Rich Parents Dress Up as Poor Provincials to Test Their Son’s Fiancée — Story of the Day

A wealthy couple was surprised to hear that their son planned to marry a woman they had never met. They decided to pose as poor provincials to test the woman’s character before giving their blessing. 

Marge and Bartholomew Taylor were wealthy business owners who ran a multi-million dollar empire. They only had one son together, a 21-year-old boy named Robert.

Ever since Robert was a child, they groomed him to take over the family business. He was sent to the top private school in the city and had internships in several high-profile companies. 

When he got to college, he decided to go to a top university known for providing scholarships to people with good academic standing. There, he met people from different walks of life, prompting him to stay humble about his family background. 

Robert did not like flaunting his wealth. He was a down-to-earth man who dressed simply, going to school in a plain shirt and jeans every day. He drove a simple sedan to school like everybody else in his university, and those who didn’t know his family would not assume that he was rich. 

One weekend, Robert came home to his parents with something important to say. “Mom, dad, you might want to sit down for what I’m about to say,” he told them as soon as the three of them were gathered in the living room.

“What is it, Robert? You’re scaring me,” Marge told her son as she sat on the couch. 

“Well, you see, I have a girlfriend. Her name is Elizabeth,” he started to say. Marge and Bartholomew’s faces lit up as they had been waiting for Robert to meet his match. 

“That’s great, son! What is her family name, and what company does her family own?” Bartholomew asked. 

Robert fell silent. He knew his parents expected him to introduce someone wealthy, but his girlfriend came from a humble background. 

“Elizabeth’s parents don’t own a company, dad. They work as employees,” Robert clarified. “Anyway, that’s not what I came here to tell you. There’s something else,” he said, gulping. He was so nervous about how his parents would react. 

“What could be more surprising than what you’ve just told us, Robert? You chose to date someone who isn’t of the same social class. That will lead to so many problems!” his mother said, sounding almost insulted. 

“Well, Elizabeth is pregnant, and I’ve decided to marry her.” 

As soon as Robert said that, an awkward silence filled the room. His parents stared at him blankly, speechless about what he had just said.

“Oh, god. Bartholomew, I’m going to faint. I am going to faint! Robert! How could you be so reckless?!” Marge said, clutching her husband’s arm. 

“I’m sorry, mom. I really love her, and I’m certain she’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with,” Robert insisted. 

“You’re 21! I bet she only slept with you because she knew you were rich. How could you, Robert?” Marge cried out. 

“That’s not true, mom. I’ve never told her about our family background. She doesn’t even know we own a company. I told her you and dad worked in the corporate world. What we have is real,” Robert told his mom, but she just wouldn’t budge. 

“Okay, then. To see if what you have is real, we’re going to test your girlfriend and her family. We’re going to meet them, but in the guise of provincials,” Marge told her son. Robert objected, but Marge wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“If your bride does not pass the test, we will call off the wedding, and we will cut you out completely,” Bartholomew said, supporting his wife. 

Bartholomew and Marge immediately worked on their plan. They bought worn-out clothing from a flea market and wore the oldest shoes in their closet. To make things more believable, Bartholomew also brought out an old cane, pretending to be lame. 

Robert told Elizabeth that they would be coming over to her place so their families could meet once and for all. When Elizabeth opened the door to welcome Robert and his parents, she was surprised to see how they looked.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” she said with a smile. “Thank you so much for taking the time to come over. Please, come in.” She opened the door wider so her guests could comfortably walk inside. 

Bartholomew and Marge quickly glanced around the small house, judging it for its oldness. They tried their best to keep themselves in character, even though they were bothered by the strong smell around the entire house, which came from the kitchen. 

“Thank you, dear,” Marge said, still in character as a poor provincial. “I’m sorry we could not bring anything for you. You see, we’re a bit short on cash right now.”

“Oh, dear. You didn’t need to bring anything in the first place, Mrs. Taylor. Please, feel at home. My mom is cooking us a meal that we can enjoy as a family,” Elizabeth smiled, leading them to the living room. 

When she noticed that Bartholomew was limping, she held his arm and guided him towards the most comfortable chair in the room so he could sit. As they sat in front of each other, Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel emotional after seeing the state of Robert’s parents. 

After a while, Elizabeth’s parents, Matthew and Elsa, came out of the kitchen. They greeted Bartholomew and Marge with warm smiles, embracing them as if they’d known each other for years.

“It’s so nice to see you here! Thank you for taking time to meet with us. We love Robert a whole lot, so it’s nice to finally meet his parents,” Elizabeth’s dad said. 

Marge and Bartholomew were starting to feel bad about their plan, but they continued to play along. “Maybe they’re just putting up a front,” Marge thought. 

However, as the night went on, Marge and Bartholomew realized that Elizabeth and her parents were just genuinely nice people. Marge felt guilty for pretending, so while they were having dinner, she decided to come clean.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she said. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth, Matthew, and Elsa. The truth is, we are not actually poor. We own a multi-million company that has been around for over a decade. We came here dressed as provincials thinking you were fooling our son into marriage for our money. Now I feel guilty because that’s not true at all. You are all such lovely and kind people. It’s true what Robert said – their love is real,” she cried. 

Elizabeth and her parents were shocked and admittedly a bit hurt that Robert’s parents would think that way of them. However, they were not the type to hold grudges, so they let all judgment go and decided to start anew. 

“It’s okay, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. I know how surprising and overwhelming it must be to learn that your son is getting married and about to become a father, especially since you’ve never met me. I’m sorry that we disappointed you,” Elizabeth apologized. 

Marge shook her head. “No, dear. We’re sorry for misjudging you. You have a lovely home filled with love, and that is what matters. To start off your marriage on the right foot, Bartholomew and I would love to give you two a new home where you, too, can build a loving home filled with love.”

Matthew and Elsa interjected. “Ah, how generous of you, Marge, but you know, these young kids need to learn how to earn money for themselves,” Elsa said. Matthew agreed with his wife, saying:

“Only with hard work do you start appreciating what you have.”

Marge smiled at the wisdom Matthew and Elsa were trying to impart on their children. “You’re right,” she said.” Just know that as your parents, we will always be here to support you and guide you as you start your own family.”

After their meeting, Marge, Bartholomew, Matthew, and Elsa helped their children plan a beautiful wedding filled with their family and friends. Marge and Bartholomew were happy to pay for the wedding, showing just how much they grew to love Elizabeth as the future wife of their only son. 

After planning together for months, Elizabeth and Robert’s parents became best friends and sat beside each other as their children exchanged vows at the altar. They enjoyed a lovely evening together and continued to gather as one family during weekends and holidays. 

In the end, Marge and Bartholomew were grateful to learn that true wealth isn’t about how much money you have, but how you build on your relationships and nourish them through the years. Although they still saved money for their grandchildren to inherit one day, they donated a chunk of their assets to charity, inspired by the kindness of their in-laws. 

What can we learn from this story?

• True wealth isn’t in material possessions but in the relationships you build with other people. Marge and Bartholomew were materialistic given their financial wealth, but they slowly came to realize that life wasn’t all about money. They learned to value other people and cherish the relationships they had, and it was all thanks to Elizabeth and her parents. 
• Don’t be quick to judge other people. Just because Elizabeth was not from a wealthy family, Marge and Bartholomew were quick to assume that she was only after their money. In the end, they learned that Elizabeth’s love for their son Robert was pure and real. 

Share this story with your loved ones. It might inspire them and make their day. 

If you liked this story, you might like this one about a cafe owner who decides to pose as a homeless man to see who his true friends were. 

This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.

Anomama