When my daughter Maddie’s fiancé, Jason, learned she had a college fund, he didn’t ask for it — he demanded it, like we owed him a debt. My husband Tom and I had started saving for all our kids’ education years ago, believing it was the best legacy we could leave them. We never imagined that fund would cause such chaos.

Maddie had gotten pregnant at 16 and dropped out of school. Though we supported her emotionally and financially, she never used the fund — it was always there if she decided to go back to school. When her younger sister Kate mentioned using hers for college, Maddie’s face lit up. But when I explained the money was only for education, she became furious.

She insisted the fund was hers to use for a house or wedding. When I refused, Jason and his entire family started harassing us. His mother screamed that we were withholding money, his sister said it “belonged to them,” and Jason told me flat out that we were being “unrealistic” for thinking Maddie would return to school.

I was heartbroken, but unmoved. The fund was always meant to support a better future — not to hand over as a cash gift. Maddie was shocked by Jason’s behavior. She came to me in tears, saying, “They don’t care about me, just the money.”

Three days later, Maddie left Jason. She enrolled in GED classes, and now plans to attend cosmetology school. We’re using the fund for her education — just like we always hoped. And we’ve never been prouder.