The narrator, a widow, is excited about her son’s engagement and has planned a meaningful wedding gift: a down payment on a house. However, her future daughter-in-law refuses it, instead demanding the narrator’s personal emerald ring—a cherished gift from her late husband symbolizing their enduring love.
Despite the narrator’s protests, the young woman insists, citing tradition and the importance of a family heirloom. After weeks of subtle pressure, the narrator reluctantly gives in.
Later, the narrator discovers that the ring originally belonged to another woman—her late husband’s former fiancée. Shocked, she realizes her “unique” symbol of love was actually a repurposed engagement ring. The daughter-in-law’s insistence now seems deliberate, a subtle act of emotional power, leaving the narrator feeling betrayed and manipulated.
The story highlights themes of sacrifice, family dynamics, and the painful realization that cherished symbols can carry hidden histories.