As I sat across from my future daughter-in-law, Emily, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Her usually cheerful demeanor was replaced by a tense expression, and I braced myself for whatever news she was about to deliver.

“Mrs. Thompson,” she began, her voice unusually sharp, “I need to talk to you about the wedding.”

I nodded, trying to remain calm despite the sudden shift in atmosphere. “Of course, Emily. What’s on your mind?”

But before I could say another word, Emily launched into a tirade of demands and expectations that left me speechless. She insisted on extravagant decorations, a designer gown, and a venue that would cost a small fortune. As she listed off her demands, I could feel my patience wearing thin.

“Emily, I understand that you want your wedding to be special,” I interjected gently, trying to diffuse the tension. “But we need to be realistic about our budget. Your requests are simply not feasible.”

But Emily wasn’t having it. She grew increasingly hostile, accusing me of not caring about her happiness and implying that I was trying to ruin her dream wedding. I couldn’t believe the audacity of her words, the entitlement in her tone.

Finally, I had had enough. With a heavy heart, I stood up from the table and faced Emily with a steely resolve.

“I’m sorry, Emily, but I can’t agree to your demands,” I said firmly. “I want nothing more than for you and my son to have a beautiful wedding, but it needs to be within reason. If you can’t accept that, then perhaps we need to reconsider whether this marriage is the right choice.”

Emily’s eyes widened in shock, but she remained defiant. “Fine,” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. “If that’s how you feel, then maybe we don’t need your help after all.”

And with that, she stormed out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. As I watched her go, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. I knew that standing up to her demands was the right thing to do, even if it meant risking our relationship. After all, I couldn’t let her walk all over me and my family.