t want me to be happy! You want to be the only one with children!” Candice screamed.

Harry slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! Get out. Now.”

Candice’s face turned red. She stood up, trembling with rage. “I’ll tell Mom about this!” She stormed toward the door, slamming it behind her.

I sighed. “How did she even come up with this idea?”

Harry shook his head. “She’s completely out of her mind.”

Candice stayed silent for a while. I hoped that meant she’d finally let it go. But I should have known better.

One afternoon, Candice showed up at our house, accompanied by Charlotte.

Candice had a bunch of shopping bags from baby stores. My first thought was that she had decided to be a good aunt and bring gifts for Maya and Luke. But the smug smile on her face told me otherwise.

Charlotte walked in without waiting for an invitation. She sat on the couch and gestured for Harry and me to join her. Candice was nearby, smiling.

“Candice told me you agreed to give her a baby,” Charlotte said.

“What? No, we told her we weren’t going to do that,” I said.

“Why not?” Charlotte asked.

“Because it’s insane,” Harry replied.

“Is it really that hard? Stephanie, as a woman, you should understand that the older you get, the harder it is to have kids. Candice is almost thirty,” Charlotte argued.

“I’m not giving my child to your daughter, who has no idea what it means to be a mother,” I said firmly.

“That’s not true! I already bought everything!” Candice exclaimed, pulling baby clothes and dresses from her bags.

“Do you realize a baby isn’t a doll you can just dress up, right? Babies cry, scream, spit up, and do a lot of unpleasant things,” Harry pointed out.

“My daughter won’t be like that. She’ll be just like Maya—she never cries,” Candice said confidently.

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

“I’ll bring her to you when she cries,” Candice said.

“Babies cry day and night. Are you going to bring her to me every time?” I asked.

“Yeah. What’s the problem with that?” Candice asked, genuinely confused.

Harry buried his face in his hands. “This is impossible. Candice, you’re not ready to be a mom. Asking someone to have a child for you is completely crazy,” he said.

“But you’re my brother!” Candice yelled.

As they argued, I noticed that Charlotte had disappeared. I went looking for her and found her in our bedroom, making holes in our condoms.

“What are you doing?!?” I yelled.

“Making life easier for everyone,” she said calmly.

“Have you lost your mind?!?” I screamed.

“Look, it wouldn’t be hard for you to have another baby, but it’s hard for Candice. So I decided to help out a little,” she said.

“Help!?!” I yelled. “You’re interfering in our private life!”

“Not everyone is as lucky as you, having a husband like my son. You should understand that,” Charlotte replied.

“You’re treating me and your son like an incubator! Why can’t Candice go to a sperm donor?!?” I fired back.

“Donors are just random people. But you and Harry already have two healthy children, so Candice would be sure her baby would be fine,” Charlotte said.

“That would be OUR child! OURS!” I screamed.

“But you’d have it for Candice, so it would be hers,” Charlotte argued.

“Do you really think I’d give my child to someone who thinks you can choose the gender of a baby? Or that babies don’t cry?” I asked.

“I’ll help her,” Charlotte said.

“That makes...” That makes the situation even worse, I wanted to say, but I stayed silent.

Then I had an idea—a way to teach Candice and Charlotte a lesson and show them how crazy they were.

“You know what? If you’re going to help, then I’m on board,” I said.

Charlotte smiled. “Finally! Why didn’t you say that earlier!?!” she said, then went to tell Candice the “good news.”

As soon as they left, Harry turned to me, astonished. “You really agreed to this?” he asked.

“I have a plan,” I said.

Over the next nine months, I played my part well.

I smiled, touched my belly often, and acted like the happiest pregnant woman.

Every time Candice called, I reassured her everything was fine. I even let her talk about nursery themes and baby names.

I was exhausted. Keeping up the ruse drained me, but I had to see it through.

When the time came, I announced that I would give birth in another city. Candice pouted but accepted my reason—I told her the “gift” had to be kept a surprise until her birthday. After all, it was a gift, right?

The big day came, and the whole family gathered for the reveal. Even Grace had traveled to be there.

Candice had told everyone about her “big surprise,” building the moment as if she’d won the lottery.

Harry and I entered when everyone was seated. I was holding a baby crib, wrapped with a huge bow, carefully cradling it. Candice let out a scream, her hands clasped in front of her.

“Let me see it!” she screamed, trying to peek inside.

“Not yet,” I said. “Wait for the big moment.”

Finally, Candice stood up, almost glowing with excitement. “I have a very special announcement!” she declared. “Harry and Stephanie gave me the most amazing birthday gift—a baby!” A murmur filled the room. Everyone looked at us.

Candice turned around, arms outstretched. “Okay, now give her to me!” I smiled and placed the crib in her hands.

Candice ripped off the bow. She shakily reached into the crib. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Then her face contorted in horror.

“WHAT IS THIS?!?” she screamed, pulling out a doll.

The room went silent. Everyone stared at her. Harry and I burst into laughter.

“The only baby you’re capable of taking care of,” I said, smiling.

Candice’s chest heaved up and down rapidly. Her fingers dug into the plastic limbs of the doll. She glared at me with pure rage.

“But you were pregnant!” she shouted. “I saw your belly!”

“Fake bellies,” I shrugged. “I went out of town to ‘give birth’ just to sell the illusion.”

Candice let out a sharp sob. Charlotte gasped and jumped out of her seat.

“You’re a heartless witch!” Charlotte screamed.

“And who’s really heartless here?” I replied. “The people who refused to give away their child? Or those who expected a baby like it was a wrapped gift?”

Candice clutched the doll to her chest. Tears fell down her face.

“But... but I bought so many dresses!” she whimpered. “Who am I going to put them on now?”

“The doll works just fine,” Harry said, still laughing.

Candice’s hands trembled as she stared at the doll. Her whole body shook.

Then I noticed Grace was watching intently. Her wrinkled hands rested in her lap. Her sharp eyes moved between Candice and Charlotte.

“Can someone explain to me what’s going on here?” she asked, her voice firm.

I turned to her. “Candice came to us a year ago demanding that we give her a baby for her birthday.”

Grace’s face twisted in confusion. “You mean... as a surrogate? Does she have health problems?”

“No,” Harry said. “Our baby.”

Grace’s frown deepened.

“Candice is perfectly healthy,” I added. “She just doesn’t have a husband and thought we should give her a child.”

Grace’s face turned red with fury. She stood up, pointing a trembling finger at Candice and Charlotte.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?!?” she roared.

Candice flinched. “W-what? What’s wrong with that?”

“You’re just like your mother, Candice! I warned my son not to marry you, Charlotte, but he didn’t listen! And this is the result!” Grace spat.

“Grandma, how can you say that?!” Candice yelled.

“I’m speaking the truth!” Grace snapped. She took a deep breath, then looked at both of them with disdain.

“I’m going to erase you from my will.”

The room went silent. Grace’s fortune was substantial. Everyone knew that. Candice and Charlotte froze in shock.

“Are you serious?” Charlotte whispered, her voice trembling.

“Absolutely,” Grace said coldly. “I won’t let crazy people like you have control over my wealth.”

A deep sense of justice filled me. I watched as the realization hit them.

“But—” Candice started.

Grace held up her hand. “Enough. We’re leaving. I want to see my great-grandchildren—the real ones.” She turned to Harry and me. “Let’s go.”

Harry and I didn’t hesitate. We stood up and left the house, hand in hand. Behind us, Candice was crying uncontrollably.

Charlotte was yelling in frustration. But we didn’t care. They got exactly what they deserved.