They say your first home as a couple is where your future begins. For Alex and me, it was a sunlit two-bedroom walk-up—ours, thanks to my parents’ generous down payment. But to Alex’s mother, Barbara, it was a gift meant for someone else.
At our housewarming, everything felt perfect—until Barbara stood to make a “toast.” With syrupy sweetness, she announced Katie, Alex’s sister, deserved our home more. And Alex agreed. “We’ll stay with Mom,” he said. “Katie needs it. You picked everything anyway.”
That’s when I realized: this was planned.
But my mom was ready. “Give them the papers,” she said.
I handed Alex the deed—my name only. A prenup ensured everything bought with my parents’ help stayed mine. Barbara’s plan crumbled. Katie looked stunned. Alex was speechless.