When Lawrence gave me a stunning diamond necklace on our wedding day, I thought it was just a generous gift. But I had no idea that his “symbol of love” was actually hiding a cruel secret.
I woke up in my bridal suite with butterflies in my stomach. At 35, I wasn’t a young, naive bride, but today still felt like a dream. My wedding dress hung near the window, glowing in the morning light.
Smiling, I walked over and ran my fingers along the delicate fabric, taking a deep breath before the day’s whirlwind began.
Right on cue, the door burst open. My bridesmaids rushed in, my mother and my sister, Emily, right behind them.
“The hair stylist will be here in 20 minutes,” my mother said, glancing at her watch.
Emily placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “How are you feeling, Kath?”
“Nervous. Excited. Ready,” I said, though I wasn’t sure about the last part.
The room filled with chatter as everyone got busy with preparations.
A few hours later, in the middle of the commotion, one of my bridesmaids, Lily, approached me nervously.
“Um, Kathryn…” she said hesitantly. “Lawrence is asking to see you. He said it’s really important.”
I frowned. “Before the ceremony? That’s bad luck. Doesn’t he know that?”
“He was really serious about it,” Lily said, wringing her hands. “He said he has something special for you.”
Emily shot me a questioning look. My gut twisted, though I didn’t understand why.
“Mom, can you and the others give me a moment?” I asked.
My mother ushered the bridesmaids out, but Emily lingered. “Want me to stay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her. “Could you grab me some chamomile tea? I think it’ll help with my nerves.”
She hesitated before hugging me. “Get rid of him fast. It’s definitely bad luck.”
As soon as she left, Lawrence entered. His eyes held an intensity that made me uneasy.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“You’re not supposed to see me yet,” I reminded him.
“I know, I know. Just for a minute,” he said, pulling out a small red velvet box. “I wanted to give you this. Open it.”
I took the box, smiling, and slowly lifted the lid. Inside was a massive diamond necklace. The stones caught the light, throwing rainbows across the walls.
It was breathtaking… but it wasn’t me.
“Lawrence, this is…” I searched for the right words while keeping a polite smile. “It’s too much.”
“Nonsense,” he said, pulling the necklace from the box. “You deserve something grand today. It’s a symbol of my love. Promise me you’ll wear it during the ceremony?”
His tone was odd. That gut feeling returned. This necklace wasn’t my style. Lawrence knew that. Or at least, I thought he did.
“I appreciate it, really. But this necklace… it’s just not me,” I said hesitantly.
His face hardened briefly before he forced a smile. “Please, Kathryn. It would mean everything to me—to show your family I can provide for you the way you deserve. Just this once, I swear.”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Of course, love.”
Relief washed over his face as he fastened the necklace around my neck. It felt heavy. Cold. Wrong.
Why?
My fingers brushed beneath the diamonds, landing on the burn scar on my collarbone—a childhood accident. The necklace covered it completely. A strange feeling crept through me.
Before I could dwell on it, Emily burst into the room, breathless, her face pale.
“You can’t marry him!” she gasped, pointing at my neck. “That necklace isn’t just a gift. I know everything.”
“What?” I whispered, heart pounding.
“I was coming back with your tea when I overheard Lawrence talking to his best man outside his suite. They didn’t see me.” Emily’s hands shook. “He said, and I quote, ‘She swallowed the bait. Now nobody will see that ugly scar.’”
The air left my lungs. “What?”
“He was laughing about it! That necklace isn’t a gift—it’s a cover-up! He’s ashamed of your scar, Kath! And that’s not all. He was bragging about marrying into our family, about Dad’s business connections. He called your scar a ‘flaw.’ His exact words.”
The world spun. Suddenly, every offhand comment, every wardrobe suggestion, every time Lawrence subtly guided me toward high-neck dresses—it all made sense.
“Are you absolutely sure?” I asked quietly.
“Kath, I wouldn’t make this up. Not today,” Emily said, eyes brimming with tears. “He doesn’t love you. He loves what you can give him.”
I turned to the window. Outside, white chairs lined the garden. Flowers I’d carefully picked decorated the aisle. The altar where I was supposed to say, “I do” to a man who saw me as a means to an end.
“What are you going to do?” Emily asked.
I inhaled deeply. A strange calm settled over me.
“I’m going to marry him,” I said.
Emily’s eyes widened. “What?!”
“I’m going to walk down that aisle,” I repeated, “wearing this necklace. And then I’m going to expose him.”
A slow smile spread across Emily’s face. “I knew you were the smartest one.”
An hour later, I walked down the aisle. Guests rose, music swelled, and Lawrence stood at the altar, beaming at the sight of the diamond necklace around my neck.
The officiant spoke. “Do you, Kathryn, take Lawrence to be your lawfully wedded husband…”
Lawrence squeezed my hands, confident.
Instead of answering, I unclasped the necklace. It fell with a sharp clatter.
“I can’t do this,” I declared. “I refuse to marry a man who is ashamed of me. A man who sees me as a prize.” I turned to the guests. “Ask him why he gave me this necklace. Ask him what he wanted to hide.”
Lawrence paled. “Kathryn, what are you—”
“Ask him why he laughed about my scar. Why he called it a ‘flaw.’” I held my head high. “Ask him what he really wanted from this marriage.”
Gasps filled the air. Lawrence stammered, but his best man shifted nervously, confirming the truth.
“You don’t love me,” I said firmly. “You love what I represent.”
Then, gathering my dress, I turned and walked back down the aisle.
Emily met me halfway, looping her arm through mine. “That. Was. Incredible.”
“It was the truth.”
Outside, the sun shone warmly on my face. My father approached, concern in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
“What can I do?”
“Help me explain to the guests. Then join us for ice cream?”
A few hours later, dressed in full wedding attire, my family and I sat in a tiny ice cream parlor, laughing over the biggest banana split ever.
I looked at them, feeling truly loved.
No one who cares about you will ever ask you to hide.
Never ignore red flags.
And I would never again settle for anything less than real, unconditional love.
