My mom always controlled every part of my life. She chose my clothes, picked my friends, and even decided where I went to college. But when I finally found love and planned my wedding, she went too far. What she did to ruin my big day wasn’t just controlling—it was a betrayal I could never forget.

It’s a long story, and I don’t even know where to begin. My mom raised me alone. My dad had disappeared before I was even born. I never knew him—not a story, not a picture.

Whenever I asked, my mom’s response was always the same: “He wasn’t worth our time.” And that was that.

I don’t know if it was my dad’s absence that made her so controlling or if she had always been that way. But either way, I grew up feeling smothered under the weight of her expectations.

At first, it felt normal.

She picked my clothes, chose my friends, and decided my hobbies. “You’ll thank me one day,” she’d say.

But as I got older, I realized my life wasn’t like other kids’. They had freedom, sleepovers, choices.

I wanted that too. But more than anything, I wanted my mom to be happy. She always said, “All my happiness is in you.” And I believed her.

When it came time to apply to college, my dream was New York University. I wanted a fresh start—an escape.

Then, one day, I came home, and my mom told me I hadn’t gotten in.

I was crushed. She hugged me as I cried, whispering, “It’s okay. You’re still my girl.”

I ended up at the local university, living at home.

But one evening, while cleaning, I found an opened letter stuffed behind the closet.

My hands shook as I unfolded it.

I had gotten into New York University.

She had hidden it from me.

I waited for her to come home, standing right at the front door, gripping the letter so tightly my knuckles turned white.

As soon as she walked in, I shoved it in her face.

“What is this?!” I demanded.

Her eyes widened. “Where did you find that?!” she shouted.

She lunged forward, trying to snatch it from me, but I jerked back.

“You weren’t supposed to find that!” she screamed, her voice sharp with panic.

“Why did you do this?!” I yelled. “I could have been in New York! I could have been living my dream!”

Tears streamed down her face. “Because you would have left me!” she cried. “You would have abandoned me! I would have been all alone.”

I stood frozen, rage battling the deep, painful guilt she always knew how to stir in me.

She looked so small, so broken.

I let out a shaky breath, stepped closer, and wrapped my arms around her.

I never left.

I buried my dreams to keep her happy.

The Control Never Stopped
As I got older, it only got worse.

She needed to know where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing at every moment.

Dating was impossible.

The relationships barely lasted two weeks before my mom chased them off. She would call nonstop, ask a million questions, and even show up unannounced.

One night, I decided to push back.

I stayed over at my boyfriend’s place and ignored her calls.

At first, it felt freeing—like a small act of rebellion.

Then the police showed up.

She had reported that my boyfriend kidnapped me.

I spent hours at the station explaining that I wasn’t in danger. I was humiliated.

When she ruined yet another relationship, I snapped.

“Then find me someone who meets your standards!” I yelled.

And, shockingly, she did.

The Man My Mom Picked for Me
One evening, I came home from work and found a man sitting in our living room, sipping tea like he’d been there forever.

His name was Colin.

And, surprisingly, I liked him.

He was kind. Funny.

And, somehow, he managed to get along with my mom.

After nearly a year of dating, Colin planned a romantic dinner at my mom’s house.

When I walked into the kitchen, I saw candles, flowers, and… my mom standing there with a camera.

“What’s going on?” I asked, glancing between Colin and my mom.

Before he could speak, she clapped her hands together, grinning. “Oh, Elizabeth! I’m so happy for you! We finally made it!”

“Made what?” I asked, confused.

Then Colin took a deep breath and got down on one knee.

He pulled out a ring.

“Elizabeth,” he said, “you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Yes! Yes!” I screamed.

Colin slipped the ring onto my finger, and I turned to hug him—

But my mom lunged in first.

She squeezed him tightly, then turned to me. “In honor of this, you can even stay over tonight,” she said, winking.

Colin and I shared a look and burst into laughter.

She always had the weirdest ideas about relationships.

That night, he did stay over.

We watched a movie while I heard her soft footsteps pacing outside my bedroom door.

My Mom Takes Over My Wedding
The wedding planning wasn’t mine—it was hers.

She picked the venue, the dress, the cake, the caterer. Colin and I had no say.

Then, one evening, she dropped a bombshell.

“After the wedding, we can turn my room into a nursery. I’ll move to the living room.”

Colin and I exchanged wide-eyed glances.

He cleared his throat. “Actually, Elizabeth and I will be living at my place.”

My mom blinked, stunned. “Only her? What about me?”

I hesitated. “Mom… Colin and I already decided. We’ll be moving in together.”

Her face turned red.

“You’re leaving me? After everything I’ve done for you?!”

She stormed off, slamming her door.

The Sickness That Stopped Everything
A week later, she got sick.

Her face grew pale, her body weak. She coughed constantly, clutched her chest, and cried in pain.

Colin and I canceled the wedding.

All our savings went into her “treatment.”

Hospital bills, medications, tests—I spent every dime to help her.

Then, one day, I found a new doctor.

I took her to Dr. Green.

After running tests, he stepped into the waiting room.

“Your mother is completely healthy,” he said, his voice calm.

“What?” I whispered.

“She’s healthier than I am,” he added.

The Betrayal I Never Saw Coming
When we got home, I stared at her.

“Why are you pretending to be sick?” I asked, my voice sharp.

She clutched her chest. “I’m not pretending!”

“I saw the results, Mom.”

Her face darkened.

“Where did all the money go?” My voice rose.

Her lips pressed together. “It’s in my account, okay?! All your money is saved!”

“Why did you do this?” I demanded.

Tears welled in her eyes. “Because you would have left me!”

I took a deep breath. “I’ve had enough.”

She started screaming, but I didn’t listen.

I packed my bags.

I texted Colin: Can you come get me? I need to leave.

He replied immediately: On my way.

As I stepped outside, she cried, begged, pleaded.

But I kept walking.

For the first time in my life, I was free.