Chapter 1

Colin's POV

I didn't get a call from Teresa Harper until after I had already brought my parents back and gotten them settled in.

The moment she spoke, she demanded aggressively, "We're at the restaurant. Why is the private room empty? This is our wedding we're talking about. Do your parents care so little that they're late?"

I was quiet for a second before replying in a flat voice, "Teresa, my parents and I waited for three hours. You guys never showed up. It's not that we don't care. It's that you never cared about my parents."

The line went dead silent for a moment before her tone softened. "Owen just got accepted into his master's program, and his parents came to town today to celebrate.

"They've never been here before, and Owen's still a student. He couldn't handle it all on his own, so I went to the station to help pick them up. You know my family has sponsored him for 13 years. I've always seen him as a younger brother. I couldn't just ignore his parents."

It was rare for Teresa to explain herself, but hearing it only made it hurt more.

When my parents arrived yesterday, I had been stuck in a massive meeting at work and couldn't leave. With no other options, I had called Teresa and asked her to pick them up.

And how did she respond?

She had said, "They're grown adults, not kids. They can just grab a cab. It's not like they're going to get lost."

I had patiently explained, "My parents rarely travel, and they don't know how to use ride-share apps. I had to buy their train tickets for them. The station isn't even far from our place. If you could just drive over—"

Before I could finish, she cut me off impatiently. "I'm exhausted from working all day, and now I have to come home and follow your orders? They're your parents. I'm not responsible for them."

With two sharp beeps, she hung up.

In the end, I had to call a friend, who drove out to get them without a single complaint.

The woman I was about to marry was less reliable than a friend.

The thought was so ridiculous that a laugh escaped my throat.

On the other end of the line, Teresa completely relaxed. "See? You're laughing, which means you're over it. Colin, stop throwing tantrums like this. You know our families come from very different backgrounds, and my parents weren't thrilled about us to begin with.

"I'll reschedule. When the time comes, just have your parents apologize to mine, and we'll figure out the wedding."

Her tone was patronizing, and her words were entirely matter-of-fact.

I tightened my grip on the phone and replied, "Don't bother. My parents are leaving soon."

Teresa paused for a beat, then seamlessly said, "That works too. The wedding is going exactly how my parents want it anyway, so yours probably wouldn't have much to add."

Suddenly, Owen Simpson's cheerful voice drifted through the line. "Teresa! My parents finished ordering. Thanks so much for treating us. Come on in and eat!"

And just like that, she hung up on me as always.

In the living room, Mom walked over anxiously. She took my hand and said gently, "Colin, your dad and I are fine. Don't say things out of anger because of us.

"As long as Teresa treats you well, that's all that matters. We'll leave right after the wedding so we don't get in your way."

My heart ached. I turned and gently patted her hand. "Mom, the company just opened a new branch in our hometown, and my transfer went through. I'm going back with you in three days."

Mom couldn't hide her excitement. Her voice rose as she asked, "Really?"

I smiled and nodded. "Really."

My parents went back to packing the items they had prepared for my married life, taking them back exactly as they came.

…

It was past midnight when Teresa finally came home.

Wrapped in a daze of sleep, I felt a pair of arms encircle me from behind. "Honey, why didn't you wait up for me tonight?"