I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Nancy, this is my home,” I reminded her. She shrugged. “Peter can still come, but you are not welcome.” Her words stung, considering all the effort I had put into making her day special.
Peter noticed my distress and asked if everything was alright. Nancy tried to brush it off as “just girl talk,” but I told him the truth. His expression turned serious. “Let me get this straight—you’re fine using our home for free, Evelyn has spent months ensuring your wedding is perfect, and now you’re telling her she can’t attend?”
Nancy remained firm, saying it was her wedding and her decision. But Peter had heard enough. “Then maybe you should find somewhere else to have it.”
Nancy was taken aback. “You can’t be serious! The wedding is tomorrow! Where else am I supposed to go?” she exclaimed.
Peter didn’t waver. “Actually, I can—and I just did,” he replied.
Nancy was furious, claiming I was trying to ruin her wedding. Her reaction escalated into frustration, but Josh eventually stepped in and led her away. Meanwhile, Peter informed the vendors that the event was canceled. As we sat on our porch that evening, reflecting on what had happened, I murmured, “I’m sorry.”
Peter gently squeezed my hand. “Don’t apologize, Evelyn. Nancy showed her true colors today.”
A week later, I heard that Nancy and Josh held a small ceremony at a local hotel. Surprisingly, Josh later reached out to Peter to apologize for the way things unfolded, admitting he should have spoken up sooner.
Looking back, I don’t regret how it ended. That day taught me an invaluable lesson: respect and appreciation should never be taken for granted. Some relationships, once broken, are simply not worth repairing. And above all, self-respect is something no one should ever compromise.