The morning sun spilled through the stained glass windows, filling the room with colorful light that danced on my white wedding gown. I looked at my reflection and felt excitement bubbling inside me. Today was the day I had been dreaming about—my wedding day!
“You look absolutely radiant, Esther!” my best friend and maid of honor, Lia, said with a big smile as she adjusted my veil.
I couldn’t stop grinning. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening! I’m actually getting married!”
Lia helped me into my wheelchair, but a small wave of self-consciousness washed over me. I had lived with a leg defect my whole life, but today, I promised myself I wouldn’t let anything dim my joy.
“Kevin loves you just the way you are,” Lia reassured me, holding my hand tightly. “You’re perfect together.”
I nodded, thinking about Kevin waiting for me at the altar. We met only six months ago at a support group for people with disabilities. Like me, he was in a wheelchair, and we felt an instant connection.
As a kid, I never imagined marriage was in my future. But here I was, ready to show the world that I could chase my dreams.
Just then, I heard my mother’s voice coming from behind the door. “Esther? It’s time, darling!”
Taking a deep breath, I smoothed my dress. “This is it. I’m ready!”
The church doors swung open, and all eyes turned to me. My father, Matthews, wheeled me down the aisle, and my heart soared when I spotted Kevin waiting at the altar. His smile made my heart race.
When we reached him, Dad leaned down and whispered, “You look beautiful, princess. I’m sorry I wasn’t always there for you.”
I squeezed his hand, feeling grateful. “You’re here now, Dad. That’s what really matters.”
The ceremony began, but something felt off. My dad had suddenly disappeared from the pews, leaving me a bit anxious. I tried to focus on Kevin, his warm smile grounding me.
Just as the priest asked Kevin if he would take me as his wife, the church doors burst open. My father stormed in, his face twisted with rage. “STOP THE WEDDING!” he yelled.
Gasps filled the room as he marched down the aisle, pointing an accusing finger at Kevin. “This man is a fraud, Esther! He’s been lying to you!”
My heart dropped. “Dad, what are you talking about?”
Kevin tightened his grip on my hand, trying to calm the storm. “There’s been some mistake, Mr. Matthews,” he said firmly.
But my father wasn’t done. “He’s using you, Esther! He’s after your money, and he’s done this to other women before. Meeting you at that support group was all part of his plan!”
My mind raced as I tried to process his words. Could it really be true? Was Kevin—the man I loved—lying to me all along?
“Where’s your proof, Dad?” I demanded, feeling panic rise.
A cruel smirk crossed his lips as he clapped his hands. Suddenly, a waiter appeared, holding a cup of boiling water. “Watch this,” Dad said, flinging the water onto Kevin’s legs.
To my shock, Kevin jumped out of his wheelchair, standing on two healthy legs!
The church fell silent, and I stared in disbelief. My father’s laughter echoed through the room. “It was just cold water! But now you see the truth. He’s been faking his disability this entire time!”
Tears filled my eyes as the awful reality sank in. Kevin—no, Johnson, as the police officers called him when they arrived—was arrested for fraud. I watched in a daze as they led him away in handcuffs. Everything about him, even his name, had been a lie.
Later that day, back in my bedroom, the pain of betrayal hit me hard. A knock at the door brought my mother inside, asking if my father could come in. When he did, his earlier anger was gone, replaced by sorrow.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he began, sitting beside me. “I know today wasn’t how you pictured it.”
“How did you find out?” I asked, still struggling to process everything.
“I saw him walking in the garden this morning,” Dad explained. “It didn’t feel right, so I dug deeper. Turns out he’s done this before, preying on vulnerable women. I just couldn’t let you marry a man like that.”
Tears spilled over as the weight of it all crashed down on me. “I was such a fool.”
“No, Esther,” Dad said gently, pulling me into a hug. “It’s not your fault. Your mother and I weren’t there for you the way we should’ve been. We’re sorry.”
In that moment, I realized that despite everything, I wasn’t truly alone. My parents were here, ready to rebuild the bonds we had let slip away. It was a small comfort in the midst of the heartbreak.
As the days turned into weeks, I found solace in my art. I spent hours in my studio, painting through the pain. My friends, like Lia, reached out often, showering me with support and love. Slowly, I began to heal, focusing on the love that had always been there, waiting for me to see it.
Though my wedding day ended in betrayal, it wasn’t the end of my story. I may have lost the man I thought I loved, but in the process, I discovered something even more valuable: myself, my family, and the strength to move forward.
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