Dragging my luggage, I cautiously returned to the neighborhood where my parents live.

Standing before the familiar front door, I felt a deep sense of conflict.

Initially, my parents had thought Owen was insincere.

The fact that he didn't arrange for our parents to meet before the wedding—such a major event—was a clear red flag!

They had firmly opposed our relationship.

But I was stubborn and insisted on being with him.

Looking back now, my parents had indeed been perceptive.

I couldn't even fathom how he had managed to convince me with such flimsy excuses about transportation.

How foolish I was!

I pressed my ear against the security door, trying...