When parents divorce, it often brings pain and distress to their children.

However, in my case, I felt relieved. I still loved both my mother and father, but their marriage had been difficult to watch.

As I got older, I encouraged my mom to find someone new. She often expressed how lonely she felt, especially during quiet evenings at home. So, when she called me one day, her voice filled with excitement as she announced she had a boyfriend she wanted me to meet, I was genuinely happy for her.

To make introductions, she invited me over for dinner. All I knew about him was that his name was Aaron and that he was a pastry chef.

Wanting to make a good impression, I picked up a bottle of wine on my way. Given my tight budget, it was a luxury—one that meant I’d be eating instant noodles for the rest of the week. I was struggling financially, saving every penny to achieve my dream of opening my restaurant.

As I arrived at my mom’s house, a wave of nervousness washed over me. Within seconds, the door swung open.

“Casey! You’re finally here!” My mom beamed. “We’ve been waiting! I was just about to call you when the doorbell rang!”

I gave her a reassuring nod. “I’m sure everything will be fine. You chose him, so how can I not support you?”

We walked into the dining room together, but the moment I stepped in, my stomach twisted.
Standing near the table was a man about my age, with dark hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and a confident posture. I glanced at my mom, who kept smiling as if everything was perfectly normal.

She looked between me and him, waiting for my reaction. But I was speechless, frozen in place.

“Are you kidding me?!” My voice came out louder than I intended. “Is this some kind of joke?!”

“Casey, this is not a joke,” Mom said calmly. “Aaron and I are dating.”

I turned to him, my anger flaring. “Why are you with her? Is it for the money?”

“Casey!” My mom gasped.

Ignoring her, I clenched my fists. “You two need to break up!”

Mom’s expression hardened. “We’re not breaking up!” she declared. “Aaron proposed, and we’re getting married in two months!”

Aaron’s jaw tightened. “Casey, I assure you, I don’t care about your mom’s money. I love her.

Mom exhaled, clearly exhausted. “I’m done with all this yelling. Either you calm down and join us for dinner, or you can leave.”

“Great!” I shot back. “If a random guy is more important to you than your daughter, then I’m leaving!”

For days, I struggled to accept that my mother was engaged to someone my age.
I lay awake at night, replaying the dinner in my head.

Eventually, I called her, pretending to make peace. “I overreacted,” I said, forcing a cheerful tone. “I want to fix things. If Aaron makes you happy, I’ll support you.”

She was overjoyed. “That means the world to me, Casey!” she said. “I want you to be part of this. Let’s plan the wedding together.”

So, I attended dress fittings, sampled cakes, and helped with decorations. But deep down, I still doubted Aaron.

A few days before the wedding, I realized I had nothing concrete against him. I had searched for flaws, but found nothing. Maybe I had been wrong. Maybe he truly loved my mom.

That evening, I took a deep breath and faced her. “I accept Aaron and fully support you,” I told her. “Now it’s official.”

On the wedding day, as we rushed to the venue, Mom suddenly gasped. “Oh no! I left my phone at home!”

I volunteered to retrieve it. Back at the house, I searched every room. No phone. Then I noticed a locked drawer near her desk. On impulse, I yanked it open.

Papers spilled onto the floor.

As I gathered them, bold letters on one document caught my eye—Debt Notice.
They were all under Aaron’s name. My heart pounded. Then I found another document—property papers. My mom’s name was there, but the signature at the bottom wasn’t hers. It was Aaron’s.

“Stop the wedding!” I yelled, bursting into the venue.

I shoved the papers into my mother’s hands. As she read them, her hands trembled. Then, she covered her face.

“Casey…” she whispered. “These debts… they’re because of you.”

Aaron stepped forward. “Your mom told me you’ve always dreamed of owning a restaurant. We were buying one for you with the wedding money.”

He sighed. “We had to finalize the purchase earlier than planned. I didn’t have enough funds, so I covered the difference. That’s why there’s debt.”

Shame flooded me. “Please forgive me,” I murmured. “And you too, Aaron. I was too harsh.”

Aaron’s voice remained steady. “Casey, take your seat so we can continue the ceremony.”

I hesitated, then slowly nodded. My legs felt weak as I walked toward the back. The weight of my mistake pressed down on me.