Emma’s world shatters when Steve’s ex, Susan, interrupts the ceremony to announce that she’s dying and beg Steve to spend her last six months with her. Shocked and betrayed, Emma demands answers, only to find Steve torn between his past and their future.
It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. The sun was shining, the flowers were perfect, and I was standing at the altar in my dream dress, about to marry Steve, the love of my life.
Everything was perfect. Until it wasn’t.
A bride holding a bouquet | Source: Pexels
The ceremony had just started, and the officiant was speaking those beautiful words about love and commitment. I was barely listening, too wrapped up in the moment, staring into Steve’s eyes. That’s when it happened.
“I object!”
The words sliced through the air, sharp and cold. Every head in the crowd turned, including mine.
A woman I had never seen before, was standing in the middle of the aisle. She was shaking, her face pale, her eyes wild with desperation.
A sickly woman standing in the aisle during a wedding | Source: MidJourney
“Steve, I’m dying,” the woman said as she shambled toward the altar. “I have six months to live. I’m begging you not to marry this woman, just for the next six months, and spend them with me instead. It’s my dying wish because you are the love of my life.”
My heart stopped. I looked at Steve, expecting him to laugh or tell her to leave, but he didn’t. His face turned ashen, and he glanced at me, guilt written all over his features.
“Who is this?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “Steve, what is going on?”
An upset bride stares at her groom | Source: MidJourney
Steve swallowed hard. “Emma, this is Susan. She’s… she’s my first love.”
First love? The words echoed in my mind. This woman was claiming to be dying and begging my fiancé to leave me for her. I felt like I was in a nightmare.
“I need to talk to her,” Steve said, looking at me with pleading eyes. “Just for a moment.”
He left before I could say anything, marching down the aisle to where Susan stood. The guests were whispering, the tension thick in the air.
All I could do was watch as Steve and Susan walked outside, leaving me standing there, my dream wedding crumbling around me.
Minutes felt like hours. I could hear murmurs and see curious glances from the guests, but all I could think about was Steve and this Susan woman. What did she mean to him? Was he actually considering leaving me?
Finally, the door opened, and Steve walked back in alone. His face was a mixture of sadness and resolve. He took a deep breath and faced the crowd, but his eyes were on me.
“Everyone, I have an announcement,” he began, his voice shaking.
“Susan is indeed someone I cared about deeply in the past. She has come to me with the news that she is dying and has asked me to spend her remaining time with her. I… I can’t in good conscience ignore her plea.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “You’re going to leave me?” I yelled, tears filling my eyes. “For her? On our wedding day!”
“No, Emma, it’s not like that,” Steve insisted, hurrying toward me.
Serious man in suit | Source: Pexels
“I don’t love her the way I love you. But she’s asking for a chance to say goodbye, to have some closure. I need to do this. For six months. Then we can resume our lives together.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You expect me to just wait for you? While you play house with your dying ex?”
“It’s not like that,” he repeated, his voice breaking. “I promise. It’s just… I owe her this.”
I shook my head, the room spinning.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.” I turned my back to Steve as I lost the fight to contain my tears.
“Emma, please,” he started, but I held up a hand.
“Don’t,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “You’ve dropped a bomb on our wedding day, Steve. I don’t even know who you are right now.”
He looked devastated, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My heart was breaking, and I didn’t know if it could ever be mended. Suddenly, the church door flew open, and a woman came rushing in. She looked frantic, her eyes darting around until they landed on Susan.
Distressed mature woman | Source: Pexels
“Susan, what are you doing?” the woman shouted, her voice filled with a mix of anger and concern. “What lies have you been telling these people?”
Susan’s face went white. “Mom, what are you doing here?” she stammered.
“I tracked your phone,” her mother said, marching up to her. “You’ve been lying about everything, haven’t you?”
The crowd gasped, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
“What is she talking about?” I demanded, looking between Susan and her mother.
Susan’s mother turned to me, her face filled with regret. “My daughter has been lying. She’s not dying. She’s been having a mental breakdown ever since she found out about your wedding.”
Steve’s face crumpled. “What?”
Susan burst into tears, collapsing to the floor. “I’m sorry, Steve. I just… I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you forever.”
The room spun around me, the weight of what I was hearing crashing down like a tidal wave. This woman had lied about dying to steal my fiancé, and he had almost fallen for it.
I turned to Steve, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and betrayal. “And now what do you have to say?”
Steve’s face crumpled, his eyes filled with remorse. “Emma, I’m so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. I never meant to hurt you.”
“But you did,” I shot back, my voice rising. “You were willing to abandon me at the altar for a lie! How can I trust you after this?”
“I know, and I was wrong,” Steve said, stepping closer, his hands outstretched in a pleading gesture. “I’ll do anything to make it up to you. Please, don’t let this end us.”
I shook my head, the tears spilling over. “You don’t get it, Steve. It’s not just about the lie. It’s about the fact that you were ready to leave me for someone else. I can’t marry someone who would so easily walk away.”
“Emma, please,” he begged, his voice breaking. “I love you. I want to spend my life with you. Give me another chance.”
I took a deep breath, the anger and hurt swirling inside me. “No, Steve. I can’t do this. I deserve someone who chooses me without hesitation, without doubt. You need to figure out what you really want. And I need to heal.”
The guests were silent, watching this painful drama unfold. I felt their eyes on me, but I didn’t care. This was my life, my heart on the line.
With a heavy heart, I turned and walked away from the altar, the weight of my decision settling over me like a lead blanket. Outside, the sun was still shining, the world still turning, but everything felt different. I felt different.
I barely made it down the steps before I heard Steve’s voice calling after me. “Emma, wait!”
I stopped, my back to him, my heart aching. “What is it, Steve?”
“Just one more conversation,” he pleaded. “Please, I need you to understand.”
I turned to face him, my eyes filled with tears. “Okay. One more conversation.”
We walked a few steps away from the church, finding a quiet spot under a large oak tree. The silence between us was heavy, filled with everything we wanted to say but didn’t know how.
“Emma, I never stopped loving you,” Steve began, his voice raw with emotion. “I was just trying to do what I thought was right. Susan was my past, and I felt like I owed her. But you… you’re my future.”
I looked at him, my heart breaking all over again. “Steve, you need to understand something. Trust is everything to me. And right now, I don’t know if I can trust you. I need time to think, to heal. Maybe one day, but not today.”
He nodded, tears streaming down his face. “I’ll wait for you, Emma. However long it takes.”
I gave him a sad smile, the weight of the world on my shoulders. “Take care, Steve.”
With that, I turned and walked away, feeling a mix of pain and strength. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew I needed to find clarity and take control of my life, on my own terms.
As I walked away from the church, I felt the warm sun on my face and the gentle breeze on my skin. The world was still beautiful, still full of possibilities. And so was my future. I just needed time to discover it on my own.
Click here to read about a woman whose wedding turns into a nightmare when her stepsister gives the groom a mysterious box. You’ll never guess what’s inside!
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
