The morning light poured through the colorful stained glass windows, casting a warm glow on my white wedding gown. I stared at my reflection, 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, her grin lighting up the room as she adjusted my veil.
I couldn’t help but beam. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening! I’m actually getting married!”
Lia carefully helped me into my wheelchair, and a 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 steal my joy.
“Kevin loves you just as you are,” Lia reassured me, her grip strong on my hand. “You two are perfect together.”
I nodded, thinking about Kevin waiting for me at the altar. We had met only six months ago at a support group for people with disabilities. He was in a wheelchair like me, and we instantly connected.
As a child, I never dreamed I would get married. But here I was, ready to prove my childhood doubts wrong.
Just then, my mother’s voice echoed from behind the door. “Esther? It’s time, darling!”
Taking a deep breath, I smoothed down my dress. “This is it. I’m ready!”
The church doors swung open, and all eyes turned toward me. My father, Matthews, pushed my wheelchair down the aisle, and a rush of happiness filled my heart as I spotted Kevin waiting at the altar. His smile made my heart race.
When we reached him, Dad bent down and whispered, “You look beautiful, princess. I’m sorry I wasn’t always there for you.”
I squeezed his hand. “You’re here now, Dad. That’s what matters.”
The ceremony began, but something felt off. My dad had disappeared from the pews, leaving me feeling uneasy. 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 in anger. “STOP THE WEDDING!” he shouted.
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’s grip tightened on my hand. “There’s been some mistake, Mr. Matthews,” he said, trying to stay calm.
But my father wouldn’t be calmed. “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, trying to process his words. Could it be true? Was the man I loved lying to me all along?
“Where’s your proof, Dad?” I demanded, my voice shaking.
A cruel smirk crossed my father’s face as he clapped his hands. Suddenly, a waiter appeared, holding a steaming cup of water. “Watch this,” Dad said, flinging the boiling water onto Kevin’s legs.
To my shock, Kevin leapt out of his wheelchair, standing on two perfectly healthy legs!
The church went silent, and I stared in disbelief. My father’s laughter echoed through the room. “It was just cold water! Now you see the truth. He’s been faking his disability the whole time.”
Tears filled my eyes as the reality hit me hard. 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 room, the pain of betrayal hit me like a ton of bricks. A knock on the door announced my mother’s arrival, asking if my father could come in. When he entered, his anger was gone, replaced by sorrow.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he said, sitting beside me. “I know today wasn’t how you pictured it.”
“How did you find out?” I asked, still reeling from the shock.
“I saw him walking in the garden this morning,” Dad explained. “It didn’t sit right with me, 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 streamed down my cheeks as the weight of everything crashed over me. “I was such a fool.”
“No, Esther,” Dad said, pulling me into a hug. “It’s not your fault. Your mother and I, we weren’t there for you the way we should have been. We’re so sorry.”
In that moment, I realized I wasn’t truly alone. My parents were here, ready to rebuild the bonds we had let slip away. It was a small comfort amid 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, especially Lia, reached out often, offering support and love. Slowly, I began to heal, focusing on the love that had always been there, waiting for me to notice 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 found something even more valuable: myself, my family, and the strength to move forward.
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