My daughter’s wedding dress arrived completely black, but that wasn’t the real disaster.

 

I could barely breathe.

The venue was incredible. The guests were whispering excitedly, their faces beaming with anticipation.

“She’ll be a beautiful bride.”

“They’re such a perfect couple.”

“I heard Jack had tears in his eyes during the rehearsal!”

I sat in my chair, my hands clenched into fists in my lap. My heart was pounding against my ribs. They didn’t know. None of them knew.

Then the music changed.

Jane entered the room, dressed in black.

“What…?”

“Is this a joke?”

“Is that her real dress?”

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

Then I saw Jack. His smile vanished, and his face turned pale.

He looked… sad. And suddenly I knew.
Suddenly a memory flashed through my mind—years ago, Jane and I were curled up on the sofa watching an old movie. A woman discovers that her fiancé has been unfaithful. Instead of canceling the wedding, she walks down the aisle in a black dress. Not as a bride, but as a woman suffering from heartbreak.

I had thought it was just a dramatic scene. Jane had remembered. And now she was living it herself.

I felt sick. This wasn’t a joke or a mistake. This was my ruthless plan.

Image for illustrative purposes only.
Jack suppressed a nervous laugh. “Honey, what is this?” His voice trembled. “What’s with the dress?”

Jane didn’t answer.

Jane nodded. “Yes. Let’s continue.”

The ceremony continued, but no one was listening.

Jack took a deep breath and reached for Jane’s hands. “Jane, from the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the one. You are my best friend, my soulmate, my everything. I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to stand by you through all of life’s challenges. I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”

“With this dress,” she said in a firm voice, “I bury all my hopes and expectations for this wedding and for us—because true love doesn’t betray you a few days before the wedding.”

“Oh my God—did Jack cheat?”

Jack’s face turned deathly pale. “Jane—wait—”

“I trusted you. I loved you. I was ready to spend my life with you.” She took a deep breath, but her voice didn’t tremble. “And then I found out the truth.”

“Honey, I swear—it’s not what you think—”

“Please,” he pleaded, his voice shaking. “Jane, please, I love you. I swear I love you!”

Jane looked down at him. Unmoving. Unbroken. Then, without a word, she lifted her bouquet and let it slip from her fingers.

She exhaled slowly, her shoulders rising and falling. “I found out three days ago,” she said in a quiet but firm voice. “I saw the messages. The late-night calls. The lies.”

I squeezed her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Image for illustrative purposes only.
“Because I knew what everyone would say. ‘He just got cold feet. He loves you. Don’t throw everything away because of one mistake.’” She swallowed. “But love shouldn’t betray you. Not like this.”

“No, it shouldn’t.”

Jane looked up at the sky and blinked rapidly. “It felt just like when we lost Dad, you know? I thought I had something real. Something secure. And then it was just… gone.”

I pulled her into my arms and held her the way I used to when she was little. “You did the right thing,” I whispered. “I’m so proud of you.”