I met a woman and fell deeply in love with her. When I proposed, she said yes. Everything seemed perfect, but after meeting her parents, everything fell apart. I had to cancel the wedding and break up with the woman I loved because of what her father and mother did, which was completely out of line.
When I met Olga, I thought I had found the love of my life. We quickly became inseparable. After just four months, we decided to move in together. A few months later, I proposed to her, and she said yes. I was the happiest man in the world.
But there was one big detail we had been putting off talking about: our families. Olga often talked about her parents, Ivan and Tatiana. She said they were strict but loving, a bit old-fashioned, and that they already adored me, even though they hadn’t met me yet.
Deep down, I was nervous but believed I could win them over with sincerity and respect. We arranged to meet at a restaurant. From the moment we sat down, I felt tension in the air. Ivan, a tall man with a heavy gaze, shook my hand as if testing my strength. Tatiana, elegant in large gold jewelry, gave me an assessing look.
As soon as we sat down, Ivan didn’t waste time on pleasantries and said, “Well, Timofey, if you’re marrying Olga, you’re taking on responsibility.” He then added, “Olya always dreamed of being a housewife. You’ll have to provide for her completely. She won’t work — that’s unacceptable in our family.”
I glanced at Olga, who smiled and nodded as though this was obvious. Then Tatiana added, “Supporting your wife’s family is a sign of a good husband. We’ll be counting on your help.”
I was stunned. They continued, saying that I’d need to buy Olga’s apartment from them, then buy a spacious house for future children, and even set up a room for them, “in case they want to live with us.”
The night ended in silence. I realized I couldn’t marry Olga. When I confronted her, she dismissed my concerns, saying it was just their family tradition. I left that night. Months passed, and although Olga tried to convince me, I knew she saw me only as a convenient life partner ready to fulfill her family’s demands.
