You didn’t do anything wrong by trying to be fair to both sides. You were honest, respectful, and you tried to include your family. What went sideways is that your mom turned a relationship into an interrogation and control situation. Talking about CVs, degrees, and witnesses like this is a business deal not how love usually starts. Anyone would feel insulted and defensive, especially when it’s about someone they care about.
At the same time, cutting yourself off completely from your parents is hurting you too. Not because you’re wrong, but because silence creates more misunderstanding. They now see distance, not the pain behind it.
What you can do now is this: calm things down without backing down. Tell your parents you felt judged and hurt, and that their words made you pull away. You don’t need to apologize for loving someone. But you also don’t need to punish yourself by carrying all this alone.
You’re not a bad person. You’re just stuck between love and family expectations. That’s a hard place to stand.
