Chris’s family had always opposed his relationship with Amanda. The tension peaked during a dinner where Amanda announced she was expecting, just as Chris’s family had learned of his supposed infertility. This revelation set off a chain reaction that altered their lives forever.
“I just want to get this over with,” Chris muttered as they approached his parent’s home.
“They’re your parents, honey. We need them to accept me, to be part of our wedding and future, right?” Amanda reassured him, gently touching his arm.
Chris grumbled in response, “Honestly, Amanda, I don’t care anymore. If they can’t accept you, the woman I love, then I don’t need them in my life.”
“Please, let’s just try to make peace. They are still family, and it’s important they’re in our children’s lives, isn’t it?” Amanda persisted with a hopeful smile, though she noticed Chris’s grim expression.
Managing a slight nod, Chris replied, “Yeah, I guess,” his voice strained.
“That’s…fine. When are you planning to leave your job?” he then asked abruptly.
“Let’s stay positive, we’re in this together,” Amanda encouraged, embracing him as they walked up to the door.
Mrs. Castillo greeted them with a superficial smile, barely moving her lips, “Hello, Amanda. Nice to see you,” she said, letting them in with a subtle nod.
Chris nearly rolled his eyes. Despite their long engagement, his parents still saw Amanda as the outsider who disrupted their plans for him. They had always envisioned him with someone else, and their disapproval was palpable.
Back when Chris graduated and started working, his parents had introduced him to Ciara, a well-connected woman whose father was influential in town. The Castillos, wealthy from generations of investments, were fixated on maintaining their social status.
But Chris, who had broadened his perspectives through diverse college friendships, found he wanted someone genuine, unlike the women he met at exclusive gatherings.
Then he met Amanda by chance in a parking lot, and it was immediate attraction for him. Initially, she was resistant, but eventually agreed to a date, and they had been inseparable since.
Their first meeting with his parents was disastrous. They urged Chris to end things the moment Amanda excused herself during dinner.
“She’s just an assistant. Why not Ciara? She adores you. This girl isn’t right for you,” his mother had whispered urgently, her disdain clear.
“Listen to your mother. You need a woman of your own… class. This won’t work,” his father added, shaking his head in disapproval.
“I’ve had enough. I’m not listening to this. Ciara is nothing but a shallow princess, and I want nothing to do with her!” Chris had retorted quietly but firmly.
When Amanda returned, the dinner resumed awkwardly, her intuition picking up on the tension.