At 45, my mother finally found love again, and I wanted to be happy for her. But when I met her new fiancé, I sensed something was wrong. I couldn’t ignore the uneasy feeling inside me. The more I observed it, the more I became convinced that I had to end this situation before it was too late.
When parents divorce, most children suffer. But when mine divorced, I was happy. I still loved my father and mother, but seeing them as husband and wife was horrible.
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They were like two strangers forced to live under the same roof. So when they finally parted ways, it was a relief more than anything.
As I grew older, I began to encourage my mother to find a new husband. She often complained of feeling lonely, especially in the evenings when the house was too quiet.
I knew she needed company, someone to share meals with, someone to talk to after a long day.
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I couldn’t always be there—I had my own life, my own struggles. I even created a dating app for her, scrolling through profiles and trying to find someone who seemed like a good match. But no one seemed interested in her.
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.
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I imagined a kind and stable man, someone who would make her laugh and treat her well. But it turned out my joy was in vain.
To introduce ourselves, my mother invited me to dinner. I planned my approach carefully, even making a list of questions in my head.
All she told me was that his name was Aaron and that he was a pastry chef.
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I smiled, remembering how she used to cook my boyfriends when I was a teenager. Now it was my turn.
I picked up a bottle of wine on the way – a small luxury, given my tight budget.
That bottle meant I’d be eating instant noodles for the next week. I was struggling at work and trying to save up for my dream business, a restaurant, but I wanted to make a good impression.
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When I arrived at her house, I hesitated at the door, my legs trembling slightly. Why was I nervous?
I’m not the one being tested. If anyone should be worried, it was Aaron. After all, he was going to have to deal with an overprotective girl.
I rang the doorbell. My fingers were stiff against the knob. A moment later, the door opened.
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“Casey! Finally, you’re here!” My mother’s voice crackled with excitement. “We’ve been waiting!” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I was about to call you, and then the doorbell rang!”
She reached out to me, but I gently held her shoulders instead. “Mom, why are you so nervous?” I asked her.
She let out a quick breath. “I don’t know. I just want you to love Aaron as much as I do.”
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I smiled. “I doubt you want me to like it that much.”
“Okay, that’s fair,” she said with a chuckle. Then her face turned serious. “But I really want you to accept it.”
I gave him a small nod. “I’m sure everything will be fine. You chose him, so how could I not support you?”
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Her shoulders relaxed. “You’re right.” She smiled and slipped her arm into mine. “Come on.”
We entered the dining room together. As soon as I stepped inside, my stomach lurched.
A man about my age stood near the table. He had dark hair, a neat beard, and a confident demeanor.
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I frown. “You didn’t tell me Aaron had a son,” I whisper.
Mom gave me a confused look. “No, Casey. It’s Aaron.”
I tilted my head towards her. My mother continued to smile as if it were completely normal.
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She glanced between him and me, waiting for a reaction. But I couldn’t speak. I stood there, frozen.
Aaron stepped forward and extended his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve had to convince Sandra for so long to arrange this meeting.”
His voice was calm, polite. But I wasn’t polite. I wasn’t stable. Something inside me snapped.
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“Are you kidding me?!” My voice was loud. “Is this a joke?!”
“Casey, this is not a joke,” Mom said. “Aaron and I are dating,” she added.
I let out a high-pitched chuckle. “Dating?! He’s my age! You could easily be his mother!”
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“Almost your age,” she corrected. “Aaron is 25, two years older than you.”
“What’s wrong with you?” My voice was harsh. “How did you even think to go out with someone so young?”
Mom’s face softened. “I understand your reaction. At first, I didn’t allow myself to acknowledge my feelings for Aaron either.” She took a small step closer. “But Casey, I’ve never felt this kind of connection with anyone else. I’ve never been happier.”
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I scoffed. “What kind of bond? Like a mother and son?”
Aaron clears his throat. “Please, let’s calm down and talk.”
I turned on him. “And you!” My voice was sharp. “Why are you with her? Is it for the money?”
Mom jumped. “Casey!” I ignored her.
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Aaron took a slow breath. “I’m not with your mother for the money.”
“Yes, of course,” I mumbled.
Mom’s face turned red. “You said you would support my choice!”
“I didn’t know your choice was 25 years old!” My hands clenched into fists. “You two need to break up!”
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Mom’s lips pressed together. “We’re not breaking up!” Her voice rose. “Aaron proposed to me, and we’re getting married in two months!”
I blinked.
“What?” My throat was dry.
“We’re going to get married,” she repeated.
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I shake my head. “Do you really want him to take everything you have?”
Aaron’s jaw tightened. “Casey, I assure you, I don’t care about your mother’s money. I love her.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, sure, like I’d believe that.”
Mom exhaled, looking tired. “I’ve had enough of this yelling. Either you calm down and join us for dinner, or you can leave.”
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“Great!” I yelled. “If some random boy is more important to you than your own daughter, then I’m leaving!”
I turned around and walked towards the door.
“Casey!” Mom yelled at me. “Aaron isn’t a boy! He’s a grown man!”
I didn’t turn around. I kept walking.
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In the days following that evening, I struggled to accept the fact that my mother was engaged to someone my age.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t understand. Every time I imagined them together, something twisted inside me. It seemed wrong.
I lay awake at night, staring at the ceiling, replaying their announcement in my head.
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My mother had always been responsible, careful, and wise. How could she not see what I saw? There was no way Aaron truly loved her. He must have been after something.
I considered every possible means to prevent the marriage.
Confronting Mom again wouldn’t work. She’d already made up her mind. Begging her? No point. She’s stubborn. I only had one option left: I needed proof. I had to be smarter.
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I called Mom, pretending to want to make peace. My voice was calm, even cheerful. “I overreacted,” I told her. “I want to make things right. If Aaron makes you happy, I’ll support you.”
She was thrilled. “This means a lot to me, Casey!” she said. “I want you to be a part of this. Let’s plan the wedding together.”
I accepted. I went to the dress fittings, tasted cakes, and helped with the decorating.
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All the while, I kept my eyes open. I watched Aaron closely, waiting for him to make a mistake. But he never did.
He was polite, charming, and patient. If I asked him questions, he had answers.
He never got defensive or angry. It was almost as if he had rehearsed every answer.
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A few days before the wedding, panic set in. I had nothing on him. I sat on my bed, rubbing my temples.
Maybe I had been wrong. If I had looked that hard and found nothing, maybe Aaron really did love my mother.
The age gap was odd, but men married younger women all the time. Why was it different when the roles were reversed?
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That night, I took a deep breath and faced my mother. “I accept Aaron and I fully support you,” I told her.
She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you’d already accepted it.”
I forced a smile and shrugged. “Now it’s official.”
For the first time in weeks, I felt calm. But it didn’t last long.
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On the day of the wedding, as we rushed to the ceremony venue, Mom suddenly jumped up. “Oh no, I left my phone at home!”
“I’ll go get it,” I offered, eager to be helpful.
I quickly drove back and searched the house. No phone. I checked the kitchen, the living room, and even the bedroom. Then I spotted a small drawer near his desk. It was locked.
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My stomach tightened. Why would she lock a drawer? What was she hiding? I pulled on it, but it didn’t budge.
My frustration grew. I pulled harder, and suddenly the drawer swung open. Papers spilled onto the floor.
I bent down to pick them up. Then I saw the words printed on the top sheet: Letter of Demand.
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I flipped through the pile. All the documents were in Aaron’s name. My heart started racing. What was this?
Then I saw another document. Property papers. My mother’s name was on it, but the signature at the bottom wasn’t hers. It was Aaron’s.
A cold wave of realization washed over me. Forget the phone. I grabbed the papers and ran to my car.
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My hands were shaking as I gripped the steering wheel. I had to stop the wedding. When I arrived, they had already started.
“Stop! Stop the wedding!” I shouted, my voice echoing around the room.
The music stopped. All the guests turned to look at me. Their eyes widened. Murmurs spread through the crowd.
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“Casey?!” My mother turned around, her face red with anger. “What are you doing?!”
I took a deep breath, clutching the papers in my hand. “I knew Aaron was only with you for the money!” I held up the documents. “And now I have proof!”
Gasps filled the room. My mother took a step forward. “How dare you ruin my wedding?!” Her voice trembled.
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“I’m trying to save you!” I shouted. I rushed over and shoved the papers into her hands. “Look at this! Aaron is drowning in debt! And he even bought a property in your name! I don’t know how he did it, but he did it!”
My mother’s hands trembled as she flipped through the pages. Her breathing was shaky. Then she covered her face.
“Casey…” she whispered. “These debts… they’re because of you.”
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I froze. “What?” My voice was weak.
“Aaron and I were planning a surprise,” she continued. “For you.”
A wave of cold washed over me. “A surprise?” I repeated.
Aaron stepped forward. “Your mother told me you’d always dreamed of owning a restaurant. We were going to buy you one with the wedding money.”
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I stared at him, my brain struggling to process his words. “What? I don’t understand…”
He nodded toward the papers. “We had to finalize the purchase earlier than expected. I didn’t have enough funds, so I covered the difference. That’s why there’s a debt.”
I swallow with difficulty. My hands are shaking. “You… were treating me to a restaurant?”
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Mom looked up. “Yes! It was Aaron’s idea!” Her eyes burned with frustration. “He even offered to work for free as your pastry chef!”
The air in my lungs was heavy. My heart was pounding. “I… I didn’t know…”
My mother’s expression hardened. “You were so determined to ruin everything that you didn’t even give Aaron a chance!”
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My chest tightened. “I was trying to protect you,” I whispered.
“But you ruined everything,” she retorted.
Guilt engulfed me. My voice barely held together. “Please forgive me. And you too, Aaron. I’m sorry. I was too hard on both of you.”
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Mom stared at me for a long time. Then she looked away. “Leave,” she said coldly. “I don’t want to see you at my wedding.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Mom…”
Aaron stepped between us. “Sandra,” he said softly, “she’s your daughter. You’ll regret it if you push her away now.”
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Then he turned to me. His voice was firm, but not unkind. “Casey, take a seat so we can continue the ceremony.”
I hesitated, then slowly nodded. My legs felt weak as I walked toward the bottom. The weight of my mistake weighed on me.
I had rushed to prevent the wedding. Instead, I had almost destroyed my family.
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Read also: Minutes before our wedding, my fiancé ran away, so I hired a private investigator – Story of the day .
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