The War Between My Mother and My Wife
Not long ago, our family welcomed two great blessings.
My daughter-in-law Mandy Stiller gave birth to a baby girl, weighing 7.5 pounds.
My daughter Yvette Cobb also had a son, delicate and adorable like finely carved jade.
The two children were born just three days apart, and the house instantly became lively.
Looking at the granddaughter and grandson swaddled snugly in their blankets, my heart felt sweeter than honey.
I thought we should show some special care for both children.
After all, they're both precious treasures of the family—we can't favor one over the other.
I discussed it with my husband, and we decided to transfer 100,000 dollars each to Mandy Stiller and Yvette Cobb.
Let's just say it's a growth fund for the child—my little token of love.
My husband had no objections and even praised me for being thoughtful.
Feeling delighted, I opened the mobile banking app, filled out the transfer details for 100,000 dollars to my daughter, with just the final confirmation left.
I thought I'd check the family group chat messages first before transferring the money.
The family group chat was lively—relatives all congratulating me on having a granddaughter and grandson.
I replied to each message, a smile never leaving my face.
But as I kept scrolling, one message from Mandy Stiller stopped me cold.
She didn't mention me directly, but anyone with half a brain could tell she was talking about me.
"Some people pretend to be fair on the surface, but deep down, their bias is obvious."
"I had a daughter, and this is all the money she gave me. How can she even say she cares?"
"My cousin's daughter-in-law's family gave them a villa right after the child was born. Compared to that, it's just heartbreaking."
"To put it plainly, it's just a preference for sons over daughters. They see daughters as outsiders once married off, and I am just an outsider too."
A few sorrowful emojis followed that.
I stared at the screen, my fingers trembling.
One hundred thousand dollars is no small sum. My husband and I are just ordinary retired workers; saving money hasn't been easy.
I've never thought of my daughter as an outsider, nor have I ever favored sons over daughters.
How could Mandy Stiller possibly think that?
I felt both angry and wronged; I didn't even have the heart to confirm the transfer details I had just entered.
I sat on the sofa, clutching my phone, my mind a complete mess.
Mandy Stiller's words were like thorns, stabbing deep into me.
I kept going over how I treated Mandy Stiller—I never treated her unfairly.
When she was pregnant, I went out of my way every day to prepare nutritious meals for her.
She craved something sour in the middle of the night, and in the freezing cold, I went out to buy it for her.
So how is it that once she speaks, I become the evil mother-in-law who favors sons over daughters and is cruel to the daughter-in-law?
My husband saw the look on my face and asked what was wrong.
I told him what Mandy Stiller had said in the group chat.
My husband frowned as well and said, "How can Mandy be so immature?"
I sighed deep and suddenly an idea came to me.
Since Mandy Stiller accused me of preferring sons over daughters, I might as well just "go along" with her idea.
Everyone says "Raise sons poorly, raise daughters well." My precious daughter, Yvette Cobb, naturally deserves to be raised well.
Before, I always tried to be fair, worried that Mandy would be unhappy, so I wasn't as generous with my daughter.
Now it seems my cautiousness means nothing in her eyes.
The next day, I opened the Family Group Chat and saw Mandy had sent another long message.
It was all about stressing the idea of "raising sons poorly, raising daughters well," saying that society now demands more from girls and parents need to think more about their daughters.
A few relatives chimed in below, saying Mandy Stiller had a point.
I looked at that message and sneered coldly.
Is Mandy Stiller trying to pressure me, or just making excuses for her own discontent?
I opened the mobile banking app and pulled up the transfer page for Mandy Stiller.
I deleted the 100,000 dollars amount I had originally entered.
Then I exited the transfer page, feeling not the slightest bit regretful.
Since she doesn't want my 100,000 dollars, there's no reason for me to cling to her cold shoulder.
It's my money; I can give it to whoever I want. Why should I have to worry about her attitude?
After deciding to lavish our daughter with wealth, I actually felt much lighter inside.
Yvette Cobb is my precious daughter, sensible and filial since she was little.
When she got married, my husband and I gave her a dowry of two hundred thousand dollars, and she always said it wasn't easy for us and told us to keep the money for ourselves.
With such a good daughter, I truly ought to cherish her even more.
I discussed with my husband about transferring more money to Yvette as an added dowry, so her life would be more comfortable in the future.
My husband nodded and said, "You decide what to do. Yvette is our daughter; it's only right to give her more."
I logged into mobile banking and transferred 888,800 dollars to Yvette Cobb.
This number is lucky, and it also expresses my feelings.
After the transfer went through, I sent Yvette a message: "Yvette, I have sent you some money. Take it, and make sure to take good care of yourself and the child."
Yvette replied quickly, saying, "Mom, why did you send me so much money? You and Dad should keep it."
Reading my daughter's message, my eyes welled up.
It's still my daughter who's thoughtful, the one who truly cares about us.
I replied, "I have the money, don't worry. Take it—this is for you and my grandchild."
Yvette Cobb made a few polite refusals, but in the end, she accepted and even said she would come home to visit us often.
Not long after, I heard from relatives that Mandy Stiller had posted pictures online showing how she was "spoiling her daughter with wealth."
In the photos, she had enrolled her newborn daughter in a high-end baby swimming class and even had a delicate diamond necklace custom-made to hang around the child's neck.
The caption read: "My precious daughter must be raised with wealth; she must never endure any hardship."
Many people commented below, saying Mandy Stiller was rich and treated her daughter well.
Looking at those photos, I felt nothing at all.
She can post whatever she wants; it's none of my business.
I quietly unlocked my phone and transferred 50,000 dollars to Yvette Cobb, telling her to sign my grandson up for some good extracurricular classes, like early education or music lessons.
At first, Yvette refused, saying I'd already given her a lot.
I told her, "A child's education is important; we can't let him fall behind at the starting line. I'm happy to spend money on him."
Yvette couldn't argue with me and finally accepted the money.
I know Mandy Stiller is probably trying to pick a fight with me.
But I don't care; I just want to love my daughter and grandchildren properly. As for Mandy, let her do whatever she wants.
The one-month-old newborn baby's feast for my granddaughter and grandson came around quickly.
My husband and I agreed to book two tables at the best hotel in the city, inviting relatives and friends.
Mandy Stiller and my son Jimmy Cobb arrived early at the hotel. Mandy's face was expressionless, and she spoke to me without any warmth.
I didn't argue with her; after all, today was the one-month-old newborn baby's feast for my granddaughter and grandson, and I didn't want to spoil the mood.
Once the banquet began, the relatives started giving red envelopes to the child, all offering their blessings.
I looked at the two children, feeling happy, and toasted each relative one by one.
During the meal, Mandy Stiller kept glancing at me; I knew she was waiting for me to transfer the money.
But I had already made up my mind—I wasn't going to send her that 100,000 dollars.
Since she wasn't interested, why should I be so eager to give it?
After the banquet ended, all the relatives left.
My husband and I were just about to head home when Mandy Stiller suddenly sent a message in the Family Group Chat, and her tone was sharp.
"Some people really have hearts of stone. It's the granddaughter's one-month-old newborn baby's feast, and not even a single gesture—yet they still dare to call themselves grandparents?"
"I think it's deliberate, targeting me. They just don't want to give me money—why make so many excuses?"
"Jimmy, go ask your mom for money right now. If she refuses, this child will take my surname, Stiller, not yours, Cobb!"
I read that message, trembling with rage all over.
Mandy Stiller has really gone too far.
In front of so many relatives, she was stubborn and wouldn't let it go.
Now she's even threatening Jimmy Cobb over the child's surname.
I was about to reply in the group chat, but my husband tugged my arm and said, "Don't stoop to her level now. We'll talk at home."
I gritted my teeth, stuffed my phone into my pocket, and followed my husband home.
We'd barely been home ten minutes when the doorbell rang.
I opened the door and saw Jimmy Cobb, his face looked especially dark.
"Mom, what's going on?" Jimmy Cobb came in and immediately confronted me.
"Didn't you see what Mandy said in the group? Our child's one-month-old baby's feast, and you didn't even send so much as a word of congratulations?"
I looked at my son, feeling deeply disappointed.
"Jimmy, are you really accusing me without getting the full story?" I took a deep breath.
"I had originally planned to transfer one hundred thousand each to you and Yvette, but Mandy said in the group that I prefer sons over daughters, even comparing me to her cousin's villa and complaining that the amount I gave was too little. It broke my heart."
"If she doesn't want my money, why should I go out of my way to give it to her?"
Jimmy Cobb was stunned—clearly, he hadn't heard what Mandy Stiller had said.
"Mom, Mandy probably just said it casually, don't take it to heart." Jimmy Cobb's tone softened.
"She just gave birth; her emotions are unstable. Cut her some slack."
"Cut her some slack? I've already been patient enough with her." I couldn't help but raise my voice, "How did I treat her when she was pregnant?"
"She wanted something sour in the middle of the night, so I went out in the freezing cold to get it for her; she didn't want to cook, so I went to your place every day to cook for her."
"And what did I get in return? She was still not satisfied and said I was mean to her."
"Jimmy, it's not that your mother is unreasonable, it's Mandy who's gone too far." My husband chimed in, "This time, Mandy's clearly in the wrong."
Jimmy Cobb lowered his head and said nothing.
After a moment, he looked up and said, "Mom, no matter what, Mandy is my wife."
"Just do it for my sake and send her some money. Don't let her cause any more trouble."
"I won't send her any money." I said firmly, "It's my money, and I'll give it to whoever I want. If she's not satisfied, she can figure it out herself."
Jimmy Cobb looked at me, his eyes filled with helplessness.
"Mom, with you acting like this, I'm caught in the middle, and it's really hard for me."
"Hard or not, there's nothing I can do. Mandy was the one being unreasonable first." I said firmly, "From now on, I'll stay out of your affairs, and you should stop bothering me as well."
Jimmy sighed, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Watching my son's back, I felt uneasy too.
But I don't regret it. I can't let fear of causing my son difficulty make me wrong myself.
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