The following day, Daniel sat down with his parents. He kept reminding himself to stay composed and speak in a way that felt natural. If he sounded forced or too prepared, the whole story would fall apart.
"So, what is it you wanted to tell us, son?" His mother looked at him expectantly.
"I'm getting married."
Confusion showed on his father's face right away. "Married? What are you talking about, Daniel?" he asked, clearly caught off guard. That wasn't something he thought he'd hear again.
"In a few weeks, I'll be married, Dad. Before that, I want everyone to meet her."
"Wait a minute... who is this woman?"
"Her name's Deanna."
"Deanna? Who is Deanna?"
He already knew how she would react. Questions would come one after another. For years, she had hoped her grandchildren would have a proper mother figure, someone who wasn't her or Susan. Still, this wasn't how she expected things to happen. Neither of them was ready for this.
"She studies with Harry at university. We've been seeing each other for a few months, and I've decided to marry her."
"One of Harry's classmates?"
"Yes, Mom. I know what you're thinking. That's exactly why we kept things quiet."
"You're fifteen years older than Harry. If she studies with him, then she's around his age. Are you really saying you're about to marry someone that much younger, and after only a few months together?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"You've completely lost it, Daniel. Your children need someone who can guide them, not someone who feels like they belong in the same group as them."
"Mom, leave my kids out of this."
"How am I supposed to ignore them? Think about what you're doing. Stop being so stubborn. This marriage isn't happening."
"That's not up for discussion. I've made my choice, and it stands."
"Charles, are you going to sit there and say nothing? Talk some sense into him!"
For a moment, his father stayed quiet. Then he leaned forward and fixed his gaze on Daniel.
"Is she expecting a child?" he asked.
"What? No, Dad, of course not."
"Then what's the reason behind this?"
"Because I love her, and I know she'll be a good partner. Or do you think someone like her would only agree to this if there were something else involved?"
His mother let out a sharp breath. "Or maybe she's interested in what you have."
"That doesn't make any sense, Mom."
"What doesn't make sense is you rushing into something like this. If she's with you, there has to be a reason behind it."
"I didn't realize you thought so little of me, Mom."
"You know what I'm talking about. I've seen too many cases lately where women like her go after men like you for their money. Look at Madison's son and that girlfriend of his."
"Deanna's not like that."
"And you're certain of that? Men tend to lose judgment when they're taken in by looks."
"I'm certain because she's close to Harry and Laura. She's already shown she doesn't care about what I have. She even works, though I expect her to stop once we're married."
His father spoke up, his tone measured. "This all feels rushed, Daniel."
"I understand that, Dad, but I need you to trust me. You've known me my whole life. I wouldn't go through with this if I wasn't sure."
"You've always been careful with your decisions... It seems we'll be planning a wedding, Camila."
"You're both unbelievable. Fine, then bring this 'future wife' here soon. Have the children met her yet?"
He answered quickly, "No, not yet."
She gave a short nod. "Good. If this falls apart, at least they won't have to watch their father get left behind by someone younger."
"Mom, please..."
"No, Daniel. Absolutely not. You're bringing a stranger into your home, where your children live, and you expect everyone to accept her as your wife. Do you have any idea what people will say?"
"That doesn't matter to me."
The conversation didn't end well, but it wasn't a total loss either. At least his father chose to trust him. The real challenge remained his mother. She would look at Deanna from every angle, picking at every detail until she found something she could use against her.
Daniel already expected that, which was why he reached out to his sister-in-law. He needed her to guide Deanna, help her adjust, and maybe even suggest a wardrobe that would meet his mother's standards.
If this was going to work, Laura had to prepare her well. Advice, adjustments, anything that would help her face what was coming. Once Camila set her mind on something, she didn't let it go. She had a way of making things difficult, especially for someone stepping into the family.
From the start, Deanna didn't fit the image Camila had in mind for her eldest son.
Over the years, she had introduced Daniel to women she believed were suitable. Most of them came from families she knew well. Each time, he showed no interest and asked to be left alone. Now, out of nowhere, he claimed he was ready to marry someone no one had even heard of.
There was no way Camila would accept that without pushing back. In her mind, the situation was clear. She believed Deanna had her own motives, and she intended to prove it.
The first person she turned to was Harry.
"Tell me something. How did your brother even meet this Deanna?"
"I introduced them. Mom, you don't need to worry. She's a good person."
"I do need to worry. She'll be part of my grandchildren's lives."
"You're making a bigger deal out of this than it is. Don't you trust your youngest son?"
"No, I don't."
"Mom!"
"Everything about this feels rushed, Harry. Something isn't adding up..."
"You're reading too much into it. Daniel just decided to move forward with his life. There's nothing wrong with that. He deserves to love someone and be loved in return."
"I'm not against that, you know that. I've been hoping for it since Emily left in such a painful way. But this? Not like this."
"You're being unfair. I've known Deanna since our first year at university. Laura knows her too. She's a great person. Honestly, I'm surprised she hasn't walked away from Daniel already."
"That's because your brother holds a certain position. That matters."
"She's not interested in what he has, Mom..."
"So you call her by name now. That tells me you know her quite well."
"That's exactly what I've been trying to explain."
From that point on, caution became necessary. Until the wedding was settled, every step had to be measured. Whether Camila approved or not didn't change the outcome. The marriage would happen either way. What mattered was buying enough time so Harry and Laura wouldn't face problems later.
For Daniel, this went beyond the arrangement. He wanted to distance himself from the expectations his family held onto. His children wouldn't grow up dealing with the same pressure. Their happiness would come first, not some outdated belief that forced people into situations like this. None of it would be happening if they were simply left to live as they chose.
Still, something about Deanna stayed with him. She left an impression he hadn't planned for. Even with the difference in age, she carried herself with certainty. She knew what she wanted and didn't hesitate to speak her mind. When someone pushed, she pushed back. There was confidence in the way she held herself, along with a sense of composure.
It was obvious she didn't come from the same background as his family, yet that never seemed to hold her back or make her hesitate.
They had only crossed paths two days ago, but he couldn't shake the memory of her. The way she stepped out of the car stayed with him. Annoyance showed on her face, yet she walked toward the entrance without stopping or turning back, steady in her pace. That image lingered longer than he expected.
