looked horrified—until she read the papers. Then came a twist I never saw coming. “These debts… they’re because of you, Casey,” she said. My heart dropped. Aaron had been helping her buy me a restaurant—my lifelong dream—as a surprise wedding gift. The debt was from finalizing the purchase, and he’d even planned to work there for free. I was speechless. I had tried to protect her, but instead,

I nearly destroyed something beautiful. She asked me to leave the ceremony, heartbroken and angry. Aaron stepped in, reminding her I was still her daughter. They let me stay, but the damage was done. I learned the hard way that love doesn’t always look the way we expect—and that judging people too quickly can lead to painful regret.