I Got Engaged to a ‘Perfect’ Woman – When I Met Her Parents for the First Time, I Canceled the Wedding

When I met the woman of my dreams, I believed we were perfect for each other! But after I met her parents, I had major doubts about our future together. It took a while, but I finally saw her for who she was, and I didn’t like it!

As a 31-year-old man, I’d dated a couple of different women in my life, but when I saw Olivia, my life changed. I knew I wanted her to be my wife after our first meeting but learned the hard way that taking time to know someone is ideal. Here’s my story.

A man at a music concert | Source: Midjourney

A man at a music concert | Source: Midjourney

I met the beautiful and lively Olivia at a concert. When I first spotted her, she was standing near the stage, singing along to every word of our favorite band’s songs—her energy electrifying! I was there alone, trying to soak in the music after a rough week at work, and her joy was contagious!

During the intermission, I managed to maneuver closer to her and struck up a conversation. We clicked instantly, bonding over our shared love for indie rock and terrible karaoke. By the end of the night, I had her number and a gut feeling that I’d just met someone extraordinary!

A man bonding with a woman | Source: Midjourney

A man bonding with a woman | Source: Midjourney

Our relationship took off faster than I expected. Olivia was everything I’d ever wanted in a woman! She was charming, passionate, and endlessly supportive! Her vibrant personality was addictive, making every day feel like an adventure.

After only four months of dating bliss, we decided to move in together. It felt right, everything about us felt right! My apartment was small and bland, while Olivia’s place was larger and full of life, like her.

A large apartment | Source: Midjourney

A large apartment | Source: Midjourney

She had plants on every windowsill, cozy blankets, and shelves of well-loved books. Blending our lives was effortless. What I didn’t anticipate was that living together would only deepen my affection for her.

We were the perfect couple in my eyes, and some of my friends who met her thought the same. We cooked dinner together, binge-watched old sitcoms, and hosted game nights with her friends and mine.

A couple hanging out with friends | Source: Midjourney

A couple hanging out with friends | Source: Midjourney

Olivia had this way of making the mundane feel special, and my friends loved her! After eight months, I knew she was the one! So, I planned another trip to a concert by the same band that was playing when we first met.

I was nervous when I bought the engagement ring, but we’d spoken about our future, and she’d excitedly revealed that she’d love to marry me and have children. That was all I needed to know. I hid the ring in my jacket and pulled it out at the perfect moment.

A man looking at a wedding ring | Source: Midjourney

A man looking at a wedding ring | Source: Midjourney

I proposed at the concert, the same band playing a love song we adored in the background, and she said yes without hesitation! I thought I was the luckiest man alive! But I should’ve known better than to rush into things so quickly.

Because things moved so fast between us, we hadn’t met each other’s families yet. But Olivia always spoke highly of her parents, describing them as “fun and old-school.” She mentioned they were excited about the engagement and wanted to meet me.

A couple talking | Source: Midjourney

A couple talking | Source: Midjourney

They planned a trip to visit us, and Olivia suggested celebrating our engagement with them at an upscale restaurant. I was nervous but eager to make a great impression.

The plan was that Olivia would meet my parents soon afterward. I spent the day preparing for the big day by getting my best suit pressed. I even rehearsed polite conversation and Googled ways to connect with potential in-laws.

A man using his laptop | Source: Midjourney

A man using his laptop | Source: Midjourney

When we finally arrived at the restaurant, my nerves started kicking in, but I brushed them off, knowing I’d come prepared. As we entered, Olivia helped ease my tension by squeezing my hand and whispering, “Relax, they’re going to love you just like I do.”

But from the moment her parents arrived, I knew this dinner wouldn’t be normal. As soon as we sat down and I was introduced to her parents, they made me regret ever coming.

A couple sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

A couple sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney

Her father, Richard, was a broad-shouldered man with a commanding presence and a serious air about him. He barely acknowledged me as he took his seat. Her mother, Diane, adorned in enough jewelry to blind the waiter, gave me a quick once-over before turning to Olivia with a tight-lipped smile.

“So, Tommy, right?” Richard began. Without giving me a chance to respond, he said, “Let’s talk about your future roles now that you’re marrying our daughter.”

A serious older man talking | Source: Midjourney

A serious older man talking | Source: Midjourney

I smiled, thinking he was referring to becoming part of the family or shared traditions. Instead, he leaned back and said, “Olivia’s been dreaming of quitting her job to be a full-time homemaker. You’ll need to cover all the household expenses so she can focus on that.”

I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.

Diane chuckled, swirling her wine. “Oh, and don’t forget a little financial help for us wouldn’t hurt. Just a small monthly amount for your new in-laws—it’s the least a loving son-in-law can do, right?”

A happy woman talking | Source: Midjourney

A happy woman talking | Source: Midjourney

I froze in place, my smile faltering before I managed to squeak, “I’m sorry—what?”

Richard’s face remained stone-cold as he nodded as if the conversation was normal. “You want to marry into the family, right? So, you have to provide. Your wife shouldn’t have to work. And we’ll appreciate a modest amount for our pension from you as well.”

I glanced at Olivia, expecting her to laugh it off! But she only smiled sweetly and said, “It’s not a big deal, baby. Really. It’s how we’ve always done things in our family.”

A happy woman | Source: Midjourney

A happy woman | Source: Midjourney

The waiter conveniently appeared with our drinks, giving me a moment to process this insanity! I felt like I’d been sucker-punched and was struggling to catch my breath. But looking back, there were small things I ignored.

Olivia tended to brush off any serious conversations I wanted to have. Once, when we talked about finances, she laughed and said, “Oh, my parents have always told me I’d marry someone who’d take care of me.” I thought it was a joke, until now.

A couple talking | Source: Midjourney

A couple talking | Source: Midjourney

While everyone placed their food orders, I sat there in awe, mulling over what I’d just heard. When the waiter turned to me, I ordered the first thing I saw on the menu, completely dazed and consumed by what Olivia and her parents had told me.

After the waiter left, Richard continued as if he were negotiating a business merger. “It’s not just about you providing money, of course. My daughter deserves the lifestyle she’s grown accustomed to—vacations, fine dining, spa days, and such. You’ll need to buy her apartment from us too. We raised her with high standards, after all.”

A serious man talking | Source: Midjourney

A serious man talking | Source: Midjourney

Diane leaned in. “And eventually, you’ll need a bigger place. This apartment is fine for now, but our grandchildren will need more space. And when we visit, we expect to have a bedroom dedicated to us.”

My appetite completely vanished as the food was served. Every word out of their mouths felt surreal, and so did the whole evening! I glanced at Olivia again, but she just sipped her wine, perfectly comfortable.

A woman holding her wine | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding her wine | Source: Midjourney

I don’t remember what they spoke about for the rest of the dinner. I occasionally smiled, and I think I chipped in with some comments, but I wasn’t there mentally. When the check arrived, Richard didn’t even glance at it.

He made intense eye contact as he slid it toward me without a word. I paid, my hands trembling. The drive home was suffocatingly silent. Olivia fiddled with her engagement ring before finally breaking the silence.

A woman sitting in the passenger's seat of a car | Source: Midjourney

A woman sitting in the passenger’s seat of a car | Source: Midjourney

“So? What did you think of them?”

I gripped the steering wheel, choosing to handle the matter at hand once and for all. “Honestly? I think I can’t marry you.”

Her head snapped toward me. “What? Are you serious?”

I nodded. “Because this isn’t love, Olivia. It’s a business arrangement. Your parents want me to be their retirement plan, and you’re okay with that. That’s not the kind of life I want.”

An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney

An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney

Her face twisted in disbelief. “You’re overreacting! It’s just how my family works! You said you loved me!”

“I do—or I did. But love doesn’t come with conditions like this,” I replied.

We argued all the way home. Olivia accused me of being cold, selfish, and unwilling to compromise. But in my mind, the decision was made. As soon as we got home, I packed my things. The same apartment that once felt so alive now felt like a cage.

An upset man packing his clothes | Source: Midjourney

An upset man packing his clothes | Source: Midjourney

I moved in with my brother, Nate, for a while. He didn’t ask questions, just handed me a beer and let me sit in silence.

A week later, I bumped into one of Olivia’s friends, who told me her parents were livid, not because I’d broken their daughter’s heart, but because their financial plan had crumbled. That was all the confirmation I needed.

Olivia texted me a few times, saying I was throwing away something amazing. But I knew better. Love shouldn’t feel like a contract.

A man looking at his phone | Source: Midjourney

A man looking at his phone | Source: Midjourney

Months passed, and I slowly started rebuilding my life. I joined a local hiking group, reconnected with old friends, and focused on myself. I learned that love isn’t just about how someone makes you feel, it’s about how they support you, challenge you, and grow with you.

Looking back, I realized that walking away was the best decision I ever made. Sometimes, the “perfect” person turns out to be perfect for all the wrong reasons.

And I’m okay with that.

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

If that story had you going, then you’d love this one about a man’s fiancée who thought everything was perfect in their relationship until they went on holiday with his children. He suddenly abandoned the trio at the vacation hotel, leaving his fiancée to think the worst.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

My Husband Brought His Mistress Home to Kick Me Out – Little Did He Know, He’d Be Homeless an Hour Later

After years of trying to hold my marriage together, I thought catching my husband with another woman was rock bottom. But nothing could’ve prepared me for how he rubbed his mistress in my face or for the unexpected ally who showed up to set things right.

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I didn’t know marriage could end up like this, but my husband, Logan, decided to make a public spectacle of this utter disaster. If only I’d known what he was capable of, maybe I would’ve seen this coming.

A woman looking sad | Source: Gemini

A woman looking sad | Source: Gemini

Let me rewind a little. I’ve been married to Logan for five years, and let’s just say the fairy-tale part of it didn’t last too long. Things started okay, and we were genuinely in this together.

But problems came, and our struggles trying to conceive a baby took a bigger toll on our relationship than I realized at first. My mental health went downhill, and I felt like an utter failure.

Meanwhile, Logan began to drift instead of supporting me. He seemed more interested in “finding himself,” which apparently meant going to the gym and buying a fast car.

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A man in a convertible car | Source: Gemini

A man in a convertible car | Source: Gemini

I questioned everything about myself. I blamed my own body for not being able to get pregnant. But I never thought…

Anyway, last night, my best friend Lola convinced me to leave the house to clear my head and have a little fun. My husband had told me he was staying at the gym late, so we went to this cozy, dimly lit jazz club downtown, where the music was beautiful but not loud enough that you couldn’t have a conversation.

The mood in the club was perfect for a little distraction. Lola had me laughing and in a good mood, when she suddenly went silent. Her eyes bulged while looking somewhere over my shoulder.

People in a jazz club | Source: Gemini

People in a jazz club | Source: Gemini

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“Natasha… I don’t want to alarm you, but… is that Logan?”

A cold dread filled my body. You can call it women’s intuition, or it might have been what I saw in her face. But I knew what I would see as soon as I started to turn.

Sitting at a corner table, I saw my husband with a young woman draped over his shoulders. She was giggling, and he leaned in, whispering something into her ear.

A couple in a club hugging | Source: Gemini

A couple in a club hugging | Source: Gemini

Nothing like this had ever happened to me, even during my college relationships. So, I’d never thought I’d be the kind of woman to cause a scene. But my body moved out of its own accord.

In a flash, I was right at their table and my outburst made them both jump. “Logan, are you serious right now?!” I barked.

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My husband looked up, confused and startled for one second. But soon, I saw relief hit his face and worst of all, his expression turned into a smirk.

A couple in a bar looking up | Source: Gemini

A couple in a bar looking up | Source: Gemini

“Natasha, well, finally,” he said with that stupid grin still on his face. The girl beside him, Brenda, smiled in return and looked up at me like she’d won.

“Logan,” I tried to speak, not even knowing what I would say, but he interrupted me.

“Look, Natasha. It’s better that now you know. I don’t have to keep hiding it,” he said carelessly. “I’m in love with someone else. We’re done. It’s over.”

Just like that. No hesitation. No remorse. I wanted to scream, cry, slap him across his smug face, but somehow, I just stood there, numb.

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A woman in a jazz club looking upset | Source: Gemini

A woman in a jazz club looking upset | Source: Gemini

Suddenly, Lola took my arm, muttering something about how Logan would regret this one day, and guided me outside.

I didn’t even notice when she drove my car straight to her apartment until she sat me on her bed, where I finally broke down.

The next morning, after barely any sleep, I decided to go home and confront him. Maybe he’d come to his senses.

But when I pulled up to our house, the sight that greeted me felt like discovering his cheating all over again.

A woman driving and looking shocked | Source: Gemini

A woman driving and looking shocked | Source: Gemini

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There, on the front lawn, were all my things — scattered, as if they were trash. Clothes, photo frames, even my old college textbooks, just tossed out without a second thought.

And there he was, standing on the porch with Brenda by his side, smiling like he’d just won the lottery. I got out of my car feeling the numbness take over, and walked slowly to them.

Logan got right to the point. “I don’t think I need to remind you, but this house belongs to my grandfather, and you have no claim to it,” he sneered while my face remained blank. “You’re out. Get your stuff and leave. Now.”

A couple on a front porch looking smug | Source: Gemini

A couple on a front porch looking smug | Source: Gemini

I stood there, fully numb, as his words sank in. Aside from cheating and dumping me, he was kicking me out of my own house. And the worst part? He looked like he was enjoying every second of it.

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Still, I tried to keep my composure. No way was I giving him the satisfaction of seeing me break down. So I just started gathering my things, shoving clothes and random belongings into the trunk of my car. But the humiliation burned deep.

Instead of going inside like Logan, Brenda stayed on the porch and watched me. She couldn’t even hide her amusement. When I glanced up, she decided to put salt in my wound.

A woman with a smug look | Source: Gemini

A woman with a smug look | Source: Gemini

“I can’t wait to redecorate this house,” she sighed happily, crossing her arms. “It’s all old lady stuff, and so ugly.”

My face stayed blank. I was trying to think of anything of mine that might remain inside as I loaded stuff into my car. It was a simple sedan, so I definitely needed another trip.

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Hopefully, Lola wouldn’t mind me staying with her for a while. But as I mulled over these things to keep from showing any emotion or breaking down again, I heard it: the rumble of a car pulling up behind me.

A woman looking shocked while holding a box | Source: Gemini

A woman looking shocked while holding a box | Source: Gemini

I turned around, and there, stepping out of a sleek black BMW, was Mr. Duncan, Logan’s grandfather. And he looked confused.

Now, if there’s one thing everyone in town knows is that Mr. Duncan can be tough. He built a family fortune from nothing. Therefore, he had big expectations from all his children and grandchildren.

At first, I thought being an in-law in the family would be difficult because of him. But for reasons I never understood, he’d treated me amazingly from the very beginning. He loved me with his grandson.

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An old man smiling | Source: Gemini

An old man smiling | Source: Gemini

Yet, I was still afraid of what would happen as he took in the scene with my belongings on the lawn, a strange woman on the porch, and Logan nowhere to be seen.

“Logan, babe, come out here!” Brenda called out, worried.

And the sound of her voice had Mr. Duncan frowning at first. Then, his expression changed from confusion to pure anger.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Mr. Duncan’s voice boomed as Logan came outside with his mouth hanging open.

An older man looking angry | Source: Gemini

An older man looking angry | Source: Gemini

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“Grandpa, we had no idea you were coming over today,” he started, swallowing thickly. “This is not the best time. We’re dealing with a private thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Logan, I might be old, but I get exactly what’s happening,” Mr. Duncan responded in his thick voice. “I only asked because I didn’t want to believe my eyes.”

“Grandpa,” Logan tried, but he didn’t get another word in.

“It looks like you’ve kicked my favorite granddaughter-in-law out of the house, and you’re shacking up with that tramp. Did I get anything wrong?” Mr. Duncan continued sharply, and I didn’t feel bad at his insult to Brenda.

A old man pointing in accusation | Source: Gemini

A old man pointing in accusation | Source: Gemini

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“Grandpa, Natasha, and I… we’re done. She doesn’t belong here anymore.”

“And who gave you the right to decide that?” Mr. Duncan’s eyebrows rose. He glanced at me for a second with a tender look before looking back at Logan.

“Let me remind you that this house belongs to me. I’ve let you live here because you were starting a family, together,” he continued. “But if you’re going to treat Natasha like she’s disposable, you can consider yourself out. Effective immediately.”

An old man pointing and yelling | Source: Gemini

An old man pointing and yelling | Source: Gemini

Logan’s face went pale. “What… what are you saying?”

Mr. Duncan didn’t even blink. “I’m saying that Natasha will stay, and you will leave. Not only that but as of right now, I’m cutting you off. Consider all my money and support gone. You think you can act like this? Disrespect your wife and make our family look bad for some early midlife crisis and a 20-year-old gold digger? Not on my watch!”

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“Grandpa!”

Two people on a front porch, shocked | Source: Gemini

Two people on a front porch, shocked | Source: Gemini

“Leave now!”

***

Once Logan and Brenda were gone, Mr. Duncan ushered me inside and revealed why he came by in the first place. “Natasha, I heard from my son about you and Logan’s issues with fertility, and I came here to offer to pay for IVF.”

“Oh, sir,” I croaked. My emotions were finally surfacing.

“But it seems I arrived just in time to see this disaster instead. You don’t deserve any of this,” he continued, and I almost couldn’t handle his kindness.

An old man looking kindly at someone | Source: Gemini

An old man looking kindly at someone | Source: Gemini

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I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thank you, Mr. Duncan… I… I didn’t know what to do, so I just started packing my car.”

He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder while shaking his head. “No need for that. Consider this house yours. I’ll handle all the paperwork, and make it official. It’s also my apology for not raising a better grandson.”

I nodded as tears fell from my eyes.

In the days that followed, Mr. Duncan made good on his word. My name went on the deed, and Logan was cut off from his family’s money and support.

A document with the name Natasha on it | Source: Midjourney

A document with the name Natasha on it | Source: Midjourney

I heard through the grapevine that Brenda didn’t stick around long after she realized the bank accounts were closed off, and apparently, Logan was couch-surfing between friends.

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It must have been a blow to his ego because he came crawling back only a week after that scene in my front yard.

He was still in the same clothes as that day and looked terrible.

A dishelved man on the porch | Source: Gemini

A dishelved man on the porch | Source: Gemini

“I made a mistake. I have nothing left. The rest of my family won’t help me. Can you please call my grandfather? He’ll listen to you,” Logan blurted with no preamble. “I can’t live like this.”

There was no apology or true remorse for what he did for me. He only regretted losing the money and influence of his family.

So, I got to say the words every person in my position wants to. “Nope! You made your bed, lie in it!” It was cliché and cruel, but believe me, it was so satisfying at that moment.

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A woman smiling smugly | Source: Gemini

A woman smiling smugly | Source: Gemini

His expression changed to anger immediately, and before he could barrel some insults at me, I slammed the door in his face. I still heard his shouting, but his words rolled off me in that high from that payback.

Maybe I’ll feel bad for him later. But what did he expect? Entitled brat!

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