PART 17 – My Son Arrived With a Decision He Had Been Afraid to Make, and for the First Time He Stopped Making Excuses for Vanessa

Daniel arrived the following evening at six.

I had prepared his favorite dinner.

Roast chicken, potatoes, and the vegetables he used to complain about eating when he was little.

He smiled when he entered the kitchen.

"You remembered."

"Some things are difficult to forget."

He put his jacket over the back of a chair.

I noticed he wasn't carrying his usual cheerful expression.

He looked tired, but there was something different in his eyes.

He seemed more certain.

We sat down to eat.

For the first few minutes, we talked about his work.

He had been given a new architectural project.

It involved designing a small residential development.

He was excited about the possibilities.

I was happy to hear him talk about something he loved.

Then he put down his fork.

"Mom, I've been thinking about Vanessa."

I waited.

"I don't think I can marry her."

I didn't move.

I had suspected that he was reaching this conclusion.

But hearing him say it was different.

"What happened?"

He took a breath.

"I asked her whether she could accept my life without constantly comparing it to her father's."

I listened.

"She said she wanted a husband who could provide the lifestyle she was used to."

I looked at him.

"And what did you say?"

"I told her I could provide a good life, but I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life competing with another man."

He looked down.

"Then she asked whether I would be happier if I had more money."

I remained quiet.

"She said she didn't want to struggle. She wanted security."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting security."

"I know. But she seems to believe that security comes from having the biggest house and the most expensive car."

I nodded.

Daniel continued.

"I asked her whether she would still respect me if I never became as wealthy as her father."

He paused.

"She couldn't give me an answer."

I reached across the table.

"That must have hurt."

"It did."

He rubbed his eyes.

"I kept thinking about Friday night. About how she laughed when her father insulted you."

I didn't interrupt.

"Then I remembered all the little comments she'd made about my work and my family."

He looked at me.

"I don't want to build a marriage where I have to apologize for being myself."

I squeezed his hand.

"You deserve to feel comfortable in your own home."

He nodded.

"I told her I needed to end the engagement."

I took a breath.

"How did she react?"

"She cried. Then she got angry."

He described how Vanessa had accused him of allowing the company investigation to destroy their relationship.

She believed he was choosing me over her.

He had tried to explain that the problem was bigger than the investigation.

But she kept returning to her father's situation.

Eventually, he told her that their differences had existed long before the dinner.

I listened carefully.

Then he said something that made me proud.

"I told her I wanted a partner, not someone who needed me to become a different person."

I smiled gently.

"That's an important thing to understand."

He looked toward the family photographs.

"Do you think I made the right decision?"

I considered my answer.

"I think you made an honest decision. Only time will tell you how you feel about it."

He nodded.

We finished dinner.

Afterward, he helped me clear the table.

Neither of us said much.

Sometimes a person doesn't need advice.

They need someone to sit beside them while they accept what they've decided.

Before leaving, Daniel hugged me.

"I don't want you to think I ended things because of the company."

"I don't."

"I ended things because I didn't feel respected."

I kissed his cheek.

"Then remember that."

He left shortly afterward.

I watched him drive away.

I felt sad for him.

An engagement ending was never something to celebrate.

But I also felt relieved.

I hoped he would eventually find someone who loved him without measuring his worth against his bank account.

The following morning, I went to headquarters.

Rebecca had another update.

The independent review was continuing, and the temporary oversight arrangements were working.

Richard had followed the new approval procedures.

There were still outstanding questions, but the division was operating normally.

I approved the next stage of the review.

Then Rebecca mentioned Vanessa.

"She called the office yesterday."

I looked up.

"Why?"

"She asked whether she could speak with you."

I paused.

"Did she explain why?"

"She said it was personal."

I looked toward the window.

"Tell her I won't discuss confidential company matters with her."

"Of course."

"And if she wants to speak about something personal, she can contact me directly."

Rebecca nodded.

I returned to my desk.

I didn't know whether Vanessa would call.

But I was no longer responsible for repairing a relationship she had helped damage.

Click here to continue reading: PART 18: The Engagement Ended Quietly, but Richard’s Position Inside the Company Was Becoming More Difficult to Defend