While racing through the city to handle last-minute tasks for my daughter’s wedding, I stumbled upon her fiancé, Stefan, cozying up with another woman! Reluctantly, I informed Marissa, but I also devised a plan to teach Stefan a memorable lesson…
As I scurried around, ticking off chores for my daughter Marissa’s imminent wedding, a persistent unease tugged at me.
Perhaps it was maternal instinct, but something about Stefan, Marissa’s betrothed, had always seemed off. His charm was polished, his smile a little too rehearsed—traits of someone accustomed to having his way without much struggle.
Marissa, having battled with her self-worth, had invested countless hours improving herself at the gym and salon, striving to deserve happiness.
“Brian,” I once confided to my husband, “our girl is far too precious for that man.”
“True, she’s our princess,” he agreed. “But we can’t interfere if she loves him.”
And he was correct. Marissa was smitten with Stefan, and I had bitten my tongue to preserve her joy.
However, Stefan’s true colors were shockingly revealed to me.
It was the day before the wedding, a day filled with frantic preparations. I urged Marissa to relax at a spa while I managed the final touches, picking up our dresses and ensuring the decor was perfect.
“Everything’s set, Diane,” Tracy, the wedding planner, assured me. “Just decide on the backup flowers, and then you can rest. The mother-of-the-bride should be as refreshed as the bride.”
“Exactly my plan,” I assured her. “First, a coffee, then home for a relaxing bath and a massage from my husband.”
“Grab some carbs too,” Tracy chuckled as I departed.
Heeding her advice, I stopped for coffee at a quaint café near Tracy’s office. As I entered, the smell of fresh coffee and pastries enveloped me.
“Just what I needed,” I whispered to myself.
But then, my heart skipped a beat.
In a café corner sat Stefan, intimately close to a young woman, their laughter mingling, their arms touching, and then, a kiss—a soft, affectionate kiss that screamed familiarity.
To others, they might seem like any loving couple, but to me, it was a glaring stab of betrayal to my daughter.
Frozen, I snapped a photo just as Stefan’s gaze met mine. He withdrew from the woman, but it was too late. I had caught him.
“Diane?” he called out.
I shook my head, dashed from the café, and drove home, my thoughts racing with indignation.
How could he betray Marissa like this, especially on the eve of their wedding?
I had to tell her, yet how could I shatter her heart?
Upon reaching home, my anger brewed, contemplating how Stefan must be taught a stern lesson.
“Hi, honey,” Brian answered the phone. “Almost home, just picking up Marissa’s favorite Thai meal for tonight.”
“We need to talk,” I interjected, recounting everything to him as I neared our house.
At home, I found Marissa amidst her wedding jewels, her smile fading as she sensed my distress.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” she inquired, her worry evident.
Sitting beside her, I exhaled deeply.
“Marissa, there’s something you need to see,” I said, showing her the damning photo on my phone.
Her face whitened as she viewed it, tears brimming.
“No, this can’t be,” she murmured, breaking down.
I embraced her, comforting as best I could.
“I’m so sorry, darling,” I whispered. “I wish it weren’t true.”
Amid her tears, a look of resolve crossed Marissa’s face.
“Mom, I can’t go through with the wedding. I simply can’t marry him,” she declared.
I nodded in agreement. Her heartbreak was palpable. Stefan had been deceitful, and she was justified in feeling betrayed.
But then, a thought struck me—a way to make Stefan truly understand his folly.
“What if we turn the tables on him?” I proposed. “Show him exactly what he’s about to lose?”
Puzzled yet intrigued, Marissa listened as I outlined my plan. Gradually, determination replaced her anguish. She agreed, and we enacted the plan.
We spent the evening quietly, sharing the Thai dinner Brian had brought.
The following day, Marissa and her friend Leah used the honeymoon reservation at the resort, which was booked under her name, courtesy of our wedding gift.
Meanwhile, Brian and I attended the wedding venue, where unsuspecting guests mingled, enjoying pre-ceremony drinks.
Stefan approached me, anxiety etched on his face.
“Where’s Marissa?” he pressed, attempting composure.
I smiled, feigning ignorance of his misdeeds from the day before.
“She’s dealing with a hairstyling mishap but will be here shortly,” I lied smoothly.
He nodded, visibly uneasy.
As time passed and the band played, the guests’ anticipation mounted. I seized the moment to address everyone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us. There’s been a slight alteration to today’s proceedings,” I started.
A ripple of surprise went through the crowd as I continued.
“Marissa isn’t here. She’s en route to the honeymoon resort.”
Confusion swept through the attendees. Stefan squirmed noticeably.
“But she did leave something important for us to see,” I added, clicking the remote.
The image of Stefan’s kiss with the other woman filled the screen—a screen intended for their wedding slideshow.
The guests gasped; Stefan’s parents stood, their expressions torn between shock and anger. The murmurs escalated into a collective outcry.
“Marissa isn’t merely delayed,” I told Stefan directly. “She deserves far better than this, and now everyone knows.”
Stefan’s mother confronted me furiously.
“How could you do this?” she seethed. “We financed this wedding!”
I met her glare steadily.
“Your son is responsible for this. He betrayed Marissa, and she’s entitled to walk away,” I countered firmly.
The aftermath was tumultuous. Guests whispered and some departed. Stefan sat deflated, his parents scrambling to manage the fallout.
I phoned Marissa to affirm her decision.
“Mom, I made the right choice,” she affirmed confidently. “I’m certain now.”
“You absolutely did, sweetheart,” I reassured her. “And now, you can move forward without regret.”
Brian and I then enjoyed the wedding buffet before returning home.
What would you have done?
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