I was moments away from saying ‘I do’ when the church doors burst open, and my father stormed in, declaring the wedding was off. What he revealed next shattered my heart completely.
The soft morning light filtered through the stained glass, casting beautiful hues on my white gown. As I admired my reflection, a smile crept onto my face. It was finally my wedding day.
‘You look absolutely stunning, Esther,’ my best friend and maid of honor, Lia, said with a wide grin as she adjusted my veil.
Excitement bubbled up in my chest. ‘I can’t believe it’s happening—I’m really getting married!’
As Lia helped me into my wheelchair, a fleeting moment of self-consciousness passed over me. Born with a leg defect, I had used a wheelchair my entire life, but nothing could dampen my happiness today.
‘Kevin loves you just the way you are,’ Lia reassured me, giving my hand a squeeze. ‘You two are perfect for each other.’
I nodded, thinking of Kevin, my soon-to-be husband, waiting for me at the altar. We’d met six months ago at a support group, both of us living with disabilities. Our connection was instant, and for the first time, I felt truly seen and loved.
As my father, Matthews, began to push my wheelchair down the aisle, I was brimming with confidence. Kevin’s warm smile as he watched me approach made my heart swell with joy. When we reached the altar, my father kissed my cheek and whispered, ‘You look beautiful, princess. I’m sorry I haven’t always been there for you.’
I squeezed his hand gently. ‘You’re here now, Dad. That’s what matters.’
The ceremony began, but I noticed my father had slipped away. A sense of unease crept in, but I pushed it aside, focusing on Kevin’s comforting gaze. This was our day—nothing would spoil it.
Just as Kevin was about to say ‘I do,’ the church doors slammed open with a loud bang. My father stormed down the aisle, his face filled with anger. ‘Stop the wedding!’ he shouted. ‘You don’t know the truth about this man!’
Gasps echoed through the room. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks. ‘Dad, what are you doing?’ I whispered urgently.
Kevin squeezed my hand, his voice calm. ‘Mr. Matthews, there must be some misunderstanding.’
‘Quiet!’ my father yelled. He turned to me, desperation in his eyes. ‘Esther, he’s been lying to you this whole time!’
Shocked, I shook my head. ‘No, Kevin loves me.’
‘He’s using you for your money!’ Dad shouted. ‘This isn’t the first time he’s done this. It was all a scheme, sweetheart.’
Kevin’s face went pale. ‘Esther, don’t listen to him. You know our love is real.’
I looked between the two of them, confusion swirling in my mind. ‘Dad, you can’t just say something like that. Where’s your proof?’
Without missing a beat, Dad signaled to a waiter, who appeared with a cup. ‘This is boiling water,’ my father said coldly. ‘I’m going to pour it on his legs, and we’ll see the truth.’
Before anyone could react, my father tossed the water onto Kevin’s legs. Kevin yelped, then—stunning everyone—stood up. His legs were perfectly fine.
The church fell silent. My heart sank as the reality of Kevin’s deception hit me.
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