After Discovering The Abnormal Relationship Between My Father-in-law And Wife, I Got Divorced-4
The Difficult Proposal
A year after graduation, I landed a good job. The time felt right. I planned a sunset lakeside proposal, knelt before her, and presented the ring. No gasp of surprise, no joyful tears. My heart sank as her silence stretched, the water's glimmer fading. Then, she picked up her phone, stepped away, and whispered words I barely caught: "Mike... proposal... ring..." Returning, her expression was unreadable as she handed me the phone: "Dad wants to speak with you." I took its cold weight.
Negotiations Over the Phone
James's voice was calm, businesslike: "Mike, I appreciate young passion, but marriage isn't trivial. Lisa is too young—needs time to mature. I propose waiting two years until her career stabilizes." My pent-up rage ignited: "Mr. Rollins, we're adults! We deserve autonomy!" He paused, tone chilling: "Autonomy? I'm her father. I know what's best. If you truly love her, prioritize her over yourself." The line went dead. The ring dug into my palm. Lisa whispered, "Just wait, Mike? Please? I don't want to upset Dad."
The Compromised Wedding Date
After the failed proposal, we spiraled into silence. A month later, Lisa reached out, eyes swollen. "Dad... Dad consented." Joy eluded me: "On what terms?" She averted her gaze: "The wedding must be modest—local chapel only. And... for the first year, we stay in town... for convenience." She added softly, "He expects weekly family dinners." That "expect" was always a command. To spare Lisa pain, I agreed through gritted teeth. At least we could marry.
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A year after graduation, I landed a good job. The time felt right. I planned a sunset lakeside proposal, knelt before her, and presented the ring. No gasp of surprise, no joyful tears. My heart sank as her silence stretched, the water's glimmer fading. Then, she picked up her phone, stepped away, and whispered words I barely caught: "Mike... proposal... ring..." Returning, her expression was unreadable as she handed me the phone: "Dad wants to speak with you." I took its cold weight.
Negotiations Over the Phone
James's voice was calm, businesslike: "Mike, I appreciate young passion, but marriage isn't trivial. Lisa is too young—needs time to mature. I propose waiting two years until her career stabilizes." My pent-up rage ignited: "Mr. Rollins, we're adults! We deserve autonomy!" He paused, tone chilling: "Autonomy? I'm her father. I know what's best. If you truly love her, prioritize her over yourself." The line went dead. The ring dug into my palm. Lisa whispered, "Just wait, Mike? Please? I don't want to upset Dad."
The Compromised Wedding Date
After the failed proposal, we spiraled into silence. A month later, Lisa reached out, eyes swollen. "Dad... Dad consented." Joy eluded me: "On what terms?" She averted her gaze: "The wedding must be modest—local chapel only. And... for the first year, we stay in town... for convenience." She added softly, "He expects weekly family dinners." That "expect" was always a command. To spare Lisa pain, I agreed through gritted teeth. At least we could marry.
NEXT >>