diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bb6ee5e..cb5a3cf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -218,6 +218,8 @@ public record City(
 > [!Note]
 > Notice that having the `countryId` field, which maps to the foreign key column, is required for the relationship to work properly.
 
+If the annotation is `persist = true` and the field is `null` upon persistence, the annotation shall never delete the parent because it can still have other linked children. However, it will change the foreign key to `null` to unlink the children from the parent.
+
 ### ManyToMany
 
 The `@ManyToMany` annotation lets you mark fields to have a many-to-many relationship. The default behavior of the annotation is to populate the field after mapping the entity object, create/update the associated entities, and link the relations on the join table. The annotation uses the join table transparently, meaning you **don't need** to create an entity type for the join table on your codebase.
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessor.java b/src/main/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessor.java
index 44147fa..14b9e06 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessor.java
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ public Mono<Object> persist(final ManyToOne annotation, final Field field) {
         final var savedId = this.idValueOf(saved);
         final var newEntity = Reflect.update(this.entity, field, saved);
         return Reflect.update(newEntity, foreignField, savedId);
-      });
+      })
+      .defaultIfEmpty(Reflect.update(this.entity, foreignField, null));
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessorTest.java b/src/test/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessorTest.java
index f078a9b..01d8057 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessorTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/github/joselion/springr2dbcrelationships/processors/ManyToOneProcessorTest.java
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 
   private final String chicago = "Chicago";
 
+  private final String manhattan = "Manhattan";
+
   @Nested class populate {
     @Test void populates_the_field_with_the_parent_entity() {
       countryRepo.save(usa)
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@
   }
 
   @Nested class persist {
-    @Nested class when_the_annotation_does_not_configure_persist {
+    @Nested class when_the_persist_option_is_false {
       @Test void does_not_persist_the_annotated_field_by_default() {
         countryRepo.save(usa)
           .map(saved -> saved.withName("USA"))
@@ -90,25 +92,66 @@
       }
     }
 
-    @Nested class when_the_annotation_sets_persist_to_true {
-      @Test void persists_the_annotated_field() {
-        final var manhattan = Town.of("Manhattan");
+    @Nested class when_the_persist_option_is_true {
+      @Nested class and_the_parent_does_not_exist {
+        @Test void creates_the_parent_entity() {
+          Mono.just(usa)
+            .map(Town.of(manhattan)::withCountry)
+            .flatMap(townRepo::save)
+            .map(Town::id)
+            .flatMap(townRepo::findById)
+            .zipWhen(saved -> countryRepo.findById(saved.countryId()))
+            .as(TxStepVerifier::withRollback)
+            .assertNext(consumer((town, country) -> {
+              assertThat(town.countryId()).isEqualTo(country.id());
+              assertThat(town.country().id()).isEqualTo(country.id());
+              assertThat(country.towns())
+                .extracting(Town::name)
+                .containsExactly(manhattan);
+            }))
+            .verifyComplete();
+        }
+      }
 
-        Mono.just(usa)
-          .map(manhattan::withCountry)
-          .flatMap(townRepo::save)
-          .map(Town::id)
-          .flatMap(townRepo::findById)
-          .zipWhen(saved -> countryRepo.findById(saved.countryId()))
-          .as(TxStepVerifier::withRollback)
-          .assertNext(consumer((town, country) -> {
-            assertThat(town.countryId()).isEqualTo(country.id());
-            assertThat(town.country().id()).isEqualTo(country.id());
-            assertThat(country.towns())
-              .extracting(Town::name)
-              .containsExactly(manhattan.name());
-          }))
-          .verifyComplete();
+      @Nested class and_the_parent_does_already_exists {
+        @Test void updates_the_parent_entity() {
+          Mono.just(usa)
+            .map(Town.of(manhattan)::withCountry)
+            .flatMap(townRepo::save)
+            .map(town -> town.withCountryBy(country -> country.withName("USA")))
+            .flatMap(townRepo::save)
+            .map(Town::id)
+            .flatMap(townRepo::findById)
+            .zipWhen(saved -> countryRepo.findById(saved.countryId()))
+            .as(TxStepVerifier::withRollback)
+            .assertNext(consumer((town, country) -> {
+              assertThat(town.countryId()).isEqualTo(country.id());
+              assertThat(town.country().id()).isEqualTo(country.id());
+              assertThat(country.name()).isEqualTo("USA");
+              assertThat(country.towns())
+                .extracting(Town::name)
+                .containsExactly(manhattan);
+            }))
+            .verifyComplete();
+        }
+      }
+
+      @Nested class and_the_parent_is_null {
+        @Test void unlinks_the_entity_from_the_parent() {
+          Mono.just(usa)
+            .map(Town.of(manhattan)::withCountry)
+            .flatMap(townRepo::save)
+            .map(town -> town.withCountry(null))
+            .flatMap(townRepo::save)
+            .map(Town::id)
+            .flatMap(townRepo::findById)
+            .as(TxStepVerifier::withRollback)
+            .assertNext(town -> {
+              assertThat(town.country()).isNull();
+              assertThat(town.countryId()).isNull();
+            })
+            .verifyComplete();
+        }
       }
     }
   }