The night before my wedding, I couldn’t sleep. My heart raced, my stomach churned, and my thoughts ran wild. Was I nervous? Maybe. But it wasn’t cold feet. It was something deeper, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
I tossed and turned for hours, my mind refusing to shut off. Finally, I sighed and sat up. My head throbbed. I needed aspirin.
Sliding out of bed, I tiptoed across the room, careful not to wake anyone. The house was silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator downstairs. As I made my way down, I heard something.
Whispers.
I stopped.
A hushed voice. Urgent. Desperate.
“Just listen to me, please.”
My mother.
Then, a deeper voice. Familiar. My breath caught in my throat.
Zachary.
What was he doing here? He was supposed to be at his hotel, resting before the big day. My stomach twisted as I crept closer, pressing my back against the wall, peeking around the corner into the dimly lit kitchen.
And then, I saw it.
My mother was on her knees before my fiancé.
She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t begging. Her hands were folded, her voice steady.
“Please don’t show up at the ceremony tomorrow.”
I felt the floor drop from under me.
Zachary stood stiffly, his hands balled into fists. His jaw clenched.
“What the hell?” he muttered. “Why would you—”
“I’ll pay you,” my mother cut in. “Twenty thousand dollars. It’ll be in your suit bag tomorrow morning. Just leave. Walk away from her.”
My breath hitched. I gripped the doorframe to steady myself. Was this really happening?
Zachary let out a bitter laugh. “Are you serious?”
My mother’s tone softened, almost gentle. “She loves you, but love isn’t enough. She deserves more. A stable future. Comfort. You can’t give her that.”
He shook his head, his lips curling into a smirk. “And you think some rich old man can?”
“She needs security,” my mother pressed on. “You know I’m right.”
Zachary exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw. He was thinking about it.
No. No, no, no.
“You really believe this is what’s best for her?” he asked, voice quiet.
My mother nodded. “I do.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then, Zachary shrugged. “Fine. Deal.”
I gasped.
I turned and bolted up the stairs, my body shaking. I collapsed onto my bed, my heart hammering in my chest. He agreed. He was going to take the money and leave me.
Betrayal burned through me like wildfire. Tears pricked at my eyes. I wanted to scream, to cry, to throw something, but I was frozen in place.
The door creaked open.
“Diane.”
I stiffened.
Zachary’s voice was soft. Cautious.
I didn’t turn. I couldn’t look at him.
He sighed and stepped inside, sitting beside me. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, his voice dropped to a whisper. “I know you heard everything.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“You have every right to be upset,” he continued. “But before you lose your mind, I need you to trust me.”
I whipped around, eyes blazing. “Trust you? You just—”
“I’m not leaving.”
His voice was firm. His eyes locked onto mine.
I blinked. “What?”
“I’m not leaving you, Diane.” He leaned in. “Your parents don’t want me in your life. They want you to marry someone else.”
I shook my head. “No. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, it does.” He exhaled sharply. “They’ve been planning it. Your dad’s business partner—some rich guy. They think he’s a better ‘match’ for you. Your mom actually believes she’s saving you from me.”
My stomach twisted.
It did make sense. The comments. The not-so-subtle hints. The way my mother always prioritized financial security over love.
“They offered me $20,000 to disappear,” Zachary continued. “So, I said yes.”
I flinched.
He smirked. “Because I’m going to take their money. And then I’m going to give them exactly what they asked for.”
My pulse pounded.
“I won’t show up at the wedding,” he said. “But not because I’m running away. Because you and I? We’re leaving together.”
I sat there, stunned.
“So… what happens next?” I whispered.
Zachary grinned. “Tomorrow, you get married.”
I swallowed hard. “But you won’t be there.”
“Nope.” He squeezed my hand. “But you will.”
The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror in my wedding dress.
It was beautiful. But it didn’t feel right.
My mother knocked on the door. “Diane, sweetheart, it’s time.”
I turned, smiling. “Coming.”
She beamed, oblivious.
As I walked down the aisle, my heart pounded. The church was packed. Every eye was on me.
I reached the altar, but I didn’t look at the empty space where Zachary should have been.
I looked at my mother.
“So, where’s fiancé number two?” I asked, tilting my head.
Silence. Gasps rippled through the guests.
My father cleared his throat. “Diane, let’s not—”
“Oh, no.” I turned to the crowd. “Let’s. Let’s talk about how my parents paid my fiancé twenty grand to disappear.”
The murmurs grew louder. My mother paled.
I smirked. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? That I’d just go along with it?”
Whispers spread through the room. Her parents tried to pay off the groom? An arranged marriage? What kind of people do that?
I turned back to my parents. “I hope you’re happy. You got exactly what you wanted. Zachary is gone.”
My mother exhaled in relief.
But then I smiled.
“And now? So am I.”
I dropped my bouquet and walked out.
Zachary was waiting outside, leaning against his car, dressed in the same suit he was supposed to wear at the altar. His eyes met mine, and a slow, knowing smile spread across his face.
For a moment, I just stood there. Then I ran.
Zachary caught me, spinning me in his arms.
“You did it,” he whispered.