I’m Abbie, a 27‑year‑old software engineer making \$170K in a career I love. My fiancé, Tim, a third‑grade teacher from an old‑money family, loves his job—but last Friday, at his parents’ \$30K‑rug dinner, they told me I’d have to quit my career after marriage because it “undermined marriage.”
They insisted I should focus on redecorating, charity, and family instead. I pushed back, explaining I earned my success, and if they expected me to give it up, they’d have to guarantee financial security—an irrevocable trust matching my income for 35 years. They refused.
Tim—who sat silently through the whole thing—finally suggested private discussion, but his silence had spoken. I told them I wasn’t quitting or surrendering my independence. Three days later, Tim hasn’t reached out. I’m disappointed but unbroken—I know my worth, and I’m staying true to myself.