I’d always dreamed of a perfect Christmas, especially since I was about to be a part of Liam’s family. I was excited, not knowing this Christmas would be the beginning of the end.
Liam’s family had their quirks, sharing private jokes that I didn’t understand. I never imagined it would make me question if I belonged.
When I met Liam, he was full of humor and spontaneity, while I was the quieter, more structured one. We complemented each other well, and seven months ago, he proposed in a typical prankster fashion. I said yes, thinking I was the luckiest girl.
As Christmas approached, I carefully picked thoughtful gifts for Liam’s family, hoping to make a good impression. My sister reassured me, recalling her own first Christmas with her in-laws.
The night before Christmas, I drove to Liam’s family’s home, excited but nervous. Their big Victorian house looked like something out of a Christmas card. However, from the moment I walked in, something felt off. The family greeted me with forced smiles, and I felt like an outsider.
Christmas Day only got worse. Every attempt to join in fell flat. They laughed at their inside jokes while I sat awkwardly, and Paula kept “correcting” everything I did in the kitchen.
When it was time to open gifts, I was horrified to find that every single one of my eighteen presents was a lump of coal. They laughed as they explained it was a tradition for newcomers. I was humiliated.
I confronted Liam, but he shrugged it off as just a joke. I couldn’t accept that. I told him I didn’t deserve to be treated this way and left.
Later, my phone exploded with messages defending the family’s actions, but when Liam called about the power outage at his house, I realized it was karma. I ended our engagement, unable to marry into a family that thought humiliation was love.
The next morning, Liam returned the presents I’d bought. I donated the money to charity, heartbroken but relieved to walk away from a family with such cruel traditions.
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