I had been dreaming about my wedding day since I was a little girl. Everything was finally coming together—the dress, the venue, and most importantly, my perfect fiancé, Daniel. He was kind, thoughtful, and always went out of his way to make me happy. I truly believed I had found my soulmate.
One evening, after an exhausting day at work, I arrived home earlier than usual. As I stepped inside, I heard hushed voices coming from the living room. Curiosity got the better of me, and instead of announcing my arrival, I quietly set my bag down and moved closer. That’s when I saw it—Daniel was kneeling before my mother, his head bowed as if in prayer.
My heart pounded. What was he doing? Was he… proposing to her? The thought sent a wave of nausea through me. My mother, a beautiful woman even in her fifties, had always been supportive of our relationship, but had there been something more between them?
I stayed hidden behind the doorway, holding my breath.
Then, I heard my mother’s trembling voice. “Daniel, please, I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”
He gently took her hands in his. “You have to, Patricia. You’ve done so much for Emily, for me. I just want to show my gratitude.”
I squinted, trying to get a better look. That’s when I noticed Daniel was holding an envelope. He placed it on the table in front of my mother and nudged it toward her.
“You’ve already done enough,” my mom whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Not even close,” Daniel said firmly. “You raised Emily all on your own. You worked two jobs to put her through school, and you never once let her feel like she was missing out on anything. You sacrificed so much, and I want to make sure you don’t have to struggle anymore.”
My eyes widened as I realized what was happening. The envelope—was it money?
“I paid off the mortgage,” Daniel continued. “You don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
A strangled gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it. Both of them turned toward me in surprise.
“Emily,” my mother started, wiping at her tears.
I stepped forward, my vision blurred with emotion. “You… you paid off the house?” I looked at Daniel, overwhelmed.
He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly shy. “I just wanted to do something for her. For you.”
Tears streamed down my face. I had suspected the worst, but instead, I had just witnessed the most selfless act of love. I threw my arms around him, my heart bursting with gratitude.
“I love you,” I whispered.
As I turned to my mother, she shook her head with a watery smile. “You’ve got a good one, sweetheart.”
I already knew that. And in that moment, I had never been more sure.
