“I Don’t Want Any Other Daughter-in-Law—Do Whatever You Like!” said the Mother to Her Son Mark was finishing uni and thought it was the perfect time to marry his first love from sixth form, Maddie! Maddie wasn’t just pretty; she was smart and kind, writing her master’s dissertation at the time. The young couple planned to tie the knot as soon as she finished her degree. Mark decided to tell his mum about the wedding, but she wasn’t thrilled. His mother insisted he either marry Amanda from next door—or no one at all. Then she asked what mattered more: his career or love? Mark’s mum dreamed of her son becoming a true success story. Amanda was from a well-off family and had fancied Mark for ages, but he only had eyes for Maddie, whose family background wasn’t ideal. Maddie’s mum had a bad reputation… What would the neighbours say? “I don’t need any other daughter-in-law. Do as you wish!” his mum told him. Mark tried for ages to change his mum’s mind, but she wouldn’t budge. Finally, she said she’d disown him if he married Maddie. Mark lost his nerve. He kept seeing Maddie for six more months, but their relationship slowly fizzled out. Eventually, he married Amanda. She truly loved him, but there was no big wedding—Mark didn’t want Maddie to see any wedding photos. With Amanda’s wealthy background, he moved into her parents’ massive house, and they even helped his career. But true happiness never came. Mark didn’t want kids. When Amanda realised she couldn’t change his mind, she filed for divorce herself. By then, Mark was forty and Amanda thirty-eight. Amanda remarried, had a child and finally found real happiness. Mark always dreamed of marrying Maddie, tried to find her, but she seemed to have vanished. Then he learned Maddie was gone—after their break-up she’d married the first man she met, who turned out to be violent. He beat her to death. After that, Mark ended up living alone in his parents’ old flat, drinking himself to death, staring at Maddie’s photo and never forgiving his mother.

I wont accept anyone else as my daughter-in-law, do as you wish! declared his mother.

Matthew was finishing university and thought it was the perfect moment to marry his first love from school, Emily. Emily was beautiful, but more importantly, she was kind and clever. At the time, she was writing her dissertation. The young couple agreed to tie the knot as soon as they both graduated.

Matthew felt it was time to tell his mother about his plans for marriage, but she didnt have any good news for him. She told him he either married Alice from next door, or no one at all. Then she asked whether his career or his heart mattered more to him. His mother dreamed of seeing her son rise to great success.

Alice came from a well-off family and, for ages, had fancied Matthew. But he only had eyes for Emily, who came from a less fortunate background. Emilys mother had a poor reputation, and his mother fretted over what the neighbours might think.

I need no other daughter-in-law do as you wish! his mother insisted.

Matthew tried to reason with her for weeks, but she remained steadfast, and finally threatened to disown him if he married Emily. At this, Matthew lost his nerve. He continued seeing Emily for another six months, but their relationship gradually faded.

In the end, Matthew married Alice. She truly loved him, but they decided against a wedding celebration, as Matthew didnt want photos of the day to reach Emily. With Alices wealthy background, Matthew moved into her familys grand house. Her parents even helped him climb the career ladder. Still, he was never truly happy.

Matthew didnt want children, and when Alice realised she could never change his mind, she filed for divorce herself. By then, Matthew was forty, and Alice was thirty-eight. Alice later remarried, had a child, and finally found real happiness.

Matthew kept dreaming of marrying Emily. He tried to find her, but she seemed to have vanished. Eventually, he learned the truth from a friend after their breakup, Emily married the first man she met, but he turned out to be a cruel brute and ended her life in violence.

Afterwards, Matthew moved back into his parents old flat, drinking himself into oblivion. He constantly stared at the only photo he had of Emily and could never forgive his mother.

Life, Matthew learned too late, is lived best by following your own heart not someone elses ambition.