Suddenly, my mom’s disapproval made sense. She wasn’t being controlling — she was scared. That night, I showed the diary to Danika. Her face went pale.
She admitted everything. Vaughn had been involved in illegal activities, threatened her when she tried to leave, and she’d escaped just before meeting me.
My mom had found the diary after our engagement, confronted her, and promised to keep her secret while protecting me. Then Danika confessed something worse — two months ago, she’d received a message saying, “I know where you are.” We went to the police. An investigation led to Vaughn’s arrest for fraud, harassment, and blackmail.
Later, standing at my mom’s grave, Danika whispered, “She truly loved you.” And she was right. My mom feared the past — but she still gave my wife a chance.
Love, I learned, isn’t about perfection. It’s standing together when the past tries to return.