Yet, even amid all the joy, Grace felt a nagging unease about Simon.
The First Meeting That Set Off Alarm Bells
Three months before the wedding, Rita introduced Simon at dinner. Polite, charming, attentive—he seemed perfect.
“So, Simon, what do you do for work?” Grace asked.
“Tech sales,” he replied smoothly. “Competitive, but I do alright.”
“And you’re treating my daughter well?” Grace asked, her voice edged with caution.
“Mom,” Rita laughed nervously. “Of course he is.”
Simon took Rita’s hand, confident and smooth. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, Grace. I promise I’ll take care of her.”
Yet something felt off. A cold flash behind his smile, a subtle dissonance that Grace couldn’t shake. Call it intuition, call it instinct—something in Simon didn’t add up.
She swallowed her doubts, wanting to trust her daughter’s choice. But instincts, as Grace would soon learn, don’t lie.
The Wedding Day
Rita was radiant in her flowing silk gown, the outdoor garden glowing with white roses and string lights. Grace whispered in her daughter’s ear:
“You look beautiful. Your father would be proud.”
The ceremony was flawless. Guests applauded, hearts full—but Grace’s eyes caught something strange during the reception.
Megan, one of the bridesmaids, was standing near the bar, her gaze fixed on Simon. Then, they both slipped away toward a quiet hallway.
Grace followed, heart pounding.
What she saw next shattered her: Simon pressed Megan against the wall, kissing her shamelessly.
“God, I can’t believe we pulled this off,” Megan giggled.
“Too easy,” Simon replied. “A year, maybe? Then divorce her and walk away with half. The business transfer gives us at least a million and a half.”
Grace gasped, hiding behind a column, her instincts screaming.
Confrontation and Truth
A week later, Grace caught Megan entering Simon and Rita’s home as if she belonged. She snapped a photo and called Rita:
“Sweetheart, come home. Trust me.”
Inside, Grace confronted them. Simon denied everything, but when shown the photo, his mask slipped. Rita arrived as the truth came out: Simon had been planning the betrayal all along, using Megan and aiming to take over Grace’s business.
Grace called her lawyer on speakerphone, declaring if Simon wanted money, he would get nothing—everything would go to charity. Panic and confession followed. Simon and Megan stormed out.
A Mother’s Love Prevails
Grace held Rita tightly. “I had to show you, sweetheart. I couldn’t let you stay with a man who doesn’t value you.”
Tears streamed down Rita’s face. “Thank you… for not giving up on me.”
In that moment, Grace understood the truth about love: protecting those you cherish sometimes means confronting lies, exposing betrayal, and standing firm—even when it hurts.