My Parents Fired Me and Excluded Me From Their Will After I Got My Tubes Tied

One of our readers, Jess, 27, sent in a story that left our entire team arguing in the group chat. It’s about a 27-year-old woman who made a personal medical choice and lost everything because of it.

Fired from the family company. Cut out of the will. And guess who her ultra-traditional parents handed the entire fortune and business to instead? Let’s just say... no one saw her coming.

Read on to find out all the details of this peculiar family drama, and we bet you’ll have a lot to say in the comments!

Here’s a story Jess shared with us in her email:

Note from editorial: grammar, style and punctuation are kept the way they appear in the original email.

"Hi Bright Side!

I’m 27F, married, no kids, and no plans to have any. A few weeks ago, I got a tubal ligation. It was a decision I’ve been sure about for years, and my husband, Nate (29M), fully supports it. He doesn’t want kids either.

We both agreed early on that we’re more interested in building our careers, traveling, and just enjoying life without the responsibility of raising children. I’ve never had that maternal instinct, and I didn’t want to take chances relying on temporary birth control methods forever. So, I went for a permanent solution.

Here’s where things get messy.

I’m the only child of very wealthy parents. They own a large family-run business in the hospitality industry. They own luxury hotels, resorts, etc. Growing up, it was always expected that I’d eventually take over.

I’ve been working for the company since I was 20, climbing my way up from middle management. I have an MBA, tons of experience, and I genuinely thought I was doing a solid job.

When my parents found out I’d gotten sterilized (thanks to my mom snooping during a casual conversation with my friend at a family barbecue), they absolutely lost it. First came the yelling, the whole “you’re killing our bloodline” speech, and then the guilt-tripping: “You owe us grandchildren,” “You’re choosing selfishness over family legacy,” etc.

Then they dropped the bomb. They told me I was out of the company, and out of the will. I was completely blindsided, as I got no warning, no discussion. Just done.

The next day, I got a legal notice terminating my contract with the family business. Then, I found out they’ve rewritten their will and estate plans to leave everything to my cousin Emily (32F).

Emily is... well, she’s a sweet enough person, but she’s a SAHM with four kids under 7, no college degree, and zero experience in business. She’s not even directly involved with the company or in any way familiar with how it runs. She’s my dad’s cousin’s daughter, so technically family, but we barely saw her growing up. The only reason they’re choosing her is because, “She understands what family means.”

I’m still trying to process everything. I’ve given years of my life to this company. I thought I was earning my place. Apparently, none of that matters unless I’m producing heirs.

For what it’s worth, Nate and I are doing okay financially. We both work in tech and have savings, so I’m not going to be homeless or anything. But it hurts. I feel like I was only ever seen as a vessel to continue the family name, and the second I made a choice about my body that didn’t align with their expectations, I was disposable.

Am I missing something here? Is this a “their money, their choice” situation, and I’m just being dramatic? Would love to hear your thoughts.

—Jess K."

Here’s what our readers have to say about the whole situation:

Jess shared her story on our pages, and it provoked quite a debate among the Bright Side audience. Here are some opinions from people who couldn’t remain indifferent about the woman’s difficult situation:

u/tinywolf_93

Honestly? Good riddance. If they only saw you as a womb and not a person, then maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. Build your own life and legacy. Blood means nothing if they treat you like this.

u/404dadnotfound

I mean... it is their money. They can give it to whoever they want, even if their reasoning is dumb. That said, firing you from a job you earned just because you won’t have kids? That’s cold and honestly reeks of control issues.

u/BiiiigBrainJay_27

They built an empire and wanted it to stay in the family with a future generation. From their perspective, you ended that chain. I don’t agree, but I get where they’re coming from. Legacy-minded people think differently.

u/fpeaches42

They gave your job and inheritance to someone with zero qualifications because she had kids?? That’s not legacy, that’s insanity. Also, if they’re this dramatic, wait until cousin Emily screws something up, and they come crawling back. Don’t pick up the phone.

u/shygoblin_x

Not to be dramatic, but I’d go scorched earth. They fired you without cause, you might have a legal case for wrongful termination depending on your country/state. Might be worth talking to a lawyer just to know your rights.

u/dumpsterlizard88

As someone who also got sterilized in her 20s, this hits hard. The idea that your value is tied to being a “potential mom” is so toxic. You made an empowered choice, and I’m proud of you. Keep going, Jess.

u/grumble_granny47

I’m older, so maybe this is a generational thing, but your parents sound like they were counting on grandkids to keep the name going. Doesn’t mean they’re right, but you might have underestimated how deep that expectation ran.

u/chaos_coffeeolop

You did nothing wrong. Period. If they want to throw away a qualified, dedicated daughter over outdated ideas about womanhood, let them. You and your husband can build something better without emotional blackmail.

Here are some pieces of advice from Bright Side editorial:

• Make a Power Move, Not a Pity Post
  You’ve lost their business, so why not start your own and compete? You’ve got the skills, the network, and now a damn good story.
• Use the Drama to Fuel Your Brand
  People love a good family feud. Use this fallout as part of your origin story if you ever go public, because nothing sells like rebellion and reinvention.
• Quietly Document Everything
  Keep records of conversations, emails, and that termination notice. You might not want legal action now, but future-you might appreciate the receipts.
• Befriend the New “Heir”
  No sarcasm, Emily might be totally overwhelmed. Having a front-row seat to her inevitable crash-and-burn could be... enlightening.
• Ghost, Don’t Roast
  Skip the dramatic goodbye. Sometimes the most powerful move is complete silence while you level up somewhere they can’t reach.

We recently received a letter from another reader, Riley (32), who opened up about something that honestly left our jaws on the floor, and not in a good way. Riley works in a seemingly modern corporate office, where she’s been crushing it professionally for five years straight. But the moment she revealed that she’s childfree by choice and sterilized, her workplace turned from mildly annoying to full-on “Mean Girls: Fertility Edition.” Read on and share your advice with Riley in the comments.