Dua and What Now?

Assalamu alaikum. This is a bit outside my comfort zone but I could really use honest advice. I met a brother at work and at first I didn’t feel anything. Then one day he spoke to me in such a respectful, kind, and polite way. He told me he wanted to pursue something halal and when he asked for family contact I gave him my number and suggested we wait three days and if we clicked we could involve parents. In those three days we connected quickly. Same sense of humor, similar views, even favorite food. Wallahi we kept things modest and simple like parents could be reading. On day three I told him I liked him and wanted to make it halal and do the rukhsati/kareyah Al-Fatiha type steps. My parents agreed, but his mother refused. She didn’t give him a reason, just said she had heard things about me that made her not want this marriage. I have a history with mental health, and I have scars on my arms from that time. I only started wearing hijab two years ago so some people have seen them. I guess that might be what she meant. He handled it very gently and pushed for two more days, but she wouldn’t change her mind. After those two days he called to say she still wouldn’t budge. He was respectful and told me he still thought I was a good person and that my heart is clean. We agreed to stop contact to avoid any unnecessary interaction between non-mahram men and women. He didn’t keep texting, though every few weeks I’d check in to see how he was. I prayed Istikhara twice for him, I mentioned him in my duas, I pray for him in sujood, but my feelings haven’t changed and neither has his mother’s decision. I can’t get him out of my mind. He truly is one of the kindest people I’ve met - especially in healthcare, he speaks up for his patients and treats people well. He knew how to calm me instead of raising his voice. I don’t know what else to do. I’ve done istikhara and made sincere dua, but I feel so sad. Today a coworker told me he said he feels bad but doesn’t want to go against his mother or deceive her, and I respect that. What would you do next? I still want to pursue him, and my duaas haven’t changed my heart. I’ve never felt like istikhara didn’t guide me before, so I’m confused why I’m stuck. Everything keeps reminding me of him. JazakAllahu khairan for any advice.