After my dad left, my mom gave up everything to raise me. She was my rock, my best friend. Wanting her to find love again,

I secretly made her a Tinder profile. We snapped a warm photo and added a sweet bio about her love

for gardening and cooking. She was hesitant, but I convinced her.

The next day at work, my friend whispered that our boss, Michael, had been grinning at his phone.

Curious, we snooped—and to my shock, he was messaging my mom. They had a dinner date planned.

Panicking at the idea of my boss becoming my stepdad, I distracted him with a fake report and “accidentally”

spilled coffee on his laptop. It worked—he missed the date. But when I saw how disappointed my mom was that night, I felt terrible.

I came clean to both of them. My mom was stunned, Michael confused—but they were both kind.

My mom forgave me, and so did he. That night, they finally had dinner.

And me? I realized love isn’t mine to control. Sometimes, real love means stepping back and letting others find happiness—even if it surprises you.