My Brother’s Fiancée Demanded Our Family’s Inheritance for Her Kids — I Said Yes, Then Asked One Question That Shut Her Down

People say that you can see real color of people by their money. When the fiance of my brother insisted my family must inheritance her children, I pretended a bit just to bring something out; that question that would make her appear to be a very bad person. The silence which succeeded, told us all it was worth knowing.

Noah and I had a strong bond even though I am six years older than him since we were growing up. He was my father, my best friend and the one who showed me how to ride a bike and how to be able to stand up against bullies.

We could not miss birthday celebrations of each other and even as adults we found time to meet and have coffee dates once in a week. Nothing could ever break us… until Vanessa came into the scene.

Two years ago when Noah first brought Vanessa to our family, I made an attempt to be joyful about the fact. She was pretty, had a good accent, and made my brother smile like never before, it appeared.

Our first meeting was a success because her two children in a former marriage had been well behaved and had both been a cute six years old girl and her merry eight-year old brother. Mom and Dad treated them with the cordiality of assuring them of snacks and activities of kids.

Noah came and confessed, after our first meeting, that he really liked, Amelia. I believe she is a candidate.

I embraced him and told him all the appropriate things just to have something wrong. I did not know what exactly it was. The little things were just what caused me to stop.

Case in point, the manner in which Vanessa smiled was weird when the parents mentioned family traditions. It chilled my backbones at the way she gazed upon the collection of antique jewelry that our mom is wearing.

Besides, during the first dinner itself, she even just casually made inquiries of the lake house owned by our grandparents.

Noah would say, whenever I politely reminded me of these incidents, that all she needs are some time to adjust. He was perhaps right. Now it might be that I was being too protective.

Time went by and Noah asked her to marry him.

Each person did his or her part.

Mom was assisting in wedding plans, Dad was discussing the reservation of country club on the reception and I volunteered to be the bridesmaid of Vanessa. At family get-togethers we kept a cordial conversation, yet there was a non-existent wall between Vanessa and other members. No aggression, and mere… distance.

So what is your take on the kids of Vanessa? one day during the laundry folding in the room I grew up in my mom asked me privately.

They are good kids, I answered. “Why?”

Mom hesitated. Noah said that they started to call him Daddy already. He made out that he felt embarrassed at it.”

I wagged my eyebrows. Did Vanessa promote that?

Mom sighed, and said, He did not say. I only do hope he knows what he is getting into.”

The wedding planning went on with the undertones of tension behind it. Noah appeared to be a happy person most of the time, but I also noticed him show signs of doubt in his eye occasionally when Vanessa would say something like “getting in on the family fortune” or how none of her kids were getting the stability that they needed.

Sunday came and it was Easter, Mom had called a large dinner. Vanessa arrived as a single person since her children were on holiday weekend with their real father.

Things were nice at the beginning of things. Dad cut the ham, Mom served her scalloped potatoes that were one of the greatest, and Vanessa put everything in order with superb good manners.

I ought to have recognized that a quiet could not be prolonged. When Mom produced her home-produced apple pie to dessert I could see Vanessa stiffen in her chair and her eyes grow narrow with decision.

She put the napkin on the table deliberately and I had a shudder down my spine when I saw that.

and then she cleared her throat so loudly as to have silenced the table. The whole audience stared at her as she clapsed her hands in front of her and uttered something out of the ordinary.

“Well, before the wedding we must fix some thing,” she declared. It is the issue of the prenup.

My fork became stuck half way to my mouth.

The face of Noah fell at once. And it was plain that he had not wanted to have her raise the subject again, not here, not now.

usually,” he said, “we had decided to talk about this in private.”

She took no notice of him, and went on.

I think it is totally disrespectful that Noah would even propose the use of a prenup. Thing is, the whole family is behind the notion of dis-inheriting my children. she looked up quickly, and narrowed her eyes, making a survey of the table. You really think that they would accept nothing? That’s disgusting.”

My father remained silent, they were moving food on his plate.

My mom did not look comfortable as her eyes moved between Noah and Vanessa. The atmosphere in the room was claustrophobic.

I paused to get a breath and then I spoke slowly. Your children are not his and are not biological children of Noah, Vanessa. That does not imply that we do not like them, but they are not part of our bloodline inheritance.

She rolled her eyes and laughingly scoffed at me as though I had just said something absolutely absurd.

You jesting? They are going to be his children! That is they are family.” She stood across a gap on table right hand and thrust at me. I have a feeling you people are treating me like a gold digger who just appears with stray dogs. They belong to him now, children of his, and you like it or not.”

Mom recoiled upon her words.

By this time anger in my chest swelled up but I tried to remain composed.

You are getting in our family. That makes you our in-law,” I answered very slowly. However the possession of inheritance remains on the direct descendants. They will love your kids but they are not heirs.

And the face of Vanessa turned red. She reclined in her chair, crossed her arms in front of her and said with a dose of ice in her words, So what, they have to sit back and watch your kids having everything and they have the crumbs? It is not a family. That’s cruelty.”

Noah stretched his hand. We have discussed that honey. I am considering establishing college funds to the children. They will take care of them.”

“College funds?” Her hand went back with a jerk. When his blood relatives get houses and investments and all that? And that is not just treatment.”

At last my mother said in a low but determined tone. Vanessa, dear we are not trying to upset you. Inheritance family customs are complex.”

It is not something complicated, Vanessa said snappishly. But either you take my children to be full members of this family, and as full members entitled to all its privileges, or you do not. What are you?”

It made dad cough. It might not be a good moment to…

Vanessa interrupted and said: “It is the right moment.” I will never sign a prenuptial agreement that will treat my kids as second-rate family members. Period.”

Noah was a sad, tormented man stuck between his love to his fiance and his commitment to preserving our family customs. That was when I understood that my brother the person who had always taken care of me now required someone to take care of him.

So, at a moment, I decided to make a decision.

I stared right at Vanessa and put down a napkin.

All right, I answered. Well, then, let us settle it fairly.

This sudden approving took Vanessa by surprise. She gave me an eyebrow and attempted to guess why I have changed my mind.

We will think of having your children included in the inheritance… but you must answer but one question.”

And she grinned as though she had already won, and dropped deeper back in her chair. “Fine. And what is it?

I drank some water so that she had to wait long enough to be embarrassed. Then I said to him, “Will your parents, or those of your ex are going to bring my children, or the biological children of Noah, into their inheritance?”

“Excuse me?” she said.

“Just answer. Is our family going to receive something by your family?”

“Well… no. Naturally not. It does not work like that.”

“Exactly. Well that is not the way things are.”

It was silent at the table. Mom and Dad looked at one another. Noah looked helplessly at his plate, although I could witness relief on his face.

Vanessa showed her white heat. No, that is not the same at all! Compared with that, this. This family has a place of my kids!”

And you could not, you just said, our children do not belong in yours, I said.

That is… that is just not the thing, she stammered.

What makes a difference? I asked. The family is family, isn t it? Is this not what you are saying?

She arose first so suddenly as to scratch her chair on the floor.

Hissed she, “Dare you misconstruce my words. My children do not need to be second-best. This would not be a debate at all amongst you people, provided that you people had any decency. I am getting married to your brother. That means whatever belongs to him belongs to me also. And all of that includes a future in this family.”

You are marrying our brother Vanessa. Inheritance to us,” said I. It is your duty to take care of your children and to cater to them. You cannot even have a right to access something that never belonged to you in the first place. It is not a love. That’s entitlement.”

About this time Noah cleared his throat almost embarrassingly. Perhaps we had better have something to say about other things―”

No: Vanessa interrupted him. What more has your sister to say of my children?–I would like to know.”

I was talking softly: “I have no fault to find with your children.” However, this is not actually about them, is it? It is what you want it to be about.”

Mom rose up and started picking up plates. Who wishes coffee?

However the damage was done.

In which Vanessa mumbled under her breath when she took her seat again, that we were all greedy, selfish, and that she was ashamed of being married into such a cold family.

In the meantime, Dad nipped off, to assist Mom in the kitchen. After we were left all alone at the table, i.e., after me, Noah, and Vanessa had been left alone, I uttered the last words to her.

We are clear where our boundaries with Vanessa stand. Ask this again, and there will be more than the wedding which we will think twice about.

After that she said nothing.

It is a few weeks after Easter.