When Lawrence gave me a dazzling diamond necklace on our wedding day, I thought it was just an extravagant gift. I had no idea his “symbol of love” was actually hiding a cruel secret.
I woke up in my bridal suite with excitement and nervous energy bubbling inside me. At 35, I wasn’t a naive young bride, but today felt special. My wedding dress hung by the window, catching the golden morning light. I reached out, running my fingers over the delicate lace, breathing in the moment before the chaos of the day began.
Right on cue, the door burst open, and my bridesmaids flooded in, followed by my mother and my sister, Emily. Laughter and chatter filled the room, making everything feel more real.
“The hairstylist will be here in 20 minutes,” my mother said, glancing at her watch.
Emily placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “How are you feeling, Kath?”
“Nervous. Happy. Ready,” I answered, though the last part didn’t feel entirely true.
Hours passed in a whirlwind of makeup, hair, and final preparations. Amid the excitement, my bridesmaid Lily approached me hesitantly.
“Kathryn…” she began cautiously. “Lawrence wants to see you. He says it’s really important.”
I frowned. “Before the ceremony? Doesn’t he know that’s bad luck?”
“He was… weirdly intense about it,” Lily admitted. “He said he has something special for you.”
My gut twisted. I had learned to trust that feeling over the years.
“Mom, everyone—can I have a moment?” I asked. My mother herded the bridesmaids out, but Emily lingered.
“Want me to stay?” she offered.
I smiled. “I’ll be fine. Could you get me some chamomile tea? Might calm my nerves.”
She hesitated but nodded. “Alright. Get him out of here quickly, though. It’s definitely bad luck.”
The door closed behind her, and a moment later, Lawrence walked in. He looked polished and handsome, but there was something unsettling in his eyes.
“You look breathtaking,” he said, stepping toward me.
“You’re not supposed to see me yet,” I reminded him.
“I know, but I had to. Just for a moment,” he said, pulling a red velvet box from behind his back. “I wanted to give you this. Open it.”
Curious, I took the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a stunning diamond necklace—large, glimmering, almost overwhelming. It caught the light, scattering little rainbows across the room.
“Lawrence… this is…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s beautiful, but it’s too much.”
“Nonsense,” he insisted, taking it from the box. “You deserve something grand today. It’s a symbol of my love. Promise me you’ll wear it during the ceremony?”
Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. The necklace wasn’t my style at all—I loved simple, elegant pieces. And Lawrence knew that. Or I thought he did.
“I appreciate the gesture, truly, but…” I hesitated.
His face tensed for a second before softening into a smile. “Please, Kathryn. It would mean everything to me to show your family that I can take care of you the way you deserve. Just this once.”
I sighed. “Of course, love.”
Relief flooded his face as he fastened the necklace around my neck. It felt cold, heavy—wrong. But he looked so pleased that I forced myself to smile.
“Perfect,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. “I’ll see you at the altar.”
After he left, I stared at myself in the mirror. The necklace felt suffocating. My fingers drifted to the burn scar on my collarbone, a childhood accident I had long accepted. And then I realized—the necklace covered it completely.
My gut twisted again.
Before I could think further, Emily burst into the room, breathless and pale.
“You can’t marry him!” she gasped, pointing at my neck. “That necklace—it’s not a gift. I know everything!”
“What are you talking about?” I whispered, dread creeping in.
“I was coming back with your tea when I overheard Lawrence talking to his best man outside the groom’s suite. He said, ‘She swallowed the bait. Now nobody will see that ugly scar.’” Her hands shook with anger. “And that’s not all! He was gloating about marrying into our family, about the connections Dad could give him. Despite your ‘flaw.’ His words, Kath.”
The air left my lungs. My mind reeled back to all the little moments I had ignored—his subtle control over my wardrobe, his fixation on my father’s business, his distaste for dresses that showed my collarbone.
“Are you sure?” I whispered.
“Kath, I wouldn’t make this up. He doesn’t love you. He loves what he can gain from you.”
I sat down, the room spinning around me. Outside, I could see the beautiful garden where our wedding would take place. The altar where I was supposed to promise my life to a man who had been deceiving me all along.
“What are you going to do?” Emily asked.
I took a deep breath. And suddenly, I knew.
“I’m going to marry him,” I said, standing up.
Emily’s eyes widened. “What?! Did you not just hear—”
“I’m going to walk down that aisle wearing this necklace,” I continued, voice steady. “And then I’m going to expose him in front of everyone.”
A slow, wicked grin spread across her face. “Now that… I can get behind.”
An hour later, the music swelled as I walked down the aisle. Lawrence stood at the altar, a triumphant smile spreading across his face when he saw the necklace around my neck.
The officiant spoke. “Do you, Kathryn, take Lawrence—”
I let go of his hands and unclasped the necklace. It hit the ground with a sharp clatter. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“I can’t do this,” I said loudly, turning to the guests. “I refuse to marry a man who is ashamed of me. Who sees me as a prize, not a person.”
Lawrence paled. “Kathryn, what are you saying?”
I looked directly at my family. “Ask him why he gave me this necklace. Ask him what he wanted to cover up. And then ask him what he hoped to gain by marrying me.”
A heavy silence followed. Lawrence stammered, his eyes darting to my father.
“I—Kathryn, please—”
“No, Lawrence. I’m done.”
With that, I lifted my dress and walked back down the aisle. Emily joined me, linking her arm with mine. “That was badass,” she whispered.
“It was the truth,” I said, feeling lighter than I had all day.
Hours later, we sat in an ice cream parlor, still in our fancy clothes, laughing over the biggest banana split ever. My family surrounded me with love, and I realized something powerful:
Anyone who truly cared about me would never ask me to hide.
And when I did find love again, it would be with someone who embraced every part of me—flaws and all.
