The more I looked into him, the more convinced I became\u2014I had to stop this before it was too late.<\/p>\n
When parents get divorced, most children suffer because of it. But when mine did, I was happy. I still loved both my mom and dad, but seeing them as husband and wife was awful.<\/p>\n
They were like two strangers who had been forced to live under the same roof. So when they finally split, it was a relief more than anything.<\/p>\n
As I grew older, I started encouraging my mom to find a new husband. She often complained about feeling lonely, especially in the evenings when the house felt too quiet.<\/p>\n
I knew she needed companionship, someone to share meals with, to talk to after a long day.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t always be around\u2014I had my own life, my own struggles. I even set up a dating app for her, scrolling through profiles and trying to find someone who seemed like a good match.<\/p>\n
But no one ever seemed to catch her interest.<\/p>\n
So when one day she called, her voice bright with excitement, and told me she wanted me to meet her new boyfriend, I was thrilled for her.<\/p>\n
I imagined a kind, steady man, someone who would make her laugh and treat her well. But as it turned out, my excitement was in vain.<\/p>\n
To introduce us, my mom invited me over for dinner.<\/p>\n
I planned my approach carefully, even listing out questions in my head.<\/p>\n
All she had told me was that his name was Aaron and that he was a pastry chef.<\/p>\n
I smirked, remembering how she used to grill my boyfriends when I was a teenager.<\/p>\n
Now, it was my turn.<\/p>\n
I picked up a bottle of wine on my way\u2014a small luxury, considering my tight budget.<\/p>\n
That one bottle meant I\u2019d be eating instant noodles for the next week. I was struggling at work and trying to save up for my dream business\u2014 a restaurant, but I wanted to make a good impression.<\/p>\n
When I reached her house, I hesitated at the door, my legs trembling slightly.<\/p>\n
Why was I nervous?<\/p>\n
I was not the one being tested. If anyone should be worried, it was Aaron.<\/p>\n
After all, he was about to face an overprotective daughter.<\/p>\n
I rang the doorbell. My fingers felt stiff against the button. A moment later, the door flew open.<\/p>\n
\u201cCasey!<\/p>\n
Finally, you\u2019re here!\u201d My mom\u2019s voice bubbled with excitement. \u201cWe\u2019ve been waiting!\u201d She tucked her hair behind her ear. \u201cI was just about to call you, and then the doorbell rang!\u201d<\/p>\n
She reached for my arm, but I gently held her shoulders instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, why are you so nervous?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
She let out a quick breath. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I just really want you to like Aaron as much as I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI doubt you want me to like him that much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, fair enough,\u201d she chuckled. Then her face turned serious. \u201cBut I really want you to accept him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gave her a small nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure everything will be fine. You chose him, so how can I not support you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her shoulders relaxed. \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d She smiled and slipped her arm through mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on.\u201d<\/p>\n
We walked into the dining room together. The moment I stepped in, my stomach twisted.<\/p>\n
A man about my age stood near the table.<\/p>\n
He had dark hair, a neat beard, and a confident stance.<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cYou didn\u2019t tell me Aaron had a son,\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n
Mom gave me a confused look. \u201cNo, Casey.<\/p>\n
This is Aaron.\u201d<\/p>\n
My head snapped toward her. My mom kept smiling as if this was completely normal.<\/p>\n
She glanced between me and him, waiting for a reaction.<\/p>\n
But I couldn\u2019t speak. I just stood there, frozen.<\/p>\n
Aaron stepped forward, extending his hand. \u201cNice to finally meet you.<\/p>\n
I had to convince Sandra for so long to set this up.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice was steady, polite. But I wasn\u2019t polite. I wasn\u2019t steady.<\/p>\n
Something inside me snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you kidding me?!\u201d My voice came out loud. \u201cIs this some kind of joke?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCasey, this is not a joke,\u201d Mom said. \u201cAaron and I are dating,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
I let out a short, sharp laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cDating?! He\u2019s my age! You could easily be his mother!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost your age,\u201d she corrected.<\/p>\n
\u201cAaron is 25, two years older than you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is wrong with you?\u201d My voice was harsh. \u201cHow did it even cross your mind to date someone so young?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom\u2019s face softened. \u201cI understand your reaction.<\/p>\n
At first, I didn\u2019t let myself acknowledge my feelings for Aaron either.\u201d She took a small step closer. \u201cBut Casey, I\u2019ve never felt this kind of connection with anyone else. I\u2019ve never been this happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I scoffed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of connection? Like a mother and son?\u201d<\/p>\n
Aaron cleared his throat. \u201cPlease, let\u2019s all calm down and talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you!\u201d My voice was sharp. \u201cWhy are you with her? Is it for the money?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cCasey!\u201d I ignored her.<\/p>\n
Aaron took a slow breath. \u201cI\u2019m not with your mom for money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, sure,\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n
Mom\u2019s face turned red. \u201cYou said you\u2019d support my choice!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know your choice was 25 years old!\u201d My hands clenched into fists.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two need to break up!\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom\u2019s lips pressed together. \u201cWe\u2019re not breaking up!\u201d Her voice rose. \u201cAaron proposed to me, and we\u2019re getting married in two months!\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d My throat felt dry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re getting married,\u201d she repeated.<\/p>\n
I shook my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really want him to take everything you have?\u201d<\/p>\n
Aaron\u2019s jaw tightened. \u201cCasey, I assure you, I don\u2019t care about your mom\u2019s money. I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n
I let out a bitter laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, sure, like I\u2019d believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom exhaled, looking tired. \u201cI\u2019m done with all this yelling. Either you calm down and join us for dinner, or you can leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat!\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a random boy is more important to you than your own daughter, then I\u2019m leaving!\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned and stomped toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cCasey!\u201d Mom yelled after me. \u201cAaron is not a boy! He\u2019s a grown man!\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t turn around.<\/p>\n
I just kept walking.<\/p>\n
For days after that evening, I struggled to come to terms with the fact that my mom was engaged to someone my age.<\/p>\n
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn\u2019t make sense of it. Every time I pictured them together, something inside me twisted.<\/p>\n
It felt unnatural.<\/p>\n
I lay awake at night, staring at the ceiling, replaying their announcement in my head.<\/p>\n
My mother had always been responsible, cautious, and wise. How could she not see what I saw?<\/p>\n
There was no way Aaron truly loved her. He had to be after something.<\/p>\n
I considered every possible way to stop the wedding.<\/p>\n
Confronting Mom again wouldn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n
She had made up her mind. Begging her? Useless.<\/p>\n
She was stubborn. That left one option\u2014I needed proof. I had to be smarter.<\/p>\n
I called Mom, acting like I wanted to make peace.<\/p>\n
My voice sounded calm, even cheerful. \u201cI overreacted,\u201d I told her. \u201cI want to fix things.<\/p>\n
If Aaron makes you happy, I\u2019ll support you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was overjoyed. \u201cThat means the world to me, Casey!\u201d she said. \u201cI want you to be part of this.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s plan the wedding together.\u201d<\/p>\n
I agreed. I showed up for dress fittings, tasted cakes, helped with decorations.<\/p>\n
All the while, I kept my eyes open.<\/p>\n
I watched Aaron carefully, waiting for him to slip up. But he never did.<\/p>\n
He was polite, charming, and patient. If I asked him questions, he had answers.<\/p>\n
He never got defensive or flustered. It was almost like he had rehearsed every response.<\/p>\n
A few days before the wedding, panic set in. I had nothing on him.<\/p>\n
I sat on my bed, rubbing my temples.<\/p>\n
Maybe I\u2019d been wrong. If I had searched this hard and found nothing, maybe Aaron really did love my mom.<\/p>\n
The age gap was strange, but men married younger women all the time. Why was it different when the roles were reversed?<\/p>\n
That evening, I took a deep breath and faced my mom. \u201cI accept Aaron and fully support you,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
She raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you already accepted him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I forced a smile and shrugged. \u201cNow it\u2019s official.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time in weeks, I felt calm. But it didn\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n
On the wedding day, as we rushed to the venue, Mom suddenly gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, I left my phone at home!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go get it,\u201d I offered, eager to be helpful.<\/p>\n
I drove back quickly and searched the house. No phone. I checked the kitchen, the living room, even the bedroom.<\/p>\n
Then I spotted a small drawer near her desk. It was locked.<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened. Why would she lock a drawer?<\/p>\n
What was she hiding? I pulled at it, but it wouldn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n
My frustration grew.<\/p>\n
I yanked harder, and suddenly, the drawer snapped open. Papers spilled onto the floor.<\/p>\n
I bent down, gathering them up. Then I saw the words printed on the top sheet\u2014Debt Notice.<\/p>\n
I flipped through the stack.<\/p>\n
All of them were under Aaron\u2019s name. My heart pounded. What was this?<\/p>\n
Then I saw another document. Property papers. My mom\u2019s name was on them, but the signature at the bottom wasn\u2019t hers.<\/p>\n
It was Aaron\u2019s.<\/p>\n
A wave of cold realization crashed over me. Forget the phone.<\/p>\n
I grabbed the papers and ran to my car.<\/p>\n
My hands shook as I gripped the steering wheel. I had to stop the wedding.<\/p>\n
When I arrived, they had already started.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop! Stop the wedding!\u201d I shouted, my voice echoing through the venue.<\/p>\n
The music cut off. Every guest turned toward me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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