When Jake’s conservative Mom goes to extremes to exclude his wife and stepdaughter from a family dinner, he decides to teach her a harsh lesson about the meaning of family.

I’m Jake. I want to share a story about standing up for my family, despite some serious disapproval from someone who should have been supportive. Here’s how it all started.

A year ago, I met Linda, and my life changed forever. She’s amazing—kind, smart, and incredibly strong.

And with her came her little daughter, May. From the first moment we met, May and I clicked. She has this infectious laugh that brightens up even the gloomiest days.

May’s dad isn’t in the picture, so I naturally stepped into that role. It felt right like she was always meant to be part of my life.

But then there’s my mom. She’s very conservative and has rigid views about what a family should look like. Linda is Black, and while Mom never said anything outright, her actions spoke volumes. She always had an excuse whenever we invited her over.

The real heartbreak happened at our wedding.

My mom refused to be in any family photos. I remember trying to hold back my tears as she looked at me with a faint sneer.

“This won’t last,” she muttered as she swept past me. “You’ll come to your senses, eventually.”

Linda heard her nasty remark and cried her eyes out that night. Mom’s disapproval left a lasting scar on what should have been a perfect day.

But a few weeks ago, Mom pulled a stunt that pushed me over the edge.

Here’s what went down: Mom called me on a Saturday afternoon in a hysterical panic, claiming she was having a heart attack.