My Parents Offered Us a Generous Sum of Money If I Got Pregnant, But Over Time My Husband and I Realised We Had Been Deceived

Im an only childsupposedly long-awaited, though at times it never felt as though I was truly wanted. When I was 23 and five months pregnant, doubts crept in as to whether I was really my parents biological daughter. My parents are both in their seventies now, and our financial situation is dire. We live in a rented flat, barely scraping by. My husband and I are both studying and working, but even with our efforts, its never enough to cover our needs. Weve faced eviction twice for missing rent payments, and have had to borrow from friends more than once. Now, were up to our necks in debt, scrounging for food, and forever worrying about money. My parents do sometimes help us out with meals, but its never quite enough.
They were adamant that we marry, so last year we went without hesitation to the register office to tie the knot. Thats when they began dropping hints about grandchildren.
Mum would go on and on about how I must have a child soon, because otherwise Id be an old parent, just like her. Honestly, my husband and I just didnt feel ready, and with the enormous financial burden a child would bring, we werent in a rush. But then my parents dangled a rather tempting offer in front of us. They promised that if I had a baby, theyd give us a substantial sumenough to buy a cottage in the countryside. The idea was that they would move to the country, and wed take over the city flat. We thought it over and decided it seemed a sensible arrangement. Wed finally have stability, a place to call our own, and any extra savings could go towards our own future. Mum promised shed help care for the baby so I could carry on with my studies.
Alongside that, they assured us of financial support and said theyd help kit us out with everything wed need for the baby and myself. But none of these promises ever materialised. They didnt even buy a single nappy. When I was pregnant, Mum would often ring, asking about my preparations for the birth, while I struggled to afford basics, like clothes for the baby. She suggested my husband get a third job to manage expenses. Id remind her of their promise to support us, but she denied ever offering such help and was quick to criticise, calling our decisions reckless.
When my daughter was born, suddenly, my parents remembered their promise about the money. By then, though, my husband and I had decided to buy a flat ourselves, because we finally realised we couldnt rely on them for anything.