My Wedding… Or not?

Diana's pov

He was never really in love with me. I should've realized it sooner, but I was too caught up in what I wanted to believe.

Late nights, early morning meetings, 'work' always getting in the way of checking in on me… calls at odd hours from strange numbers. It should've been obvious. But it's only when it's too late that the truth hits. And now I'm left with this one question: Why didn't I see it coming?

I mean, why didn't I find it strange that my fiancé chose to stay at the office for 'work' while I was at the hospital, barely holding on after losing our child? How could I have been so blind?

I walked into the courthouse today, a smile on my face, my heart full of hope. I was ready to marry the man I'd loved for six years, to finally become his wife.

The only good thing to come from losing my baby.

I don't know when I'd come to terms with the loss, but I was certain that together, we'd find a way through it. I've been so foolish.

I stood there, clutching my bouquet, the seconds ticking by like hours. The officiant glanced at me, his expression softening. 

"I'm sorry. Our records show that Mr. Brian just got married to a lady called Anna".

I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. "No, that's wrong. Check again".

He hesitated, then pointed toward the door. "They're still outside. Take a look".

I might as well have died on that operating table with my baby. At least then, I wouldn’t have had to witness the scene that tore my heart apart.

I stepped outside and hid behind a door, my legs trembling with every step. There they were—Brian and my sister, Anna, laughing as they posed for photos. Her hand was adorned with the ring I gave him the money to buy for me.

I sat outside the courthouse long after everyone had left–– my parents, my friends, my fiance, and his bride. I was alone with my thoughts, trying to make sense of everything I'd just seen and heard.

'They look so good together'.

'They make such a lovely couple'.

'I prefer her to the other one… Diana’.

'They’ll make beautiful babies’.

'They’re leaving for their honeymoon tonight’.

'They’re a match made in heaven’.

My eyes filled with tears. I thought I'd cried it all out at the hospital, but apparently not.

He looked happy… so happy. I didn't even know he knew how to laugh. He never laughed around me, never even smiled. He was always so stiff, so stern with me.

My phone pinged, and I glanced at the screen. It was a message from the bank reminding me that my life was completely shattered.

I was supposed to go to the bank after my wedding, with my husband, and sort out the loan I'd taken for our wedding.

I stared at the message, my hands trembling. I'd taken out the loan in my company's name and given it all to my fiance for our wedding. Scratch that…… his and my sister's wedding. Fuck.

What was I thinking? My wedding? I was supposed to get married? What a joke!

He'd bought a Vera Wang custom-made wedding dress in a size 6. Even though I'd started dieting, I never would've fit into it. Hell, I'd have to be dead a year to fit into that thing.

I thought he'd returned it to spare my feelings. But no… he took it to its right owner–– my sister.

Stupid. Stupid. I'm really stupid.

I shook my head bitterly. He was a whole bouquet of red flowers. How could I not see this coming? Oh, don't mind me, I was just collecting red sample pieces for my personal scrapbook.

My phone rang. I stared at his name on the screen, the same emojis I once thought were cute now made my stomach turn.

I put the phone to my ear. The noise in the background was deafening, too loud. I could hear my sister's excited screams.

"Diana, where are you?" His voice was grumpy and irritated as ever. "We need to talk".

"Now or later?" I responded, my head starting to throb. I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of a headache pressing in.

I heard my sister ask who he was talking to, and she laughed when he answered, "It's my ex".

I bit my tongue, fighting back the tears, refusing to let him hear me break down on the phone.

"So, I married your sister", he said, his tone flat, as if he was discussing the weather. "I forgot to mention it, but honestly, you should have known. The wedding gown and ring weren't your size".

The tears I'd been holding in finally spilled down my face, and this time, I didn't try to stop them.

I took a shaky breath, my voice trembling but firm. “You’re a coward, Brian. You couldn’t even tell me the truth to my face.”

He scoffed. “Come on, Diana. Don’t act like you didn’t see this coming. You were never really my type.”

The words hit like a slap, but I refused to let him win. “You’re right,” I said, my voice steady now. “I wasn’t your type. Because I’m not a liar, a cheat, or a fraud. Good luck with Anna. You two deserve each other.”

I could hear my mother in the background, urging him to end the call and join them on the dance floor. His bride was waiting.

"His bride", I whispered to myself, the words tasting bitter. Why was Mom calling my sister his bride? Was she in on this?

Yes, stupid, you know that already!

How could she do this to me? She's the one who convinced me to borrow the money and put my company's name down for a higher loan amount. When I refused, she called me selfish.

"I need my money, Brian. Where's my money?", I said, holding my breath, waiting.

"About that…" His voice was calm, almost dismissive. "Listen, it's your sister's wedding, and mine too. We're family. If you love us, you'll let this go".

And then, he hung up. Just like that!

I stared at my phone, my hands trembling. Is he insane?

My phone rang again. For a brief moment, I thought maybe he was calling to apologize or to say he'd made a mistake.

But no… it was a strange number.

Quickly, I wiped the tears running down my cheeks and took deep breaths, trying to steady myself.

Maybe, it was a call from one of those prank companies that surprise couples for fun. Maybe this was all a prank, and they were going to scream, "It's a prank!" and whisk me away to my husband.

My husband. The thought made my heart race with excitement.

I picked up the call and put it on speaker, bracing myself for the very loud screams of "It's a prank!"

But there was complete silence on the other end. I imagined the crew sneaking up on me, waiting for the perfect moment to jump out and scare me.

I stood up and ran toward the courthouse restroom, desperate to clean my tear stained face. I couldn't let them see me looking like this.

My phone rang again. I picked it up, my heart racing with excitement.

"Hi, it's M. Don't forget about your appointment at the bank", the caller said.

M., as in Mary, the bank's manager. Not some prank crew or surprise company.

I ran inside, tears streaming down my face, and stumbled into what I thought was a wall–– except it moved.

I should've been shocked, but I wasn't. I didn't have any more energy to be shocked.

"Is this the bride?" a voice called from behind me, but I didn't turn.

"I guess. She's wearing a wedding dress and looks completely miserable, so I imagine she's the bride", a second voice added, cold and commanding.

“I do.”

That’s the answer I’d rehearsed over and over in the past week.

I felt strong, yet delicate hands slip a ring onto my finger. The stone was the size of a giant rock, cold and heavy against my skin.

But I didn’t feel like I was part of this reality anymore.

I took long, shaky breaths, trying to steady myself. But before I could even think, my body acted on its own.

I ran–– hard and fast, without looking back.