We were just two young people in love, not concerned about fancy decorations or a big reception. Even now, after seven years of marriage, those memories still brought a smile to my face.
Working as a waitress for a catering company meant that I was always around weddings. Every time I walked into a beautifully decorated hall, the smell of fresh flowers in the air, I couldn’t help but think back to our simple ceremony. If only I had known how fragile things could be…
That day, just like any other, we arrived early to set everything up before the guests and the newlyweds showed up.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
About an hour later, the guests started arriving, their excited chatter filling the hall as they waited for the bride and groom to return from their photo session. I was in the restroom when Stacy, my colleague, burst in, her face pale with worry.
“Lori, listen,” Stacy said, her voice shaky, “I think you should go home.”
“Go home? Why would I do that?” I asked. “Are you trying to get more shifts for yourself? Sorry, but I need the money just as much as you do.”
Stacy shook her head, looking more nervous than I’d ever seen her. “No, Lori, you don’t understand. I really think you shouldn’t be here.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What are you talking about? Why are you acting so weird?” I said. “Stacy, seriously, what’s going on?”
She bit her lip, glancing toward the hall. “You’re not going to like what you see.”
I headed back to the hall, my mind racing with thoughts of what Stacy had said. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the bride and groom. Stacy was right—I shouldn’t have come.
There, standing in front of all the guests, was David… my David. The man I had shared my life with for seven years, now standing with another woman.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
My breath caught in my throat. I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing. I turned and ran outside, tears streaming down my face. It was like a nightmare, one I couldn’t wake up from.
Stacy rushed outside. She tried to speak, to comfort me, but I couldn’t hear her. All I could think about was how he had betrayed me. I wiped my tears away, anger building inside me. I wasn’t going to let him get away with this. No way. I was going to ruin this wedding and expose him for the fraud he was.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I returned to the hall just as the bride and groom were giving their first toast. My heart pounded in my chest, but I knew I had to do this.
I marched straight up to David and snatched the microphone right out of his hand. He looked at me, his face full of shock and anger, but I didn’t care. He deserved every bit of what was coming.
The bride, this poor woman, clung to David like he was her lifeline. She looked at me with wide, fearful eyes, clearly not understanding what was happening.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“David, or as you all know him, Richard, has deceived you all!” I began, my voice trembling with rage. “He’s already married! To me!” The words hung in the air like a bomb that had just gone off. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and I could see the confusion and disbelief on their faces.
“What?” the bride stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned to David, her eyes filling with tears. “Richard, what’s going on? Who is this woman?”
David shook his head, his face a mask of feigned confusion. “I… I don’t know,” he stammered. “I’ve never seen this woman in my life.”
“Seven years of marriage, and you were blind?!” I shouted, feeling my anger boil over.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What? What seven years of marriage?” he asked, still trying to play dumb.
“Stop pretending you don’t know me,” I said. “You’re only making it worse, David.”
“My name is Richard!” he shouted back, his voice desperate. “I have no idea who your David is. You’re crazy!”
“Oh, really?” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Then what’s this?” I pulled out my phone, the screen lit up with a picture of our wedding day. I held it up for everyone to see. The room fell into a deeper silence as people strained to get a look.
