Jay's POV
Mom picked up the cup on the table and drank the tea down. Then, she sighed a few times before finally answering in a slightly lofty tone of voice, "Didn't I tell you I couldn't accept her as part of our family? Do I need to tell you once again?"
"What is the reason behind your rejection? Just because we met by accident and spent the night together? If that's your reason, I'm the one who feels guilty for her because after that incident she got pregnant, and then she and her mother were kicked out of her grandmother's house. All because of me. But, she kept our children and gave birth to them with great struggle. After all, she wasn't just some random girl I met by accident. She's the granddaughter of Helen Smith, the CEO of Smith Company. Are those facts not enough for you?" I asked. I don't know what defense I should say to Mom, and I had already told her everything.
"Mom, I just want to spend my life with her. I love her very much. She's the mother of my children, after all. They need both of us as parents. Can you bear to see us apart?" I asked.
What should I do to convince Mom?
Suddenly Mom put the glass she was holding so tightly on the table that it made my heart beat faster.
"You'll never understand," Mom replied, glaring at me.
What was going on? Could there be something Mom was hiding from me?
"What don't I understand, Mom? Please explain it to me," I pleaded.
That was the first time I saw her piercing gaze. It really made me confused and wondered to myself without being able to find the answer.
"Mom, please," I pleaded once again.
"Because she's the daughter of Karen Smith! The woman who took Martin away from me. They got married and left me heartbroken. The promises of friendship they had made to me were all false. They hid their feelings from me. Karen knew I liked Martin, but she never told me she and Martin loved each other. When I saw them kissing on the front lawn of Karen's house, my heart and world fell apart. It pulled me into a bottomless darkness. Until one day they both came to your grandmother's house and apologized to me while giving me a wedding invitation letter. My feelings were so painful that the tears wouldn't stop flowing. But, I couldn't do anything about it. I realized that love cannot be forced, especially since I was a widow and had one child, but I loved Martin very much. Until years later, I heard the news that Martin had died. From then on, I buried these feelings deeply. All my life, I only loved your father and Martin. Do you understand now? Piper is a good girl. It's just that she was born into the wrong family," Mom replied with teary eyes.
My eyes widened, my mouth dropped open. I never thought there would be a story like this. So, Mom had feelings for Piper's dad? So, they knew each other and everything got complicated because of love. Looks like I'll have to ask Piper for her mom's version of the story. So, what Mom said about the other woman she had been my future wife was just an excuse?
"Sorry to hear about that, Mom. But Piper is innocent. Besides, maybe Martin and Karen deliberately hid it from you because they didn't want to hurt you. Please, Mom. My wedding will only happen once in a lifetime. I don't want to waste it. Besides, we cannot prevent the past that has happened. I hope you can forgive Piper's family and accept Piper as my wife," I pleaded as I rushed over to Mom and knelt before her.
I took her hand and brought it to my face while holding back tears. For the first time in my life, I felt sad and depressed. It was their past that was impeding my relationship with Piper. Why was everything so complicated? Did Piper and I not deserve to be happy?
"I can't. I can't accept her into our family. You already know why. Better forget it and let's eat," Mom said as she got up and walked away towards the exit, while I was still kneeling helplessly, holding back my feelings of sadness.
"Mom," I said. I felt my voice tremble a little.
"Don't act like a child imposing his will. You're a smart man. You should know what to do," Mom replied as she reached for the doorknob and prepared to open the door.
"Is that other woman you mentioned just an excuse?" I asked curiously.
"What am I making excuses for?" she asked, trying to avoid my question.
"To make Piper sad and willing to leave my life. That's your goal," I replied.
"Jay! Since when did you change? Whether that other woman becomes your future wife won't change my opinion of Piper. Everything will remain the same," she replied, getting angry.
"I never change, Mom. I'm just trying to defend her," I said as Mom interrupted me.
"Defending her at the expense of my feelings. Is that what you're trying to do?" she asked in a suspicious tone.
"You misunderstood. Ah, sorry, Mom, I think I'd better get out of here before our argument gets any longer. I'm leaving," I said as I walked up to her and kissed her forehead.
"You said you would accompany me to dinner. What's the hurry?" Mom asked.
"Sorry, Mom. I suddenly remembered something. I'll come here to give my wedding invitation card and I hope Mom will come and witness this important moment in my life. Love you. Good night," I said as I hugged her and walked out of her study room.
Maybe I should leave before I got into a longer argument with Mom. On the one hand, I didn't want to upset Mom. She's been the only person by my side since I was a kid, especially since Dad died. Mom and I take care of each other. And her place in my heart will never change.
It's just that Piper is also very important to me. She filled my heart perfectly, and I dreamed and hoped to spend the rest of our lives together. So, Mom's rejection of Piper made me sad, although I understood Mom had her own reasons.
Once home, I told Piper about the sad fact, and a week later, we visited Karen. It turned out that what I thought about Karen and Martin was true. And I learned something that Mom didn't know.
They knew Mom liked Martin, but Martin and Karen were already in love with each other, so they agreed to hide their feelings from Mom. And after the relationship was exposed, the relationship between the three of them was broken.
Karen had asked Martin to be with Mom, but something made them both undo that intention. Finally, all the facts were revealed. Hopefully, this will reassure Mom.