After His Wife’s Death, My Mother Tried to Force My Wife to Carry a Child for Her Son

It had been five years since I became a live-in husband to the Coleman family, and then my brother-in-law passed away. My mom, bless her heart, felt bad for my younger brother, Michael, being widowed so young. She wanted my wife, Ashley, to have a baby for him. I refused, of course, but Mom wouldn't take no for an answer. She practically had me barricaded in my own room, and I had to watch as Ashley went into the bedroom with Michael, who, by the way, was my half-brother. “He’s your own brother, Ryan! What's the big deal in helping him out?” she’d said. I thought, even if he was her brother-in-law, she still had some sense of decency and wouldn't actually do anything. But as time ticked by, my body grew colder and colder… Turns out, I was the only one who cared about what was right. While I was in my room, hugging my daughter and struggling through tears, she was upstairs getting it on with my own damn brother. … Finally, at daybreak, the locked door creaked open. Ashley tried to pull me into a hug, and as she got closer, a whiff of expensive perfume filled my nostrils. “Ryan, honey, I really didn’t see a way out. That’s why I slept with him. Don’t worry, no matter what happens between him and me, you’ll always be my one and only husband.” She was trying to explain, trying to justify her actions. But from the moment she didn't resist going upstairs with Michael, the Ashley I swore my life to had died in my mind. If we were gonna do the whole surrogate thing, we couldn’t let the kid’s real dad get outed. So Ashley had to get pregnant within a month, and then Michael would adopt the baby. Mom played sick and practically forced Ashley and me to stay at her place for a month. Ashley was sleeping in Michael's bedroom every night, trying to make a baby. And me, her actual husband? I was stuck in the room next to Mom's, like some kind of prisoner. Every move I made, there were bodyguards watching me. They were scared I’d mess things up, so Mom took my phone and tablet. I felt like a criminal, being watched like that. Finally, a month later, Ashley got pregnant. Mom was thrilled. She said we needed to celebrate. That night, Ashley came back to our bedroom, acting like she’d just won a war. She got close and wrapped her arms around me. “Honey, I know it's been tough, but I'm gonna make it up to you.” She reeked of perfume, like she’d been rolling around in it downstairs. It made me dizzy, and I hated seeing her so happy. I pulled away, pretending to fix my hair, and kept my distance. “How are you gonna make it up to me? You’re pregnant,” I said. Ashley brushed her hand against my cheek. “It's fine. The doctor said it won’t be a big deal.” Then she started to take off my shirt. I was trying to figure out how to say no when we heard Mom and our housekeeper, Mrs. Davis, outside the door. “Where’s Ashley?” Mom asked. “She’s resting with Michael, Ma'am.” Mom’s voice suddenly got louder. “Ryan, Michael's not feeling well. He wants Ashley to come down and see him.” Mrs. Davis sounded annoyed. “Ma’am, Michael should call 911 and go to the hospital. Ashley and Ryan just went to bed. It’s not right…” “Don’t be ridiculous! Michael’s just worried about Ashley, being pregnant and all. He’s just not feeling good. Ryan, please, just let your wife check on your brother, okay?” “He’s already feeling bad, and now…” Before Mom finished, Ashley rushed out. “He was fine after dinner! What happened? Was it the food? I gotta go see if he's okay…” She was rambling as she headed out. “Ashley!” I called after her. She turned around, looking guilty and complicated. “Ryan, Michael's wife just died. He’s gonna be the baby’s dad. I just need to check on him. You're always so understanding. You won’t be mad, right?” I had to be understanding, or I'd be insensitive. “Of course. He’s my brother, and you’re my wife. It’s no problem to take care of him.” I smiled and said gently, “Take your time. Stay with your brother for a while.” Ashley looked relieved. She smiled back, said, “You’re the best, Ryan,” and rushed into Michael’s bedroom. Watching Mom and Ashley disappear down the hall, Mrs. Davis shook her head. “This is too much…” “Anyone would think Michael was your wife! Ryan, don’t be a fool. You gotta stand your ground.” I smiled weakly. “I don’t want anything someone else has touched. Being a Coleman family husband isn’t that big of a deal, is it?” 2 Ashley didn’t come back that night. She had to be there for Michael’s baby. I tossed and turned all night and finally decided to divorce Ashley. Ever since Dad died, Mom had been favoring Michael, and without anyone to rely on, they didn’t hesitate to take advantage of me. If I wanted a divorce, I had to do it myself. The next morning, I told them I was taking my daughter to preschool, and I left with Mrs. Davis. My dad hired Mrs. Davis to take care of me when I was a kid, and she came back to visit this month. She was upset and worried about everything that was happening, but she couldn’t show it too much. She was afraid Mom would kick her out, and then I’d be all alone. So Mom trusts Mrs. Davis, and I’m glad she’s around. I drove Mrs. Davis and my daughter straight to a lawyer. When I got home, I had a bunch of papers in my bag. “Honey, what are you looking at? I called you, and you didn’t hear me,” Ashley asked, full of curiosity. I hid the papers. “You had an emergency meeting today. Why are you home?” “I took care of it! There was this project that was about to fall through, but Michael’s cousin introduced me to a client who took over the whole thing.” “The upfront profit will be over ten million! If we can keep it going, Coleman Corp will reach its year-end goal way ahead of schedule!” Ashley was excited. “Honey, isn’t that great? Shouldn’t I share the good news?” No wonder she was so happy. If she landed such a big project, her position at Coleman Corp would be more secure. She’d be able to shut up the board members who had been giving her trouble. But she kept calling him Michael, and she forgot he was my brother, the person she should be calling "brother-in-law". “That’s worth sharing,” I said, but I was disgusted. I knew she wasn’t competent, but I didn’t know she was so incompetent she needed to use her relationships to close a deal. I usually did most of the work at Coleman Corp, but now she was relying on Michael’s cousin. It made my stomach churn. “Honey, I need to enroll Sarah in preschool. I need your education and employment documents. Here’s yours. Can you sign it?” I pulled out some papers and pointed to the blank spots. I hadn’t talked to Ashley much this past month. This was the first time I’d mentioned our daughter. Ashley was happy and sat down, using my knee as a desk. She signed each paper. Michael opened the window on the second floor and saw what was happening. He was jealous. I saw his face. I wrapped my arm around Ashley’s shoulder as she looked up at me and smiled gently. Ashley playfully pinched my cheek. The housekeeper and bodyguards from the front yard saw us and greeted us. “Ryan and Ashley are so happy!” “They’re so in love! That’s why Ashley’s been staying here with Michael while he’s sick.” Michael heard them and got angry! Ashley had his baby, but they couldn’t be together in public. It made him sick. He pretended to be dizzy and called out Ashley’s name. Mom called up from the first floor, “Ashley, Ryan, go see what’s wrong with your brother!” “…Honey, I gotta go check on Michael,” Ashley said awkwardly. I pulled out the divorce papers and folded them so only the blank spots were showing. I wouldn’t let go of her. “I need two more signatures…” Michael was groaning louder. Ashley looked anxious and signed the papers without looking. Then she got up and walked to the front yard. After she left, I touched the divorce papers. I smiled at her signature. I took my daughter Sarah back to the Coleman family mansion and started living my own life. I pretended not to notice Ashley going over to see Michael every other day. I was planning my escape. As soon as the one-month waiting period for the divorce was over, I was going to take my daughter and run. I was done with this messed-up family! On the last day of the waiting period, I was packing when I got a call from the mansion. They said there was something important to discuss and I needed to come over for dinner. I drove over to the mansion, and I saw a familiar car. I froze. I had a bad feeling. What was Michael doing here? 3 The living room was packed. Ashley and my father-in-law, George Coleman, were there. Mom and Michael were also there. He was wearing a white suit that made him look like a prince. Everyone looked at me when I walked in. Michael was looking at me with a smug look on his face. My mom, Linda, was hugging her precious baby boy, Michael, and wouldn’t even look at me. Ashley tried to pull me over. “Honey, Michael took me to my doctor’s appointment yesterday and ran into Dad. So…” She didn’t finish. She sat down, and my father-in-law asked me, “Ryan! How dare you let Ashley have a baby with your brother behind the Coleman family’s back?” I was shocked. “That’s not…” Mom interrupted, “What do you mean? I told you! Your brother could marry someone else and have a baby, but you said you couldn’t have a son and that we’re all family. That’s why Ashley had a baby with your brother!” “Now that the truth’s out, you wanna blame it all on me and your brother?” “Ryan, you’re heartless!” “Mom!” I said. “I never agreed to this! You forced me to do it!” “Lies! If I forced you, would Ashley just stand by and watch? You blackmailed Ashley by crying and threatening to hurt yourself and taking Sarah away!” Mom was so confident that I thought I’d heard her wrong. I knew she favored Michael, but I never thought she’d sacrifice me for him. I was her son too! A chill spread from my heart to my limbs. I looked at Ashley, hoping she would defend me. But she wouldn’t look at me or say anything. My father-in-law said, “Alright, stop arguing!” “Now that Ashley’s pregnant with your brother’s baby, she’ll have the baby. You’ll raise it and pretend it’s your and Ashley’s child.” “As for your brother… he can stay at the mansion for now. He’s the baby’s father.” It was ridiculous. So, after forcing my wife on me, they were going to use me? Just to give Michael and Ashley’s baby a place in the family! What a joke! I stood up and was about to speak when a little girl ran in. “You’re a bad man! You can’t take Mommy away from Daddy!” Sarah ran to Michael and pushed him. Mom slapped her. Ashley stepped forward and slapped Sarah hard. Sarah was only six years old. She was no match for them. They shoved her to the ground, and she hit her head on the coffee table. Sarah’s cheek was swollen, and she had a bump on her head. I held Sarah in my arms and tried to comfort her. Ashley exploded. “Is this how you raise your kids? She’s so young, but she’s already so mean! She’s calling names!” “You haven’t given me a son in five years of marriage! Have I said anything?” “Michael is willing to give you a son. What more do you want?” Sarah shouted, “My dad doesn’t want a son! He can have one himself!” “Kids don’t know anything. Mrs. Davis, take the child away.” Mom said with a sneer. She glared at me and said to my father-in-law, “Kids learn from their parents. Michael is a lot better than Ryan. His son will be successful.” “Just wait for your grandson!” “If Ashley has a son, I’ll take care of Michael,” George said, looking at Michael. Michael smiled shyly and looked at Ashley. They looked like a loving couple. They looked like a family more than me and Sarah. Now I understood. They’d planned this all along. It was all about making Michael look good. Nobody asked for my opinion. George just glanced at me and said, “You and Ashley will move back to the mansion. Michael will stay with Ashley, and you should stay home so people don’t suspect anything.” They were using the same tricks Mom had used. The only one they were imprisoning was me. Sarah was struggling in my arms. Before I left, Michael smirked at me. He knew he’d won. He could use the baby to force me to agree today, and he could use the baby to force me to divorce Ashley tomorrow so he could be the Colemans' son-in-law. I walked behind them, ignoring him. I didn’t want a dirty woman. But why should my Sarah be abused like this?

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