Two days before my wedding, my world was turned upside down. Robert, my fiancé, dropped a bombshell. He had to leave for a sudden work trip. At first, I thought maybe it was no big deal—until a strange call from his boss made everything feel off. My gut told me something wasn’t right, and I couldn’t just let it go. So, I decided to follow him. What I found shattered everything I thought I knew about love, trust, and the man I was about to marry.
Turning thirty had made me panic. The thought that I might never get married had begun to haunt me. I was convinced that love had passed me by, and that I’d never get the fairytale ending I dreamed of. But now, here I was, only two days away from becoming Robert’s wife. It felt like a dream come true.
Robert was everything I ever wanted: kind, smart, and sweet. He made me laugh, even when I was upset. He could always lift my spirits with his silly jokes and warm smile. With him, I felt complete. He had my heart.
But everything changed the moment Robert walked into the bedroom. His face was tense, his posture stiff. It was a look I’d never seen before. I froze. Something was wrong.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice tinged with concern.
Robert hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Katherine, I’m so sorry, but I have to go on a work trip.”
“What? Our wedding is in two days!” I exclaimed, my brows knitting together in confusion.
“I know,” he said softly, stepping closer to me. “But I promise I’ll be back in time. Maybe even the night before the wedding.”
“Are you serious right now?” I asked, my voice rising. “You’re leaving me alone, just days before our wedding?”
“I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t important,” Robert said, his voice low. “Everything is already planned. Nothing should go wrong, I promise. I hate that it’s happening this way, but I have to go.”
“Why?” I asked, my emotions swelling up inside me.
Robert pulled me into a tight hug. “I hate doing this to you. But we have our whole lives ahead of us, Katherine. I’ll always be there for you.”
“Who’s going with you?” I asked quietly, my voice barely a whisper.
“Travis,” Robert replied. “That’s why it’s so important.”
I knew Travis was his boss, and I understood. But deep inside, I felt this urge to scream. But instead, I swallowed it down. I was an adult, after all. “Fine,” I said, after a long pause. “But you better make it up to me while you’re gone.”
Robert chuckled softly, kissing my forehead. “Alright, I will.” And then, he started packing.
I watched him, feeling a sense of loss with each item he folded and placed into his suitcase. Every motion, every movement, felt like a step further away from me. I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling growing inside me.
As he finished packing, my eyes landed on his plane tickets on the edge of the bed. My heart skipped when I saw the destination. It didn’t make sense. I knew his company didn’t work in that city. Maybe they were expanding, I thought, trying to make sense of it. But something didn’t feel right.
I walked him to the door, and we said our goodbyes. He kissed me, holding me tightly before he left. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was Travis.
“Hello? Is everything alright?” I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty.
“Everything’s fine,” Travis said calmly. “I just wanted to let you know I won’t be able to make it to your wedding. I’ll be out of town on a business trip. But I’d still like to send you and Robert a gift. How can I get it to you?”
My stomach twisted into knots. “Wait… Robert will be back by the wedding, right?” I asked, confusion settling in.
“Katherine, I’m not sure what you mean,” Travis replied, sounding puzzled. “I would never send Robert on a trip this close to his wedding. Did he say I did?”
I froze, my mind racing. “Oh, no. I must have misunderstood,” I said quickly, trying to cover my tracks. “I’ll let you know about the gift.”
“Okay,” Travis said, his voice still uncertain. “Let me know if you need anything.” Then, he hung up.
I didn’t waste another second. I grabbed my bag, my wallet, and my coat. I had to get to the bottom of this. I couldn’t just sit back and wonder. Robert had lied to me, and I needed answers.
At the airport, my hands shook as I booked a ticket. I didn’t even care where it was going. I just needed to follow him. I made my way through security, feeling like everyone was watching me, and then headed straight for the gate.
There, I spotted him. Robert. He was sitting alone, his face buried in his phone. My heart raced. I stayed back, far enough to not be noticed, but close enough to follow.
When the flight was called, I let him board first. My palms were sweating as I walked onto the plane, keeping a safe distance. The flight felt like hours. Every time Robert shifted in his seat, I wondered what he was thinking.
When we landed, I spotted him again and followed him outside. Robert hailed a taxi, and I did the same. “Follow that car, but keep your distance,” I told the driver. He looked at me strangely but nodded.
We drove through quiet streets until we stopped in front of a small house in a peaceful neighborhood. My heart pounded as I asked the driver to pull over a few houses away. I paid him quickly, my hands shaking.
I crouched behind a tree and watched as Robert got out of the taxi. He hesitated before knocking on the door. I held my breath as someone opened it. I couldn’t see who it was, but the silhouette made my chest tighten. Then, to my shock, Robert stepped inside.
I stood there, frozen, until I gathered enough courage to move closer. I crept toward the window, peering through the glass. What I saw inside shattered me.
Robert was sitting with a woman I didn’t recognize. He leaned in and hugged her, just like he always hugged me. Tears welled in my eyes as my heart broke. I couldn’t understand what I was seeing. Why was he here with her?
I don’t know how long I stood there, trembling, unable to move. Then, the front door opened, and I snapped back to reality. Panicked, I ducked into the bushes, staying as low as I could. From my hiding spot, I watched Robert step outside, his expression unreadable. He climbed into another taxi and left without a single glance back.
I waited, my heart racing, before I finally mustered the courage to approach the door. My legs felt like jelly as I raised my hand and knocked.
A few moments later, the woman opened the door. She looked at me with concern, her face softening when she saw the tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Are you alright?” she asked gently. “How can I help you?”
I swallowed hard. “I’m Robert’s fiancée,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “In two days, I’m supposed to be his wife.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh,” she said, stepping back. “Please, come in.” She motioned for me to enter.
She led me into the kitchen and sat me down. She handed me a glass of water, her kindness radiating through her every word.
“I know how this must look,” she said softly. “But I promise, it’s not what you think. My name is Liz. I’m Robert’s first love.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach. “That doesn’t make it better,” I muttered, gripping the glass so tightly my knuckles went white.
Liz sighed, her voice calm and steady. “Our relationship wasn’t healthy,” she said. “When Robert was younger, he wasn’t the man you know now. He came here to apologize.”
“Apologize?” I asked, my voice rising in disbelief. “Why now? Why before our wedding?”
“Because he didn’t want to bring his past into your future,” Liz explained. “He told me he loves you. He wants to build something with you. He’s not the man he was with me.”
“Why didn’t he tell me the truth?” I asked, my voice shaking with emotion.
Liz smiled gently. “We all have things we don’t share. I’m happily married now, with two kids. Robert talked about you all the time. He’s crazy about you. You and Robert are meant to be together.”
I nodded slowly, trying to process everything. Liz offered to let me stay until my flight. And as I met her family, I began to calm. Their love for each other was so clear, so real. It reminded me of the love I had for Robert. Slowly, I started to see everything in a different light.
When I finally arrived home, it was just before dawn. Robert was waiting by the door, his face full of worry. As soon as he saw me, he pulled me into a tight hug.
“Katherine, where were you?” he asked, his voice filled with fear. “I was so worried. I tried calling you so many times. I thought something happened.”
I hesitated, unsure of how to start. “I don’t know what to say,” I finally admitted, my voice barely a whisper.
Robert stepped back, his hands still on my shoulders. “Then let me start,” he said, his face filled with regret. “I lied to you. I wasn’t on a work trip—”
“I know,” I interrupted. “I know everything.”
Robert’s face softened with relief. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you the truth. But I swear, nothing happened.”
“I know,” I said softly. “And I’m sorry, too.”
Robert frowned. “Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I doubted you,” I said, my voice trembling. “I followed you after Travis called. I went to Liz’s house. She explained everything.”
Robert’s face softened with understanding. “Katherine, I love you. Only you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of everything lifted off my shoulders. “I know,” I said, my heart finally at peace. “Now, I’m sure of it.”
I leaned forward and kissed him, and for the first time in days, everything felt right.
