A week at my fiancé’s family beach house was supposed to bring us closer. Instead, it revealed a secret test I never knew I was taking. I met Brandon a year ago, and everything moved quickly from weekend dates to “I love you,” and finally, a proposal. Life felt perfect. When he invited me to his family’s beach house to spend time with his mom, Janet, I thought it would be a fun getaway.

From the moment we arrived, things felt… off. Brandon told me we’d be sleeping in separate rooms because his mom was “old-fashioned.” I brushed it off, but the weekend only got stranger. Janet constantly asked me to do things fetch drinks, clean her room, even rub her feet — as if she were testing me. Brandon never defended me.

One night, I overheard a conversation between them. Janet laughed, saying, “She didn’t pass the feet test.” Then Brandon replied, “She also refused to clean your room.” My heart sank when Janet added, “She’s the fifth one.” I searched Brandon’s old social media and found photos of four different women with Janet at the same beach house all smiles, just like me at the start of the trip. Suddenly, everything clicked. This wasn’t just a vacation. It was a twisted ritual, a “test” to see if I could fit into their family.

The next morning, while they were out, I packed my bags, left my engagement ring in the fridge next to Janet’s infamous homemade pickles, and wrote a simple note: “Thanks for the free test. I’m going home to find real love no grading required.” By the time Brandon returned, I was already on my way to the airport. I blocked his number, deleted the trip photos, and felt a wave of relief wash over me. For the first time in weeks, I could breathe. I wasn’t someone’s test or project I was simply me.