The Man Who Donated a Kidney to Me Proposed a Month Later, Claiming He Was Terminally Ill and Didn't Want to Pass Alone – But Right After We Said 'I Do,' He Took My Hand and Whispered, 'Now I Can Finally Tell You the Truth'

    "You let my daughter make a legal promise."

My mother's expression changed.

Not anger at first.

Disbelief.

Then anger.

"You let my daughter make a legal promise to you without giving her the truth."

Nathan looked down.

"Yes."

    Nobody rushed to comfort him.

Dad stepped beside her. "Why?"

Nathan's jaw tightened.

"I told myself I was protecting Sophie. Then I told myself I was protecting Claire. Really, I was making sure nobody had the chance to tell me no."

Nobody rushed to comfort him.

Not Mara.

Not my parents.

    "What stops?"

Not me.

I walked closer.

    "Our marriage continues only if this stops."

Nathan looked at me. "What stops?"

"You deciding what everyone needs, then calling it love."

His eyes closed for a second.

"Sophie says that too."

    Then he looked at my family.

"Then maybe you should finally listen to her."