A girl’s parents are against her marrying a nice young guy who they think is poor, so his millionaire father pretends to be broke and teaches them a lesson.
When Sam Sutton discovered a way to make an unbreakable sealant for engines everyone wanted, he never imagined that it would one day affect the love life of his then-infant son, Will.
Sam’s discovery brought immediate improvements to the family’s life as it happened. He started making a lot of money on that sealant’s patent. Sam, his wife, and his baby son moved to a lovely house and got a new car.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
As the years passed, there was more money than Sam had ever imagined. His little family was comfortable, and that’s all he cared about. The extraordinary sums his lawyer kept reporting on seemed quite unreal.
Then something terrible happened to Sam and his family, and all those millions piled up in the bank made no difference. Sam’s wife, Rain, became very ill. Sam kept telling doctors money was no object, but they just shook their heads.
There are two things in life that money can’t buy: love and good health. Sam found out about the first in the most painful way when Rain passed away, and he’d find out about the second when Will grew up.
Being a single dad to a growing boy wasn’t easy, so maybe Sam made a few mistakes. Will was so kind, loving, and unspoiled that Sam lavished everything he could afford on him — and Sam could afford anything.
So, in high school, Will’s colleagues quickly realized that his dad was very rich and generous — and so was Will. Quickly, Will became the most popular guy — not because of his kindness or amazing good looks, but because of his dad’s money.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Girls, in particular, swarmed around Will like bees around a honey pot. At first, Will liked it, but gradually, he realized they didn’t want him. They wanted his dad’s money and all the luxury it could buy.
Will told weeping Sam that the girl he was in love with didn’t really care for him. She just cared about going along on their private plane for the Sutton family trips to Aspen, Veil, and the Bahamas.
Sam comforted his son and encouraged him to break up with that girl. The rest of Will’s senior year in high school was pretty lonely, but he had a plan. “Dad,” he said, “I have a plan.”
Sam grinned. “OK! What’s your plan?””I’m going to Yale in the fall, but I want everyone to think I’m a scholarship student.”
Sam blinked in astonishment. “A scholarship student? You? But why?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Well.” Will said, “if I’m poor and I wear scruffy clothes, people won’t be my friends unless they really like me. Girls won’t want to date me for our money.”
“That’s very true, Will,” Sam said. “I think that’s a brilliant plan!”
And so they put the plan in motion. Will and Sam bought all his clothes and equipment second-hand, and Will was the scruffiest, poorest-looking student you ever saw.
Money can’t buy love and good health.
The plan worked because Will quickly found many great, sincere friends, and he even met a girl he liked, and she felt the same way, too. By his third year at Yale, Will was so in love with that girl.
Her name was Eddy — for Edwina — and he decided he wanted to marry her. Sam was a little worried that Will might be too young, but he married young, too, and he’d been very happy.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
So Will proposed to Eddy, and she said yes. Eddy took Will home to meet her parents that Thanksgiving, which was a disaster. Eddy’s parents, Marta and Farlow, were well-to-do and proud of their social position.
They wanted their beautiful daughter to marry a rich man, not a shabby third-year science major, no matter how smart, handsome, or funny. They were subtly unpleasant to Will but not enough that Eddy could complain.
Eddy, who had accepted Will’s proposal, proudly displayed the tiny diamond he’d given her as if it were the Kohinoor. She insisted that Will and his father join her family for the Christmas celebrations. Marta and Fallow were horrified, but they smiled, agreed, and made their plan.
Will and Sam took a Greyhound from their mansion in New Hampshire to Eddy’s family’s beach house in Narragansett to join the family for Christmas.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unplash
Eddy’s dad picked them up from the bus terminal, and the fun began. Farlow looked Sam up and down and sniffed. (Sam had gone shopping at the local Goodwill store and gone a little overboard.)
Sam didn’t look just poor; he looked almost homeless. Farlow drove them to their big house, and he talked about his wealth, his houses, and his cars. “I’ll have you know,” he said to Sam, “that I’ve done very well by my family. We live in comfort — to be honest, we live in luxury.
“Not everyone is used to that, of course, and we understand that, but we hope you and Will will be able to fit in. Christmas is very important to us.”
“It’s important to us too,” Sam said. As it turned out, Marta and Farlow’s idea of Christmas was to splurge on towers of expensive presents and show everyone they knew how successful they were.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
The next few days were a nightmare. Farlow and Marta didn’t miss a chance to show Sam they believed their daughter was way out of his son’s league.
“Eddy is a wealthy young woman, Sam,” Marta said. “And her husband must be able to give her the same lifestyle. I know you’ve not done as well for Will…”
Eddy became aware of her parents’ campaign to humiliate Sam, and she was furious. So she talked with her parents. “I’m going to marry Will,” she said. “And Sam’s going to be family, so get used to it.”
“But darling,” cried her mother, “the man is a derelict! Have you seen his clothes? He’s an embarrassment.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
“Believe me, mom,” Eddy said angrily, “you are much more of an embarrassment than Sam could ever be!” Eddy could not have known that Sam was listening, and he smiled. She loved Will! He’d found his one-in-a-million girl.
That night was Christmas Eve, and when the family gathered around the tree at midnight to exchange gifts, Marta said with an unpleasant smile, “You mustn’t feel bad, Sam, we know you’re struggling!”
Marta and Farlow handed Will a box with a car key inside. “It’s an early wedding present,” Farlow said. “We thought you needed a better car. Your old clunker is at least twenty years old, Will!”
Will smiled and thanked Marta and Farlow, and they all went outside to admire the Porsche sitting in the garage with a big red bow on it. Farlow threw Sam a triumphant look and smirked. He knew that Sam could never top that gesture, could he?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Then Sam took an envelope out of his pocket. “Eddy,” he said. “Will told me you two plan to move to New York when you graduate.”
“That’s right, Sam! You know he has an offer from a New York research facility, and I have an internship at the Met…”
“Well, finding a place to live in Manhattan isn’t easy, so I hope this helps…” Sam gave the envelope to Eddy.
Farlow sneered. “What’s that? A list of homeless shelters in the Upper East Side? A guide to the Best Brooklyn soup kitchens?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Eddy opened the envelope and gasped. “Sam!” she whispered. “Is this for real?” She showed Will the sheaf of papers inside the envelope, and Will ran to embrace his dad.
Farlow and Marta looked from one to the other in surprise. Then Eddy turned to her parents. “Sam’s given Will and I the deed to a brownstone in Tribeca. He’s given us a home.”
Marta and Farlow looked at each other, their mouths hanging open. “But…but…but…” gasped Farlow. “You’re POOR…The way you dress…You took the bus…”
“Well, Farlow,” said Sam gently. “I want my son to be loved and accepted for himself, not for the $570 million he will eventually inherit from me.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
There were no more objections to the wedding from Eddy’s parents. In fact, they became Will’s biggest fans and were very polite and respectful of Sam. The following summer, Will and Eddy married and moved to New York. When they welcomed their little daughter, Rain, three years later, Sam bought himself a house next door so he could be close to them.
What can we learn from this story?
- Money can’t buy love and good health. Sam knew that if people knew he was rich, they’d get close to his son for his money.
- Don’t judge people by their appearance. Farlow and Marta despised Sam for his shabby clothes and never imagined he was a millionaire.
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I Told My Fiancé About My ‘Marriage 8 p.m. Rule’ and He Canceled the Wedding — Is It Really That Weird?
When Emma proposes a daily “8 p.m. rule” to her fiancé, Matt, she expects it to bring them closer. But Matt’s reaction is far from what she’s imagined. Shocked by the idea, he abruptly calls off the wedding, leaving Emma questioning everything she thought she knew about love and commitment.
Winter felt like the perfect time to get married, and Matt had agreed. We had set the date for February, just after Valentine’s Day. How poetic, right?
I had every detail of the wedding figured out, and could almost see our future laid out like the itinerary for an amazing life.
A happy woman | Source: Midjourney
Matt and I had always been in sync, and our relationship was like a well-oiled machine. We’d never had any big fights or major drama. It was just… easy. At least, that’s what I thought.
But I had this nagging feeling lately. With the wedding fast approaching, I wanted to ensure we were as strong as we thought we were. I guess that’s where the 8 p.m. rule came in.
In my mind, it was the perfect way to keep us on track. I didn’t realize then how wrong I was.
A woman smiling faintly | Source: Midjourney
I decided to bring it up at dinner. I made a reservation at our favorite Italian spot, the one with the twinkling lights outside that made everything feel just a little bit magical.
We had so many wonderful memories there. I thought it was the perfect place for what I assumed would be a bonding moment.
I remember looking at him across the table. He was laughing, and I smiled back, my heart racing just a little.
“Hey,” I started, a little too casual. “I’ve been thinking about something for us.”
A couple having dinner at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
His fork paused mid-air. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Yeah? What’s that?”
And that was it. That was my opening.
“So, once we’re married, I want us to have this daily check-in. I was thinking we could sit down at 8 p.m. every night, go through a checklist, and talk about how we’re doing as a couple. You know, rate each other on communication, support, little habits… that sort of thing.”
A confident and happy woman | Source: Midjourney
I pulled out the table I had printed — because, of course, I had made a sample — and slid it across the table to him.
Matt stared at it, blinking. “You want us to… rate each other? Like a performance review?”
“Not exactly,” I said quickly, feeling my cheeks flush. “It’s more like making sure we’re always improving. Like, if one of us feels off about something, we’d talk about it before it festers. It’s proactive. Don’t you think that’s a good idea?”
A couple having dinner together | Source: Midjourney
He didn’t answer right away and his face remained neutral, unreadable. The silence stretched out, and suddenly the cozy atmosphere felt too warm and close.
“Emma…” His voice trailed off, and he pushed the paper aside, focusing on me. “That sounds like a lot. I mean… a daily check-in? With a rating system?”
I blinked. “Well, yeah. I thought it would be healthy, you know? Like, keeping the lines of communication open.”
A woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Matt leaned back in his chair, his expression turning serious in a way I hadn’t seen before. “It feels like… I don’t know. Like I’d be under a microscope. You want to do this every day? It’s too much.”
I felt my stomach drop. “But it’s only 15 minutes. It’s just a way to stay connected and make sure we don’t drift apart.”
“Drift apart?” He sounded incredulous. “We’ve been fine for four years. Why would we need this now?”
A stunned man | Source: Midjourney
That’s when I realized I had been holding my breath waiting for his approval, thinking he’d get it. But he wasn’t getting it at all.
The rest of the dinner blurred together. He didn’t just have ‘reservations’ about the 8 p.m. rule, he felt like it was the tip of an iceberg. He thought I was too controlling and too focused on perfection.
And then, out of nowhere, Matt said something that knocked the wind out of me.
A serious man | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
I thought he meant the 8 p.m. rule. That was bad enough, but then he said, “The wedding… I think we need to call it off.”
I stared at him, frozen. His words hurt more than I ever expected.
“Call off the wedding? You can’t be serious.”
An upset couple at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
But he was.
“I’m sorry, but you caught me off guard with this, and I don’t know what to think anymore. I need some space.”
And just like that, the man I had planned my life with got up from the table, leaving me alone with my half-eaten plate of pasta and a sinking feeling that the life I had planned was crumbling before my eyes.
A plate of pasta | Source: Pexels
For two days after that dinner, I felt like I was living in someone else’s body. My phone stayed silent. I kept glancing at it, half-expecting Matt to change his mind and tell me it was just a huge misunderstanding, that he overreacted.
But he didn’t.
When Matt’s mom finally reached out, her voice cracked as she explained that Matt had called off the wedding for good.
“He’s not himself right now,” she said as if that would make me feel better. “Give him some time.”
A woman staring at her phone in disbelief | Source: Midjourney
Time? I wanted to scream. There wasn’t time. We were supposed to be getting married in a few months. How was I supposed to explain this to everyone?
But that’s exactly what I had to do. The following day, I sat across from my parents at their kitchen table, barely able to get the words out.
My mom looked like she was trying to hold herself together, nodding the way she does when she’s trying not to cry.
A sad woman | Source: Midjourney
Dad was quiet. When he finally spoke, his words devastated me.
“Emma,” he started carefully, “you’ve always been… so particular. Structured, methodical. Maybe this 8 p.m. thing was a little too much, don’t you think?”
Too much? The words stung more than I expected.
Mom jumped in. “Honey, we know you mean well. But relationships aren’t always so… well, planned. Maybe Matt just needs something a little more flexible.”
A mature couple | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t know how to respond. Was it so wrong to want a way to keep things in check? Relationships fall apart when people don’t communicate, right? But there was no use arguing. The silence from Matt had already spoken volumes.
Later, I had the unfortunate task of dealing with Matt’s family. They were just as confused as my parents had been, and there was a shared undercurrent of uncertainty about my rule.
“I’m not saying it was the only reason he called off the wedding,” Matt’s sister told me, “but I think it scared him. Made him feel like he was being graded.”
A young woman speaking | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t defend myself. What was the point?
In the weeks that followed, my life moved in a blur. I kept my head down at work, avoided most social gatherings, and tried to figure out how everything had gone so wrong.
Then a new face showed up at work.
Greg was the new project manager, and I knew he was different from the moment we shook hands. Over the next few weeks, we started working on a couple of projects, and I found myself opening up to him in ways I hadn’t expected.
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
It all came to a head during one of our lunch breaks.
Greg and I had been talking about work-life balance. He was meticulous about his time management, just like me. Before I knew it, I was telling him about the breakup and the 8 p.m. rule.
Greg leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowing in thought. “You know, I think that’s a brilliant idea,” he said, catching me completely off guard.
A man in a restaurant holding the menu | Source: Midjourney
I almost laughed. “Really? Because Matt didn’t think so. He thought it was too controlling.”
“Well, Matt sounds like an idiot,” Greg said with a smirk. “I have something similar. I keep a system for tracking personal growth. It has color-coded charts, weekly self-assessments, the whole nine yards.”
I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. “You’re kidding, right?”
An astonished woman | Source: Midjourney
He shook his head. “Nope. How else are you supposed to know if you’re improving? Self-awareness is key to everything. Why should a relationship be any different?”
I felt validated. Finally, somebody saw the genius of my 8 p.m. rule!
Greg leaned forward, his voice lowering slightly. “Look, I don’t know Matt, but relationships take work. If someone isn’t willing to put in that effort, well… maybe it’s not about the rule. Maybe it’s about the person.”
His words hit me harder than I expected.
A woman staring in surprise | Source: Midjourney
He was right. Matt wasn’t the right person for me. It wasn’t about the checklist. It was about the fact that I wanted to grow, and he didn’t. I wanted to work on things, and he wanted to flop through life without a plan.
For the first time since the breakup, I didn’t feel devastated. I felt… relieved.
Greg smiled. “So, what do you say?” he asked. “How about we check in on that project we’re working on? I bet you and I can put together a killer workflow for it.”
A friendly man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
For the first time, I realized that maybe things had turned out exactly as they were meant to.
Here’s another story: Mindy is caught off guard when her ex-husband’s friend, Tom, confronts her about keeping Greg’s last name after their divorce. What starts as a casual conversation quickly escalates when Tom’s unsettling reason for talking to her finally surfaces, leaving Mindy reeling — and unaware of the deeper betrayal yet to be uncovered.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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