Penelope had spent hours preparing to meet her future grandmother-in-law, Nana Margot. She baked a pie, bought flowers, and dressed carefully. But a nurse’s whispered warning changed everything. Penelope had always focused on her career, so when she met Liam, a kind and thoughtful man, she never expected family traditions to be a challenge. After Liam proposed, he said Nana Margot,

the family matriarch, would adore her. But Margot had other plans.When Penelope met Nana Margot at the assisted living facility, Margot immediately laid down strict, non-negotiable rules. No divorce, career-ending expectations for motherhood, and demands for a male heir. Penelope, stunned, asked Liam about it, only to learn that Nana’s expectations were part of a family tradition of manipulation tied to wealth and legacy, which Penelope soon discovered wasn’t real. It was all a test.The nurse revealed that Margot’s wealth was a lie and that Penelope wasn’t the first fiancée to be put through this. Confronting Liam, Penelope realized the truth: this was a game, and Liam was complicit.She ended the engagement, and the next day, received a note from Margot congratulating her for passing the test. But Penelope knew the real test was choosing herself. She tore the note up and walked away, realizing that love based on deception isn’t love at all, and sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is choose your own truth over someone else’s lies.