When Ella’s boyfriend, Ian, plans a romantic getaway to Santorini, she suspects a marriage proposal is on the way. But when the couple arrives at their destination, they’re surprised by the arrival of Ian’s best friend, Mark. Will Ella get her dream getaway, or will it end in disaster?
I’ve never been the type to have a timeline for my love life. I’d been with Ian for two years and knew we were headed toward marriage, but still, time wasn’t an issue for me.
But for the past six months, Ian has been hinting at an “unforgettable surprise” he’d planned for our summer trip to Santorini.
A woman looking at a view | Source: Midjourney
Whenever I pressed for details, my boyfriend would give me a mysterious smile and say, “You’ll see, Ella. You just have to wait.”
And Ian wasn’t one for planning surprises. He seemed to have let the cat out easily. At times, he would casually browse engagement rings online, leaving tabs open for me to find.
Once, while we were having a quiet evening, he even asked me what my dream wedding looked like.
A couple sitting together | Source: Midjourney
“I just want to try to imagine what you see when you think about it,” he told me.
Naturally, excitement took over. Was this really the moment? Was Ian finally going to ask me to marry him?
Weeks passed and before I knew it, we were packing for our trip.
A suitcase being prepared | Source: Midjourney
“I can’t believe we’re finally getting to do this!” Ian exclaimed, as he went into his closet and pulled out more clothes to pack.
“I can’t wait to be at the beach and drink cocktails,” I replied.
As our plane landed, I felt a surge of anticipation.
A couple sitting on a plane | Source: Midjourney
I knew Ian was up to something, and just watching the sun set over the Aegean Sea, casting a glow over the whitewashed buildings, I felt like this was the perfect place.
This would be a perfect marriage proposal.
Little did I know, this trip would turn into a whirlwind of emotions and unexpected revelations about my relationship.
Close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
“This place is everything I thought it would be and more,” said Ian, as we strolled hand in hand along the cobbled streets.
And it was. Everything was magical… until the next morning.
A couple holding hands and walking | Source: Midjourney
Ian and I were about to head down to breakfast at the hotel when his phone rang with a message. I was starving and just wanted to eat, but I watched my boyfriend’s face light up when he read the message.
“What’s going on?” I asked, grabbing my sunscreen to take with us.
A plate of food | Source: Midjourney
“Guess what!” he exclaimed excitedly. “Mark is in Santorini too! He made some last-minute changes to his work trip and decided to come here because he knew we were on vacation! Isn’t that great?”
“Your best friend wants to crash our vacation?” I asked, genuinely surprised. “That’s awesome!”
And at first, I thought that was the case. When Ian and I started dating, Mark was the first person he introduced me to. So I knew him well. And I also knew how close they were.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah! Isn’t it great that he can share this place with us? We’ll be able to hang out together too,” he said, already texting Mark, probably giving him the hotel’s details.
I smiled as I put on my shoes. I was glad Mark was there. He was easy to get along with, and I knew how much he meant to Ian.
I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him here. Ian could do all the water activities with him because that was one thing my phobia wouldn’t allow.
A person on a jet ski | Source: Midjourney
“We’ll still have time to be alone,” Ian promises. “Don’t worry about it, Ella.”
When Mark arrived at our hotel, we were both delighted to see him. Ian ordered room service and bottles of champagne to celebrate.
“We’re going to explore the island together,” Ian said.
A tray of food | Source: Midjourney
It was heartwarming to see the two friends together, laughing and sharing stories.
Until it isn’t.
As the hours passed, I began to feel like I was holding the candle in my relationship. Ian and Mark were lost in their own worlds, reminiscing over old memories and planning new adventures.
Three people laughing together at the beach | Source: Midjourney
I tried to join in, but their inside jokes and shared experiences over the years often left me feeling left out.
“This is exhausting,” I muttered to myself on the balcony of our hotel room, hearing Ian and Mark giggling like teenagers.
The following days were a series of adventures between Ian and Mark.
A close-up of two men | Source: Midjourney
“What do you mean it’s become a buddy trip?” my friend Rae asked me over the phone.
“Ian and Mark haven’t stopped going. It’s all about them. They’ve gone scuba diving, explored hidden caves, and gone on excursions. All without me!”
“What are you doing now?” she asks.
A woman using a phone | Source: Midjourney
“I’m expecting a massage,” I replied. “I figured I might as well enjoy myself. This isn’t how I thought my romantic getaway would go.”
“Talk to Ian, honey,” Rae said. “Tell him how you feel. He’s probably too happy about seeing Mark that he’s completely lost control of what’s important.”
I nodded to myself.
“Yes,” I said, agreeing. “I’m going to get a massage and calm my nerves, then I’ll go find Ian.”
A person getting a massage | Source: Midjourney
But I couldn’t find Ian or Mark anywhere, even though I knew Ian would show up eventually because we had dinner booked for the two of us that night.
“I promised you, Ella,” Ian said once he resurfaced. “We’re going to have some time to ourselves, too.”
I got dressed, looking forward to this alone time with my boyfriend. If this trip was supposed to be about us, about forging a new path together, then we needed some alone time.
A woman getting dressed | Source: Midjourney
But just as we were about to leave, Mark showed up at our door.
“Oh, damn,” I muttered under my breath.
“Hey, guys!” he exclaims excitedly, making his way into our room. “I just heard there’s a great party on the beach tonight. I really want to go. You have to come!”
People at a beach party | Source: Midjourney
My boyfriend’s eyes are sparkling.
“That sounds great! Come on, Ella, let’s go!”
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
“Ian, we have a dinner reservation. But you might want to go if you really want to. It’s okay. I’ll join you later.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
But Ian wouldn’t hear of it.
“Come on, Ella, let’s have fun, baby!”
“I’ll find you later,” I said firmly.
As I watched them congratulate each other and plan their evening, something inside me snapped. This was supposed to be our special trip, a milestone in our relationship.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
Instead, I felt invisible.
I ordered room service and sat on the large bed.
“This is going to be my life, isn’t it?” I said to the empty room.
And I could see it. Being married to Ian meant Mark would be around every corner. He’d be at our wedding, right next to Ian. He’d probably come on the honeymoon.
A woman sitting on a bed | Source: Midjourney
What if we had children? Would Mark be in the delivery room too?
No. I had to put an end to this nonsense.
The next morning, while they were off on another adventure, I approached the hotel manager with a plan. I explained my situation and, with a little persuasion, convinced him to help me with my unconventional revenge.
A smiling hotel manager | Source: Midjourney
“I can’t say I’ve ever participated in anything like this before, ma’am,” he said.
Later, when Ian and Mark returned to the hotel, they were greeted by a member of staff.
“You’ve been upgraded,” they were told. “We’ve moved your belongings to another room. Please follow me.”
I’m sure they thought we were going to move to a bigger suite, where all three of us could be together.
A hotel staff member | Source: Midjourney
But no. This wasn’t what I had planned.
When they entered the room, it transformed into a honeymoon suite. Rose petals were scattered everywhere, candles flickered, and a bottle of champagne sat on the table. In the middle of the bed was the small velvet box I’d found in Ian’s suitcase.
“What’s all this about?” Mark asks.
A honeymoon suite | Source: Pexels
“You wanted a marriage proposal, Ian? Mark is clearly the most important person to you here. So, you can make things official.”
“What?” they said in unison.
“I can’t do this, Ian. It might sound absurd because we’re just on vacation, but it feels like this is how the rest of our lives are going to unfold. And I’m not signing up for that. I’ve booked the next flight home.”
A woman in an airport | Source: Unsplash
Ian tried to reason with me, but I knew it was over. Something inside me had snapped, and I just didn’t want to do it anymore.
From a marriage proposal to a breakup, Santorini was as unexpected as it came.
While waiting at the airport, I reflected on the trip. It wasn’t the proposal I was hoping for, but it showed me what I really needed: a partner who put me first.
What would you have done?
If you liked this story, here’s another one |
My fiancé proposed to me with his ex’s engagement ring
Samantha is over the moon, rejoicing over her engagement to Rob. Until she receives a message from Rob’s ex-girlfriend, claiming that Sam’s engagement ring was a gift from Emily. Samantha is at a loss for what to do.
Of course, I couldn’t help but smile. It seemed like all the stars in my life had finally aligned and I was going to be happy for the rest of my days.
A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
But it’s not always that easy, is it?
I was sitting in bed scrolling through my camera roll. I had just returned from a perfect trip to Santorini, where Rob had proposed to me.
It was magical.
Close-up of a smiling couple | Source: Midjourney
Read the full story here .
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of events or character portrayals and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the opinions of the author or publisher.
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