My mother-in-law, Gertrude, was never satisfied with me. Her endless criticism took a toll, but when she declared I wasn’t beautiful enough for her son, I had enough. I entered a beauty contest to prove my worth, but even there, she sabotaged me.

After a loving honeymoon with David, his mother’s disdain continued. During dinner, Gertrude criticized my cooking and appearance, leaving me feeling dejected. When David left for work, Gertrude’s harsh words stung deeply: “You’re not beautiful enough for my son.” I retreated to my studio, where I found an invitation to a beauty contest and decided to enter.

The contest was a whirlwind. Despite attempts at sabotage from Chloe, I found solace in helping others, including a fellow contestant named Katie. When Katie’s dress was ruined, I gave her mine. Though I wore a simpler dress, my heartfelt speech earned a standing ovation. David supported me, and I confronted Gertrude, demanding respect. David sided with me, and we walked away, victorious.