My name is Nathan. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I knew in my heart that I loved my fiancée, Jane, and she loved me.
But our wedding day turned out to be the opposite of what I expected. Imagine my sh:ock when I stood at the altar, and my fiancée appeared in a long black dress with a black veil as she approached me.
When she reached the altar, I leaned in and whispered, “Why are you wearing black? What’s going on?”
She looked at me and said she’d tell me after the ceremony. But I felt great unease.
“Wait,” I blurted, holding up my hand. The entire church went dead silent. I turned to Jane, my chest tight. “Tell me. Tell me why you’re wearing black. Now.”
I FROZE when she said, “It’s all because of your mother,” Jane revealed. “She told me everything.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
At the time, I saw Jane’s eyes fill up with tears.
“She told me about you and Lauren,” Jane began as her voice trembled. “Your best friend.”
“What? What did my mom say about Lauren?” I asked while squinting my eyes. I had no clue what Jane was talking about.
“She said you’ve been ch:eating on me with Lauren,” Jane announced, and a collective gasp rippled through the guests. “She said you two were having an affair and that you planned to leave me for her. That’s why I’m wearing black. To mourn the love we once had, Nathan.”
I couldn’t believe what Jane just said.
“This is not true, Jane,” I pleaded. “I swear I never ch:eat:ed on you. Lauren and I are just friends. I don’t know why my mom would say that.”
Desperate to spot my mother in the crowd, but she was nowhere to be seen. I wanted to confront her, to prove she was lying.
“I don’t believe you,” Jane said firmly. “I know you’re lying because that’s what you’ve always done.”
“Jane, please,” I begged, reaching for her hand, but she pulled away. “Mom never liked you. She’s trying to sabotage us. Please, you have to trust me.”
“Oh, I see. But it’s not just about the affair, Nathan,” Jane shook her head. “I know your secret. I know you’ve been lying to me.”
“What secret?” I asked.
Jane looked around the church and locked eyes with me.
“You lied about your family’s finances,” she spat. “You hid that your family is bankrupt, and you’re marrying me to use my money to save your business. Isn’t that true?”
Oh, no, I thought.
What Jane said was partly true, but I never wanted to reveal my secret like this. Yes, indeed, my family business wasn’t going well, and we were almost bankrupt. And yes, I thought marrying Jane would help, but I wasn’t marrying her for the money!
I loved her, so I decided to tie the knot with her. I had no idea how to explain this to her.
“Listen, Jane,” I said. “Let me explain, I—”
“Explain what?” she cut me off. “That your mother pressured you to find a wealthy woman to save the family business? She told me everything. I just can’t believe I was so dumb to fall in love with a man like you!”
At the time, I wanted to say so much. I wanted to explain that I wasn’t lying, but somehow, I couldn’t speak a word. I couldn’t say anything.
“It’s over, Nathan,” Jane declared before storming out of the church.
She walked away when the guests whispered among themselves. Meanwhile, my friends rushed over, but I couldn’t let her go like that. I had to make her understand.
“Jane, wait!” I shouted, running after her. “Please, just listen to me.”
“I don’t want to listen to your lies, Nathan,” she said without even turning around.
I walked and stood in front of her, blocking her path.
