“Janice?” His voice cracked. “What’s going on?”
Before I could answer, the figure in the wedding dress smirked and slowly lifted the veil. With a flourish, they removed a wig, revealing Dave’s best man, standing tall in the gown, unapologetic.
“Surprise,” he said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.
Dave staggered backward, his face frozen in disbelief. “What the hell is this? Where’s Shanize?”
The best man chuckled darkly. “She’s gone, Dave. She left days ago. But don’t worry—she knew this was happening. She asked me to do it.”
Murmurs rippled through the room as guests began to process the scene. I stood motionless, trying to make sense of what was happening. Shanize had planned this? Why? What was going on?
Dave’s voice rose, frantic. “Where is she? What did you do to her?”
The best man raised his hand for silence. “Relax, Dave. She’s fine. She just wanted to teach you a lesson. She found out about you and Vanessa.”
The room fell dead silent. Dave’s color drained from his face. “What… what do you mean?” he stammered.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” the best man shot back. “She found out about your affair with Vanessa. You know, the bridesmaid? She wanted you to feel the same betrayal she did.”
All eyes turned to Vanessa, who was sitting a few rows back, pale and trembling. She kept her gaze fixed on her lap, her hands shaking.
Dave’s voice cracked as he tried to deny it. “It’s not what you think—”
“Save it, Dave,” the best man interrupted. “Shanize knew everything. She could have left you quietly, but no—she wanted this. She wanted the world to see who you really are.”
The room erupted in chaos as whispers turned to shouts, people shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Dave turned to me, eyes wide and desperate. “Janice, please! You have to believe me—this isn’t what it looks like!”
But I couldn’t respond. My heart was too heavy with disappointment. I just stared at him, shaking my head. “Dave… what have you done?”
The best man turned to Dave, his expression icy. “This is your punishment, Dave. You threw away everything for a cheap fling. Now, everyone knows.”
With that, he dropped the veil and wig at Dave’s feet and walked out of the church, leaving the groom standing alone, humiliated, broken. The weight of his betrayal hung thick in the air, a sharp contrast to the joy this day was supposed to bring.