They say your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But for me, it turned into a nightmare.
I had spent six long months planning every single detail. I picked the perfect venue, tried on dozens of dresses before finding the one, tasted so many cakes I thought I’d never want sugar again, and made endless phone calls to vendors. Everything had to be perfect.
But as the big day arrived, things started going wrong.
I paced in my room, my hands shaking as I gripped my phone. The florist wasn’t answering. I had called five times already. No response. No voicemail. Nothing. My wedding was in just a few hours, and there wasn’t a single flower in sight.
My heart pounded in frustration. The bouquets, the centerpieces, the arch decorations—gone. Just vanished. I felt my pulse pounding in my ears, my hands curling into fists.
A sudden knock on the door snapped me out of my rage. I stormed over and yanked it open, but the hallway was empty.
“Ugh,” I muttered. My nephews. It had to be them. The house was packed with my family, my friends, and Ted’s relatives. It was absolute madness.
Just as I was about to close the door, I noticed something on the floor. An envelope. Plain. White. No name.
Frowning, I picked it up and stepped back inside, locking the door behind me. Inside the envelope was a flash drive with the words “Watch me” scrawled across it.
A chill ran down my spine. I hesitated before plugging it into my laptop.
One file appeared.
“Are you sure you want to marry him?”
I swallowed hard. My gut told me to stop, to ignore it. But my fingers moved on their own. I clicked play.
The video started. It was Ted and his friends in a limousine, already drunk.
“Last night of freedom!” Max, his best man, shouted, holding his phone and filming everything.
Ted shook his head. “I’m already taken!”
Max smirked. “You don’t get it. Tonight, anything goes!”
Ted hesitated, gripping his drink. “But I love Tracy.”
Max rolled his eyes. “Your Tracy has you on a leash! Prove me wrong.”
My stomach twisted. I clenched my jaw, pressing my lips together so hard they hurt. Ted had always told me he hated these kinds of parties. That he had no interest in wild bachelor nights. But here he was.
There was another knock on my door. I gasped and quickly paused the video, my heart pounding. Taking a deep breath, I walked over and opened the door.
Max stood there, smiling like nothing had happened.
“Hey, Tracy,” he said casually.
I didn’t smile. My mind was replaying his words from the video. He had called me controlling, a leash around Ted’s neck. And Ted had said nothing.
“Something wrong?” Max asked.
I folded my arms. “What do you want?”
“Ted can’t find his shoes. He said they might be here.”
“Maybe I should give him my heels instead,” I muttered under my breath.
Max frowned. “What?”
“Nothing.” I turned to the closet, grabbed Ted’s shoebox from the top shelf, and shoved it into Max’s hands.
Max smirked. “If you’re worried, Ted isn’t planning to run.”
I glared at him. “Why would I be worried?”
He shrugged. “Just a joke. Relax.”
I didn’t laugh.
As soon as Max left, I shut the door, locked it, and ran back to my laptop. My hands trembled as I hit play.
The video cut to a hotel room. Ted was blindfolded, sitting on a chair, relaxed and smiling.
“This is going to be so much fun,” Max’s voice said in the background.
A masked woman entered the room, music playing as the guys cheered. She placed her hands on Ted’s shoulders and started dancing.
Then, she took off her mask.
I sucked in a breath. Sandy. His ex-fiancée.
She leaned close. “I know you missed me.”
Then she kissed him.
And Ted kissed her back.
“Tracy!” my mom’s voice rang from downstairs.
I gasped, slamming the laptop shut. My hands shook as I wiped my eyes, forcing myself to stay calm. But my heart was breaking into pieces.
I rushed downstairs, where my mom stood in front of a disaster.
The wedding cake—my perfect, expensive cake—was half destroyed. The top layer had collapsed, frosting smeared across the table.
“The wedding is in less than three hours!” Mom cried. “What do we do?!”
I stared blankly. I wanted to scream, “Cancel the wedding!” I wanted to throw something, to break whatever was left. But instead, I muttered, “I… I don’t know.”
Melanie, my best friend, walked into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”
I pointed at the ruined cake.
She stepped closer, eyes wide. “Oh. My. God.”
“Yeah,” I muttered.
Melanie sighed. “I can fix it. I took a pastry course.”
My mom looked hopeful. “Are you sure?”
Melanie hesitated. “I think so.”
Mom turned to me. “Tracy?”
I swallowed hard. What did it matter anymore? The cake, the wedding, none of it felt real anymore.
“Do whatever you want. I don’t care.” I turned and walked back to my room.
I locked the door, sat on my bed, and stared at my laptop. My mind raced. Was this what love was supposed to feel like? Lies, stress, betrayal?
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t pretend everything was fine.
I went to my window, opened it, and took a deep breath. Then, without thinking, I climbed out.
My feet hit the ground, and I ran to my car. My heart pounded, not from fear, but from clarity. I needed to get away.
“Tracy! Where are you going?!” my mom shouted from the porch.
I didn’t answer. I started the engine and drove away, leaving everything behind.
Because this was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. And I refused to let it be my worst mistake instead.
