The Wedding That Almost Wasn’t: A Mother’s Betrayal
Do parents just love ruining weddings? I mean, seriously—30 minutes before I was supposed to walk down the aisle, my soon-to-be mother-in-law dropped a bomb that shattered everything.
Ryan and I had the kind of love story people write about. We met by chance two years ago at a community theater.
My best friend Mila was directing her first musical, and I was waiting outside with a bouquet of flowers for her when Ryan—tall, charming, and completely unaware of his surroundings—bumped right into me, crushing the bouquet.
“I am so sorry,” he said, scrambling to pick up the ruined flowers.
“I hate crowds,” I muttered, annoyed.
He laughed and motioned for us to step aside. “I’m not a fan either. I’m Ryan.”
“Hanna,” I replied.
And just like that, we fell in love. Three months later, over Guinness and crispy potato skins, Ryan got down on one knee and proposed.
Fast forward to last week—our wedding day. Everything was perfect. A small church ceremony, intimate and beautiful, just the way we wanted it. My parents adored Ryan. His family, especially his mother Audrey, had welcomed me with open arms. We even had a weekly coffee-and-manicure ritual.
But then, as I sat in the bridal suite, my hair and makeup flawless, Audrey pulled me aside with a look that made my stomach twist.
“Darling, can we chat for a moment?”
I nodded, but something in her eyes set off alarms in my head. She kept glancing at my wedding dress, her fingers fidgeting. When I was finally ready, my mother buttoned up my gown, and I turned to Audrey.
“I’m ready. What is it?”
She hesitated, then pulled out her phone. “Hanna, there’s no easy way to say this.”
My heart pounded. “Just tell me.”
She handed me the phone. “There’s a video. Ryan… he’s been unfaithful.”
I pressed play. The screen showed a man—wearing the exact jacket I’d bought Ryan—in a hotel room with another woman. His face wasn’t visible, but the jacket was unmistakable.
“Are you sure this is him?” I whispered, my hands shaking.
“Look at the jacket,” Audrey said softly. “You know it’s his.”
I wanted to scream. To cry. To throw the phone across the room. But instead, I clenched my jaw and made a decision.
“Fine,” I said.
“You’re calling off the wedding?” Audrey asked, almost hopeful.
“No,” I said coldly. “I’m walking down that aisle. And when it’s time to say ‘I do,’ I’ll say ‘I don’t’ in front of everyone.”
Audrey’s face paled, but she nodded. “It’s almost time, dear.”
When my father walked me down the aisle, my heart was a storm of fury. Ryan stood there, smiling at me like nothing was wrong. The priest spoke about love and commitment, and when it was time for our vows, I took a deep breath.
“I don’t,” I said softly.
“Speak louder, Hanna,” the priest urged.
“I DON’T!” My voice echoed through the church.
Ryan’s face twisted in shock. “Hanna, what—?”
“Ask your mother,” I snapped, pointing at Audrey.
The room went dead silent. Audrey stood frozen, then pulled out her phone again. Ryan grabbed it, his eyes widening.
“That’s not me!” he yelled. “Hanna, you KNOW that’s not me!”
But I was done. I turned and ran, my parents chasing after me.
Ryan called me all day, but I ignored him. Blocked him. Spent the next two days drowning in tears and ice cream.
Then, on the third day, he showed up at my parents’ house with takeout and flowers.
“You think this fixes everything?” I hissed.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice raw.
Against my better judgment, I listened.
And what he told me next? It was worse than I ever imagined.
Ryan had confronted Audrey. And she confessed—the video was fake.
“She paid two of her college students to film it,” Ryan said, running a hand through his hair. “She didn’t want us to get married.”
My mouth fell open. “What?”
Audrey, the woman who had treated me like a daughter, had staged the whole thing. The jacket? Planted. The sounds? Edited. All because she didn’t think I was good enough for her son.
I didn’t know whether to scream or cry. For two days, I had believed Ryan betrayed me. But the real villain was the woman who had pretended to love me.
Ryan and I are still together. But Audrey? Forgiveness won’t come easy.
And as for our wedding? Let’s just say… we’ll try again. But this time, his mother won’t be invited.