Chapter 5-The Parents

His mother and father talked with us while we ate dinner, and the sounds of forks and knives clinking against the plate, and now and then, I could have sworn his mother kept giving side glances, but it could just be my imagination since I was dealing with a mysterious stalker situation. I wasn’t going to let this thought ruin my evening with Dean and try to make a good impression with his parents, not if I could help it.

“Jasmine, what do your parents do for work?” His mother asked me.

“My mother is a nurse,” I told her.

“Oh, a nurse, how wonderful, not everyone can handle high-stress situations, especially a nurse,” she said sweetly.

His father spoke up, “Jasmine, what do you want to do in the future when you finish college?” He looked at me.

“I want to start my business with my art studio or as a video game designer,” I told Dean's father.

His father seems pleased with my responses, while his mother just said nothing as she continues to eat. I looked at Dean, and he looked at me, also surprised by his mother's reaction.

“Mother, is something the matter?”

His mother lets out a sigh and looks in our direction as she sets down her fork.

“I have something to tell you both, and I hope this won’t change how you think of me, Jasmine, but especially you, my son.”

Dean and I looked at each other, unsure of what to expect from his mother's sudden shift in tone towards us, and the tension in the room was palpable, the silence deafening.

“What do you mean by that, Mother?” Dean said with concern in his voice.

“Jasmine, I hope you can forgive me, but I had to make sure you were someone worthy of my son, because of our family's social status, and I apologize for any stress that I might have caused you,” she said to us.

“Mother, what did you do?” Dean asked.

“I agree with Dean, honey, what did you do?” his father asked in a concerned voice.

“Jasmine, have you noticed anyone following you recently?” she asked me.

Then my heart sank deep into the pit of my stomach. I could barely breathe as I turned to her, my voice trembling. “Please, no… please tell me that wasn’t you,” I said, barely above a whisper.

She looked down, guilt etched across her face. “It wasn’t me,” she said slowly, “but… I did hire someone to follow you. I needed to know if you were perfect enough for our son. And now, I realize—I misjudged you. Terribly.”

Dean’s face flushed with anger. His chair scraped against the floor and almost fell over, and he stepped forward, his voice sharp and incredulous. “Mom, how could you do that? Do you even understand what you’ve done? Jasmine could’ve been hurt—or worse.”

She flinched at his words, her composure cracking. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice faltering. “I didn’t mean to cause harm. I didn’t want you to tarnish our family’s reputation; you know how much money this family is worth in business. We own one of the top Relator agencies in the world, and you know I own one of the most well-known wedding dress businesses. I needed to know if Jasmine didn’t meet my expectations, or if she was only dating you for your money. You come from a wealthy family, Dean. I had to be sure.”

The room fell silent, the weight of her confession pressing down on all of us. I could feel the sting of betrayal, the ache of being doubted, and the fragile thread of trust unraveling between us.

Jasmine’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at Dean’s mother, her voice quiet but firm. “You had someone follow me? Like, I was a suspect? I don’t even know what to say.”

Dean stepped closer to her, protective now, his hand brushing hers. “You didn’t deserve that,” he said softly. “None of this.”

Jasmine nodded, her eyes still locked on his mother. “I’ve worked hard for everything I have. I didn’t come into this relationship looking for status or money. I came because I love your son. And I thought I was earning your respect.”

Dean’s mother looked shaken, her voice barely audible. “I see that now. I let fear cloud my judgment. I was wrong.”

Jasmine’s voice trembled, but she held her ground. “You didn’t just doubt me—you invaded my life. You turned love into a test. And I don’t know if I can forget that.”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of broken trust and the fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, healing could begin.

Jasmine’s eyes glistened, but she refused to let the tears fall. She turned to Dean, her voice low but steady. “I need air. I need space to think.”

Dean reached for her hand, but she gently pulled away. “I’ll call you later,” she said and walked out the door, her footsteps echoing in the silence she left behind.

The room felt even colder now.

Dean’s father, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. His voice was calm, but firm. “Margaret, that was beyond the line.”

She stiffened. “I was protecting our family.”

“No,” he said, stepping forward. “You were protecting your pride. You didn’t trust your son’s judgment, and you didn’t give Jasmine a chance to show who she really is.”

Dean’s jaw clenched. “You always talk about legacy and reputation. But what about love? What about respect?”

Margaret looked between them, her defenses crumbling. “I was afraid,” she admitted. “Afraid that she wouldn’t fit in, that she’d leave you broken.”

Dean’s father shook his head. “You’ve seen how she’s stood by him. How she’s carried herself with grace. You didn’t just doubt her—you doubted Dean.”

Dean stepped closer. “You don’t get to decide who’s good enough for me. That’s my choice. And if you can’t accept Jasmine, then maybe you need to rethink what family means.”

Margaret’s eyes welled up. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

“But you did,” Dean said. “And now you have to earn back what you broke.”

Dean left his mother in her own despair. He left his parents' place, got into his car, and drove back to his place. Once he reached his place. Dean gets out of his car, goes up to his front door, walks inside, locks the door behind him, grabs his iPad, and looks up. Things that keep getting stranger by the second since Jasmine blacked out earlier. I don't know how weird things can get in this town, my cell phone started vibrating in my pocket. I pulled the phone out, and the caller ID read Mom. Why is my mom calling me? She never calls me unless to make sure the maids are feeding me properly, and if I have enough money in my bank account, and trust me, I have enough money in my account. I sigh and answer it.

"Hello...Hey Mom, what's up?" I asked her,

"Hey Dean, I just called to see how you're doing?"

"I'm doing fine."

"That's good to hear, Oh, and I wanted to tell you my father and I are going to be home, and we want you to visit us tonight!" she said excitedly.

"Oh, that's great, Mom... I can't wait to see you."

I was so uninterested, and I wasn't sure how to respond. I don't know what to do. Was I ready to introduce Jasmine to my parents? Did she want to meet them? So many questions flowed through my head. But then I came to the certainty that Jasmine will meet my parents.

"Okay, Mom, I gotta go...love you." I hung up the phone with excitement and ran downstairs.

I asked Amelia to make me and Jasmine some breakfast, and she said, “I already had it made,” and handed me the tray. "Thank you, Amelia." I slowly walked up the stairs, trying not to spill our drinks and not to wake Jasmine up. I opened the door carefully and put the tray on the nightstand, then gently woke up Jasmine. "Hey, good morning, sleepyhead," she smiled at me and looked up, "Good morning," she said as she kissed me.

"Aw, you brought me breakfast," she said as she was slowly waking up.

"But of course, madame. Anything for you, my love." I said in a fake French accent.

She laughed and started to grab a muffin off the tray.

"I love waking up to you," she said while looking right in my eyes.

"I want you to meet my parents. They are coming to visit sometime tonight, and I want them to know you because...I love you, Jasmine." She placed her muffin down and ran to me, and she said,

"Of course, I love you too," while she hugged and kissed me. "I can't wait," she said while still embracing me, and I hugged her back.

Having shared the news with Jasmine, I then made the decision to take her shopping before she was scheduled to meet my parents. After traveling to numerous places for an extended period, it seemed that the only words I was capable of hearing were,

"Let's go here next."

I genuinely enjoyed the experience of shopping with Jasmine, finding it captivating how she effortlessly models each outfit she tries on for me. Her confidence shines through, even when it comes to the more intimate undergarments, which certainly tested my self-control. Within the vibrant atmosphere of the boutique, I realized just how much I appreciated her playful nature, especially in those moments when she poses and showcases her finds. There’s something undeniably adorable about her spirit that makes the outing all the more enjoyable.

She came out of the dressing room wearing a floral print dress, with a big white bow on the side of her hair, and with a black clutch bag in her left hand. She was absolutely gorgeous. I ran to her and told her, "You look amazing, this is the one."

“Are you sure? I want to make a good impression with your parents, and this is the first time that I’m meeting them, and I want to make sure I look presentable,” she said to me. I just smiled and chuckled at her and shook my head at her.

“You look stunning, and I know that my parents will love you as much as I love you, and as my girlfriend, I think they will fall in love with you,” I told her as I grabbed her hand and led her to my car, opened the passenger side, and as she slid in, I buckled her seatbelt. After ensuring she is settled, I closed the passenger door. I then walked around to the driver's side and started the car as we drove to my parents' house. I can already imagine the maids at my parents’ place preparing dinner for our arrival when we both walk into the house. I head upstairs to my room with Jasmine behind me, and I give Jasmine some privacy to change. I started to walk down the steps of the staircase when I noticed that the carpet was slightly shifted to the right, and I turned around and yelled to Jasmine to warn her, but I didn't hear anything back.

I see her trip on the carpet as I hurry back upstairs to catch Jasmine in my arms before she can hurt herself.

"Jasmine.... are you okay?"

"What... happen," she asked as I helped her to her feet, and then I heard the door open.

"Oh, craps, that's my parents. What am I going to do?" I ran downstairs to prepare to greet my parents, and as the door opened, I greeted them.

"Hey, Mom, hey Dad, what's up?" I said, out of breath.

"Hello, Dean, give your mother a hug." She said as I went in to hug her and shook my dad's hand,

"How have you been, son?"

"I've been fine, thanks for asking, Dad."

"So, Dean, are there any girlfriends in the picture?" My mom asked me curiously.

“Yes, there is. Her name is Jasmine. Let me go check up on her, so you guys can meet. You're going to love her,” I said.

I ran upstairs to check up on Jasmine. I opened the bedroom door to my room to see Amber assisting Jasmine and making sure she was alright‌ after the little incident she had earlier. Jasmine turns in my direction and sees me, and smiles as she walks over to me and hugs me tight.

"Are you alright, love? I was so worried when you took that fall earlier."

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for catching me."

"If it's you, princess, I don't mind catching you any day." I said as I led her out of my room and downstairs, "You are my dear, Jasmine, so are you ready to meet my parents?" I asked as we headed into the dining room.

"Ready as I'll ever be," she said to me as her grip tightened on my hand.

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"Don't worry, Jasmine, they'll love you. I already do." I whisper to her as I calm her nerves down for a bit. I grab her hand and hold it close in mine, as I tried to calm down my own nerves as I mentally prepared myself to introduce my parents to the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with in the future and I just hope my parents are going to like her especially my mother she has a tenacity to judge for anyone trying to either be in a relationship with our family. Since we are a well-known family in the area, people are itching to rub shoulders with the elite family in town, no matter the cost or length they have to go to be close to us.

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We both walked downstairs and entered the dining room, and we both proceeded to sit down at the table. In addition to Dean's parents being present. I thought to myself, great, just what I need, hopeful no judgment from his parents to complicate my life. At this moment, this is something that I do not require. It's possible that if luck is on our side, they will give us a break for the night, especially since this is my first meeting with his parents.

When we step into the living room, we immediately notice Dean's father, whose reputation precedes him. As the CEO of Reality Realtor, one of the most renowned real estate companies in town, he has built his name on an uncanny ability to seal the deal with every house he touches. His confidence and success radiate effortlessly, setting the tone for the room. Beside him sits Dean’s mother, a woman equally admired in her own right. She manages a well-known wedding dress boutique, and appointments fill up a year in advance. Brides consider it a privilege to step into her shop, knowing she will not only meet but exceed their expectations. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for turning dreams into reality, she ensures that every bride leaves with the perfect gown in hand, glowing with satisfaction.

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Jasmine sat on the edge of a park bench, her fingers curled around the edges of her coat sleeves. The air was crisp, but her thoughts were louder than the wind. Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen—Mom.

She hesitated, then answered. “Hi, Mom.”

Her mother’s voice came through, warm and curious. “Sweetheart, how did it go?”

Jasmine exhaled slowly. “It was… intense. His mom hired someone to follow me.”

“What?” Her mother’s voice sharpened. “She did what?”

“She thought I might be using Dean for his money. Wanted to see if I was good enough.’” Jasmine’s voice cracked slightly, but she held it together.

“Oh, honey. That’s awful. You didn’t deserve that.”

“I know,” Jasmine whispered. “I just—I thought I was building something real with them. With him. But now I don’t know where I stand.”

Her mother paused, then said gently, “You wanted to feel love and hold on to something real. You’ve always been honest, always been strong because I’ve raised you that way. If Dean’s worth it, he’ll fight for you. But don’t let anyone make you question your worth.”

Jasmine nodded, tears finally slipping down her cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

I ended the call with her and sat on the bench for a few more minutes, taking time for myself before heading back home. Wondering where our relationship stands and what action Dean will take to show me he still cares for me. After a few minutes had passed, I got up from the bench and walked home alone that night.