Nathan stood at the altar, his heart pounding with excitement. He was about to marry Jane, the woman he loved more than anything. He imagined her walking down the aisle in the stunning white gown they had chosen together. But when Jane appeared, his excitement turned to shock and horror.
She wasn’t in the white dress—they had chosen—it was a long black gown, the kind you’d expect at a funeral, not a wedding.
“The day was supposed to be one of the happiest of my life,” Nathan later said. “But what happened left a deep, painful scar. I never imagined it would turn out this way.”
Nathan and Jane had met through a mutual friend, and after only a few dates, they became inseparable. Jane was lively and always surrounded by friends, while Nathan was quiet and preferred solitude. But with Jane, things were different.
Nathan was drawn to Jane because she made him feel loved in a way he’d never known. She cherished his company and never made him feel unworthy.
A few months into their relationship, Nathan proposed. He was sure Jane was the one. She said yes instantly, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the ring.
“I can’t believe you said yes,” Nathan had told her. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
He truly didn’t feel worthy of someone as amazing as her.
As their relationship deepened, they decided to get married. Their families met, and everything seemed to fall perfectly into place. They planned a small, intimate summer ceremony with their closest friends and family. It felt like a dream. But on their wedding day, everything fell apart.
Nathan stood at the altar in his tailored black suit, waiting eagerly to see Jane walk down the aisle in the beautiful white gown they had chosen. Instead, she walked in wearing a long black dress, her face a mix of anger and sorrow.
Confused and alarmed, Nathan whispered, “Why are you wearing black? What’s happening?”
“I’ll tell you after the ceremony,” Jane replied, her face blank, as though he had committed an unforgivable sin.
“No,” Nathan said, raising his hand to stop everything. “Tell me now. What’s going on?”
The room fell silent. All eyes were on them.
With tears in her eyes, Jane revealed, “It’s because of your mother. She told me everything.”
Nathan was lost. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“She told me about you and Lauren—your best friend,” Jane said, her voice shaking. “She said you’ve been cheating on me, that you planned to leave me for her. I’m wearing black to mourn the love we once had, Nathan.”
Nathan’s heart sank. “Jane, that’s not true,” he pleaded. “Lauren and I are just friends. I swear I never cheated on you.”
He looked around the crowd, searching for his mother, but she was nowhere to be seen. He needed to confront her to stop this lie from ruining his future.
“I don’t believe you,” Jane said coldly. “You’ve been lying all along.”
“Please, Jane,” Nathan begged. “Mom never liked you. She’s trying to tear us apart.”
Jane shook her head. “It’s not just about the affair, Nathan. I know your secret. I know you’ve been hiding things from me.”
“What secret?” Nathan’s heart pounded.
“You lied about your family’s finances,” she spat. “You hid the fact that your family is bankrupt. You’re marrying me to save your business, aren’t you?”
Nathan froze. Part of what she said was true, but he hadn’t meant for her to find out this way. Yes, his family’s business was in trouble, and he hoped marrying Jane might help. But he loved her—he wasn’t marrying her for money.
“Jane, please let me explain,” he started, but she cut him off.
“There’s nothing to explain, Nathan,” she said, her voice breaking. “Your mother pressured you to find someone wealthy to fix your problems. I can’t believe I was foolish enough to fall in love with you.”
At that moment, Nathan wanted to tell her everything—to explain that he loved her more than anything. But he couldn’t find the words.
“It’s over,” Jane declared, turning away and walking out of the church.
Nathan stood there in shock, watching the woman he loved walk away. His friends tried to comfort him, but he was consumed by the collapse of his world.
He chased after her, desperate to make her understand. “Jane, wait! Please listen to me.”
She refused to look at him. “I don’t want to hear any more lies, Nathan.”
Nathan stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “I’m not lying,” he pleaded. “I swear I never cheated on you. My mother has never accepted our relationship, and now she’s trying to destroy it.”
Lauren, Nathan’s best friend, stepped out of the church. “Jane, please,” she said. “Nathan and I are just friends. He loves you. You have to believe that.”
Jane looked back and forth between them, torn and uncertain.
“If I was after your money, why would I have signed the prenup?” Nathan asked, holding her hands. “I signed it to protect you. I would never have done that if I had bad intentions.”
Tears streamed down Jane’s face as she looked at Nathan, her heart caught between anger and heartbreak.
“You should’ve told me everything,” she whispered. “How can I trust you after all this?”
Nathan knew she was right. He should have been honest from the start. But now, it was too late.
“I’m sorry, Jane,” he said, his voice breaking. “I love you, and I wish I could undo everything.”
She wiped her tears and shook her head. “I’m sorry too, Nathan. But I can’t marry someone who keeps secrets. It’s over.”
And just like that, the woman Nathan loved walked away from him forever.
Since that day, Nathan has spent every moment wishing he had been more honest and fought harder for the love they once shared. But the damage was done. Lies and secrets had cost him the greatest love of his life.
