At 45, my mom had found love again, and I wanted to be happy for her. But when I met her new fiancé, Aaron, something felt wrong. I couldn’t ignore the uneasy feeling gnawing at me. The more I got to know him, the more I became convinced that I had to stop this before it was too late.
When my parents divorced, most kids feel torn. But for me, it was different. I loved both my mom and dad, but seeing them together as a married couple had always felt uncomfortable. They were like two strangers who just happened to share the same house, forced to pretend everything was fine. So when they finally split, I was honestly relieved.
As I got older, I started pushing my mom to find someone new. She often complained about feeling lonely, especially in the evenings when the house was too quiet. I understood. She needed someone to share meals with, someone to talk to after a long day. I couldn’t always be around—I had my own life, my own struggles. So, I took matters into my own hands. I set up a dating profile for her, scrolled through potential matches, hoping to find someone who’d be a good fit. But no one seemed right.
Then, one day, she called me, her voice full of excitement. “Casey! I want you to meet someone! I think you’ll really like him.”
My heart skipped a beat. Could it finally be the right person? “Who is he?”
“His name is Aaron. He’s a pastry chef!”
I thought about all the dinners I had with her over the years, where she’d talked about how much she missed having someone by her side. I was thrilled for her. She deserved someone kind, someone steady who could make her laugh. But when I met Aaron, I felt a sharp pang in my gut. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
I remember the dinner she invited me to. I had planned everything carefully, including a bottle of wine—an indulgence, considering my tight budget. I had been working long hours and trying to save up for my dream: a restaurant of my own. That bottle of wine meant I’d be eating instant noodles for the next week, but I wanted to make a good impression.
As I stood at the door, ready to ring the bell, my legs trembled. Why was I nervous? It wasn’t me who was being tested—it was Aaron. If anyone should be worried, it was him. After all, he was about to face an overprotective daughter. But as soon as my mom opened the door with a bright smile, my nerves began to settle. She was already excited.
“Casey! You made it!” she said, hugging me tightly. “We’ve been waiting for you!”
I couldn’t help but smile back. “Mom, why are you so nervous?” I asked.
She let out a quick breath. “I just really want you to like Aaron. I want everything to work out.”
I smirked. “I’m sure you just want me to like him, huh?”
“Okay, okay,” she laughed. “But seriously, I really want you to accept him.”
I gave her a small, reassuring nod. “You chose him, so of course I’ll support you.” My words were meant to calm her, and they seemed to work. She slipped her arm through mine, and we walked into the dining room.
That’s when I saw him. Aaron. He was standing near the table, about my age, dark-haired with a neat beard and a confident posture. But I wasn’t ready for this. My mom had told me he was a pastry chef, but I had no idea he was so… young.
I blinked. “You didn’t tell me Aaron had a son,” I whispered.
Mom’s expression was confused. “No, Casey. This is Aaron.”
My heart dropped. What? This guy was practically my age!
Aaron stepped forward with a smile, extending his hand. “Nice to meet you, Casey. I had to convince Sandra to set this up.”
His voice was polite, steady. But my stomach twisted. I couldn’t hide the anger bubbling inside me anymore.
“Are you kidding me?” I snapped, my voice coming out louder than I intended. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“Casey, this is not a joke,” my mom said, her face going pale. “Aaron and I are dating.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, though it was more of a bitter chuckle. “Dating?! He’s my age! You could easily be his mother!”
“Almost your age,” she corrected. “Aaron is 25, two years older than you.”
“Two years!” My voice was harsh, accusatory. “What’s wrong with you? How could you date someone so much younger than you?”
She softened, taking a small step closer to me. “I understand why you’re upset. Believe me, at first, I couldn’t admit to my feelings either. But Casey… I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never been this happy.”
I scoffed. “What kind of happiness is this? Like a mother and son?”
Aaron cleared his throat, stepping in. “Let’s calm down, okay? We can talk about this.”
I whirled on him. “You!” I shouted. “Why are you with her? Is it for the money?”
Mom gasped, but I ignored her.
Aaron’s face tightened. “I’m not with your mom for her money,” he said calmly.
I raised an eyebrow. “Sure, sure.”
Mom’s face was turning red. “You promised you’d support my choice, Casey.”
“I didn’t know that your ‘choice’ was a guy who’s practically a kid!” I clenched my fists. “You need to break up. Now.”
Her lips pressed together. “We’re not breaking up,” she said firmly. “Aaron proposed to me, and we’re getting married in two months.”
I froze. “What?” My throat went dry. “You’re getting married?”
“Yes,” she said, her smile softening. “We’re getting married.”
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. I couldn’t process it. “You want him to take everything you have? He’s using you!”
Aaron’s jaw tightened. “Casey, I assure you, I don’t care about your mom’s money. I love her.”
I laughed, but it was hollow. “Yeah, sure, I believe that.”
My mom let out a tired breath. “I’ve had enough of this. Either calm down and join us for dinner, or leave.”
I glared at her. “Fine. If this random guy is more important than your own daughter, I’ll leave.” I turned and walked toward the door.
“Casey!” Mom called after me. “Aaron is not a boy! He’s a grown man!”
I didn’t look back. I just kept walking, my heart pounding in my chest.
For days after that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My mom was marrying someone my age! It made no sense. Every time I imagined them together, something inside me felt sick. I knew Aaron wasn’t who he seemed to be. He had to be after something.
I spent countless sleepless nights, trying to figure out what to do. My mom had always been responsible and careful. How could she not see what I saw? There was no way Aaron truly loved her. He had to be using her for something.
Then I came up with a plan. I’d get proof. I had to be smart. Confronting Mom again would only make things worse. But if I could prove something was off about Aaron, I could stop this wedding.
I called her a few days later, acting as though I had changed my mind. “I’m sorry, Mom. I overreacted. I want to make things right. If Aaron makes you happy, I’ll support you.”
She was overjoyed. “That means the world to me, Casey!” she said. “Let’s plan the wedding together!”
I showed up for dress fittings, tasted cakes, and helped with decorations, all while keeping my eyes on Aaron. But no matter how closely I watched, I couldn’t find anything suspicious. He was calm, collected, and charming. Every question I asked, he answered confidently. It was as if he had rehearsed for this moment.
Days before the wedding, panic started to set in. I had nothing on him. What if I had been wrong all along? If I couldn’t find anything, maybe Aaron really did love my mom.
That evening, I approached her, ready to admit defeat. “I accept Aaron, and I support you,” I said, forcing a smile.
She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you already accepted him.”
“Now it’s official,” I shrugged, trying to play it cool. But inside, I felt a strange peace.
The calm didn’t last.
On the wedding day, as we rushed to the venue, Mom suddenly gasped. “Oh no! I left my phone at home!”
“I’ll go get it,” I said, eager to help.
I drove back quickly and searched the house. No phone. Then I saw a small locked drawer by her desk. My heart skipped a beat. Why would she lock a drawer? I pulled at it, but it wouldn’t open. Frustrated, I yanked harder, and suddenly the drawer gave way. Papers spilled everywhere.
I bent down, gathering them up, and the first thing I saw was a debt notice with Aaron’s name on it. I flipped through the stack of papers, my stomach tightening. Then, I saw something even worse—property papers with my mom’s name on them, but Aaron’s signature at the bottom.
My heart sank. This was worse than I thought. Forget the phone—I grabbed the papers and rushed back to the venue.
“Stop the wedding!” I screamed, rushing into the room.
The music stopped. Everyone turned toward me. My mom’s face turned red with anger. “What are you doing?” she shouted.
I held up the papers. “I knew it! Aaron’s been lying! He’s after your money! Look!”
Gasps filled the room as I shoved the documents into my mom’s hands. “You need to see this. He’s drowning in debt, and he’s even bought property in your name!”
My mom’s face paled as she flipped through the papers, trembling. “Casey…” she whispered, her voice shaky. “These debts… they’re because of you.”
I froze. “What?” I stammered.
“Aaron and I were planning a surprise for you,” she explained, her voice strained. “We were going to buy you a restaurant. With the wedding money.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What?”
Aaron stepped forward, explaining, “Your mom told me you’ve always dreamed of owning a restaurant. We were using the wedding money to buy one for you.”
My mind raced. He had been helping her buy me my dream? I couldn’t believe it.
My mom looked at me, her eyes full of frustration. “You didn’t give Aaron a chance. You were so sure he was using me, and you ruined everything.”
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. “I was just trying to protect you,” I whispered.
“But you didn’t listen to me!” she snapped. “You ruined everything!”
My throat tightened as I tried to apologize. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
But she didn’t respond. She turned her back on me. “Leave,” she said coldly. “I don’t want you here.”
I felt my heart shatter. “Mom—”
Aaron stepped between us, his voice soft but firm. “Sandra, she’s your daughter. Don’t push her away.”
He turned to me. “Casey, take your seat so we can continue the ceremony.”
I hesitated, but eventually, I nodded. My legs felt weak as I made my way to the back. I had almost ruined everything. And I knew that I might never get things back to the way they were.
