While Diane is doing some last-minute wedding shopping, she runs into her future son-in-law—with another woman! She reluctantly tells Marissa, but then she hatches a plan to teach Stefan a lesson…
As I walked through the busy streets, carrying shopping bags for my daughter Marissa’s wedding, I couldn’t help but feel a nagging sense of unease.
An elderly woman holding shopping bags | Source: Midjourney
Call it maternal intuition or something, but there was something about Stefan, my daughter’s fiancé, that I’d never really liked.
He always struck me as a little too smooth, a little too charming, like someone who was used to getting what he wanted without much effort.
Marissa, on the other hand, had worked on her self-esteem and confidence issues, spending hours at the gym and the hair salon. She worked hard on herself to get what she felt she deserved.
A young woman at the gym | Source: Midjourney
“I’m telling you, Brian,” I said to my husband one day. “Our daughter is too good for that man.”
“I agree, she’s our little girl. But at the same time, there’s nothing we can do.”
He was right, of course. Marissa adored Stefan, and I’d tried to keep my reservations to myself, not wanting to spoil her happiness.
A couple sitting and staring at each other | Source: Midjourney
But then I saw Stefan’s true colors in the most unexpected way.
It was the day before the wedding, and I was exhausted from the preparations. I had insisted that my daughter spend the day at a spa and be pampered while I got her nails done, picked up our two dresses, and put the finishing touches on the decorations.
A woman in a spa | Source: Midjourney
“Everything’s ready, Diane,” Tracy, the wedding planner, told me at her desk. “I just need you to choose between these two flowers. But don’t worry, we’re back on track. Go ahead and rest. The mother of the bride needs to be refreshed as much as the bride.”
“I definitely will,” I reassured her. “I’ll just grab some coffee and go straight home to take a bubble bath and get a head massage from my husband.”
A smiling woman sitting at her desk | Source: Midjourney
“Have some carbs too,” Tracy said, laughing as I walked out.
So I did. I decided to take a break and grab a coffee at a cute little cafe across the street from Tracy’s office. Upon entering, I was greeted by the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods and coffee.
Coffee and croissants on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Just what I needed,” I whispered to myself.
That’s when my heart almost stopped.
Stefan was there, in a corner of the cafe. And he wasn’t alone. A young woman was there with him, laughing and touching his arm, their heads close together.
A couple sitting together in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Then, right outside the bustling cafe, they kissed. It was a tender, intimate kiss, the kind that spoke of familiarity and affection.
To the rest of the world, they seemed like a cute little couple. But to me? It was the ultimate betrayal of my daughter.
I stood there, stunned, unable to process what I was seeing. My hands shook as I took out my phone and took a picture.
A woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney
Luckily, the photo was safely tucked away in my gallery when Stefan looked up. Our eyes met for a brief, horrifying moment. He quickly backed away from the woman, but it was too late.
The damage was done. My eyes had seen the truth.
Close-up of a man’s eyes | Source: Midjourney
“Diane?” Stefan called.
I simply shook my head and rushed out of the cafe, my mind and heart racing.
How could he do this to Marissa? The woman who loved him madly and would have moved heaven and earth for him! And on the eve of their wedding, no less?
An upset woman touching her face | Source: Midjourney
I knew I had to tell him, but how could I break his heart like that?
As I walked home, my anger was rising within me. Stefan needed to learn a lesson.
I dialed Brian’s number.
A woman driving | Source: Midjourney
“Hi, honey,” Brian replied. “I’ll be home soon. I just have to pick up some Thai food for Marissa. She said she wanted to make our favorite family meal tonight.”
“We need to talk,” I said, cutting him off.
I quickly told Brian everything while I was driving.
A man looking at his phone | Source: Midjourney
When I arrived home, I found Marissa in her bedroom, surrounded by her wedding jewelry. Her face lit up when she saw me, but the look on my face must have betrayed the fact that something was wrong.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” she asked, worry creeping over her beautiful features. “Is everything okay?”
I sat down next to her and took a deep breath.
A young woman sitting on a bed | Source: Midjourney
“Marissa, I have to show you something,” I said, pulling out my phone. I showed her the picture of Stefan with the other woman.
Marissa stared at the screen, her face paling.
“No, it can’t be true,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
A young woman in shock | Source: Midjourney
I put my arm around her, hugging her as she sobbed.
“I’m so sorry, darling,” I said. “I wish it weren’t true.”
Through her tears, Marissa looked at me, anger and betrayal in her eyes.
A mother comforting her daughter | Source: Midjourney
“Mom, I can’t marry him. I can’t. I don’t want to. I have to call off the wedding.”
I nodded. I couldn’t blame her at all. She was devastated. The man she adored had cheated on her.
But then an idea struck me. There was a way to make Stefan face the consequences of his actions in a way he wouldn’t forget.
A determined older woman | Source: Midjourney
“Honey, what if we made him face consequences for his actions? Made sure he knows exactly what he’s losing?” I asked her.
She looked at me, confusion mingling with her tears.
“What do you mean, Mom?” she asked.
A distraught woman | Source: Midjourney
I explained my plan to her, and slowly, a determined look replaced the pain on her face. She agreed, and we put the plan into action.
We spent the rest of the evening in almost complete silence, eating the Thai food Brian had brought home.
Close-up of a plate of food | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, Marissa and her best friend Leah headed to the resort where she and Stefan were supposed to spend their honeymoon.
The reservation was in Marissa’s name because Brian and I had gifted the couple their honeymoon, so there was no problem with her using it.
A magnificent resort | Source: Midjourney
As for Brian and I, we went to the wedding venue, where the guests were already gathered. They were blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding behind the scenes.
Stefan spotted me as soon as I arrived. He rushed over, looking anxious.
“Where is Marissa?” he asked me, trying to keep his voice calm.
Wedding guests | Source: Midjourney
I smiled, keeping my tone light. It was almost as if I hadn’t walked in on him cheating on my daughter the day before.
“Oh, she’ll be finished soon; she had a mishap with her hairdresser.”
He frowned but nodded, trying to hide his discomfort.
Close-up of a groom | Source: Midjourney
As the minutes passed and the wedding band began to play, the tension grew. Finally, with all the guests present, I took the stage.
Holding the microphone, I asked for everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. We have a slight change of plans,” I began.
An elderly woman standing with a microphone | Source: Midjourney
There were a few gasps from the crowd, but I kept going.
“My daughter isn’t here right now. She’s on her way to the resort where she and Stefan were supposed to spend their honeymoon.”
A murmur of confusion spread through the crowd. Stefan shifted uncomfortably.
Shocked guests at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
“But Marissa wanted me to show you something very important.”
With that, I clicked a remote, and the picture of Stefan kissing the other woman appeared on the screen behind me. This in itself warmed my heart, as Marissa had wanted pictures of her and Stefan to play in the background during the ceremony.
Now the screen was used to show his infidelity.
A couple kissing | Source: Midjourney
Gasps filled the room. Stefan’s parents stood up, their faces a mixture of shock and fury. The murmurs turned to uproar as people absorbed what they were seeing.
“Marissa isn’t late,” I simply told Stefan. “She deserves so much better than this, and now everyone knows the truth.”
Stefan’s parents approached me, anger evident on their faces.
An upset elderly couple | Source: Midjourney
“How could you do this?” his mother shouted. “We paid for this wedding!”
I met his gaze, unwavering.
“It was your son who did this. Not me. He betrayed Marissa, and she has every right to walk away.”
An embarrassed elderly couple | Source: Midjourney
Everything became chaotic after that. The guests were whispering, and some were even leaving. Stefan looked defeated, slumped on a chair, while his parents tried to salvage what they could from the situation.
I called Marissa to check in while Brian spoke to some of our family and friends.
“Mom, I made the right decision,” she said boldly. “I thought about it, and now I know it.”
A smiling young woman | Source: Midjourney
“You did it, darling,” I replied. “And now you can move forward without looking back.”
After that, Brian and I helped ourselves to the wedding buffet before heading home.
A wedding buffet | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
Read also: My best friend got pushy and demanded luxurious wedding gifts, then quietly sent me a disturbing note
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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