One day, I attended the wedding of a very affluent woman, where I served as the event manager. I had been intricately involved in the planning of this wedding from the start. However, when I saw the groom for the first time, my heart nearly stopped. It was my John!
I’m Amanda, 28 years old, working as a private organizer of celebrations and events. Today was the grandest wedding I’d ever been assigned to handle, all for Catherine, a 38-year-old heiress of a clothing empire, who had spared no expense for her big day.
I had taken a two-hour flight to organize Catherine’s wedding, eager to bring her vision of a dreamy wedding to life. She wanted everything to be perfect, and so did I, but neither of us could have anticipated how the evening would soon take an unexpected turn.
A wedding invitation card | Source: Unsplash
Catherine was marrying Arnold, a young, affluent businessman, whom I had never met despite our numerous planning sessions.
“My fiancé trusts my vision, and given his busy schedule, he prefers handling business matters,” she’d say.
It struck me as odd that he never once showed up, not even to discuss the menu or the music. When I once asked, “Are you sure he wouldn’t want to weigh in on the band or the wine selection?” Catherine simply laughed, reassuring me he was fully on board with her choices.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
While Catherine was confident about her beloved fiancé, my curiosity about this mysterious groom grew as the wedding neared.
Little did I know the biggest surprise was yet to come, and it would leave me frozen in the face of crisis.
Today, the wedding venue buzzed from dawn. I directed everyone meticulously, ensuring the ivory tablecloths and golden centerpieces were perfectly placed and the crystal glassware and fine china were carefully arranged.
“Carefully stack the plates by size on that table over there, and make sure the glasses are accounted for by the caterer’s checklist,” I instructed the loaders.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
As the banquet hall filled, the air hummed with elegant music and whispered conversations. Then, a hush fell over the room as the presenter’s voice rang out, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the groom, Arnold!”
I was eager to finally see this mysterious man who had been too busy to show up at any of the prior meetings.
A sleek black limousine pulled up. The door opened, and instead of Arnold, out stepped John, dressed impeccably in a tuxedo. My John, or so he had been until he disappeared six months ago, leaving me with heartache and a mountain of debt.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
I felt a chill run down my spine, and my feet cemented to the floor as I stared in disbelief. He looked around, and when his eyes met mine, there was no flicker of recognition, just the cool detachment of a stranger.
Shock rooted me to the spot as the room spun around me. Here was the man I once loved, now Catherine’s groom, living a new life under a new name. How could this be happening?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
His presence suddenly made me relive the painful memories of the day I found he had left. That was when I experienced the horror of seeing his belongings gone and our bank accounts drained. The man I trusted with my heart had stolen my savings.
As he confidently walked toward the banquet hall, a guest congratulated him with a pat on the back. Arnold, or John as I knew him, smiled with the charm of the perfect groom, yet beneath that facade was the con man who had devastated my life. As he vanished into the crowd, I decided I had to expose him before Catherine fell victim like I had.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
And looking at him, I remembered the day my life changed…
6 months ago…
One night, John and I were discussing our upcoming wedding plans in our cozy bedroom, the room bathed in the gentle glow of the bedside lamp.
“And how’s everything coming along with the wedding plans?” I inquired, aware of his lead on organizing our celebration.
He looked concerned. “Well, all the major payments are done. The venue, the caterers, the band, and the decorators,” he explained. “But I’ve used up all the funds.”
Confused, I pressed on, “All the funds? Even the money we set aside?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“Yes,” John sighed. “That and a bit more from my own accounts. There’s been a hitch with my project. The payment I was supposed to get this month has been delayed.”
“Of course, I understand. Things happen,” I reassured him.
“Could you sign a power of attorney in my name? Just so I can handle the payments more smoothly,” he asked.
Trusting him completely, I agreed. “I got the confirmation from the bank today. You can use my accounts now. They said the power of attorney paperwork was all in order.”
“Thank you, Amanda. I promise this wedding is going to be everything we’ve dreamed of and more.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
That night, as we drifted to sleep, I felt secure in our love. To me, John was already my husband, and to him, I was already his wife. We had exchanged rings privately, but to the world, we were still an unmarried couple.
I trusted him with everything, yet I was unaware it would be our last night together.
The next morning, the bed beside me was cold and empty, the first sign of the nightmare that awaited. John’s usual morning presence was missing, and the room bore the eerie silence of his absence. My heart sank as I realized the depth of his deception.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“John?” I called out, hoping to hear him in the bathroom or kitchen, but there was only silence. My unease deepened as I walked through the cold apartment to the kitchen and then to other rooms—nothing.
That’s when I noticed muddy shoe prints leading to our closet. Heart pounding, I followed the trail and found the closet empty except for a few of my dresses.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Chilled, I grabbed my phone and saw notifications from the bank—one for $38,000 and another for $23,000, both withdrawn from my accounts just an hour ago. Panic set in as I dialed John’s number repeatedly, but it only reached voicemail.
“He wouldn’t,” I whispered in denial, tears clouding my vision as the truth sank in: John had disappeared, and with him, all our savings.
Driven by a mix of betrayal and desperation, I dressed and walked to the police station, feeling every step weigh heavy with his deceit. I managed to choke out to the officer at the desk, “Excuse me, I need to report a theft.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
In the office, Officer Harris asked, “Can you tell me more about how this happened?”
“My husband… I mean fiancé, John Freeman, has disappeared along with all our savings,” I explained, detailing how I had given him access to my bank accounts via a power of attorney to manage our wedding payments.
“He… he showed me receipts of caterers, decorators, and the venue and talked about the arrangements. I trusted him,” I admitted.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Officer Harris took notes, then explained that since John had power of attorney, his actions weren’t illegal per se.
“It’s complicated. We will try to investigate, try to find him, but recovering the money might be difficult if he’s not found,” he said, hinting at the bleak chances of recourse given John’s likely fictitious identity.
“I understand. Thank you for your help, Officer Harris,” I managed to say, standing up slowly.
He gave me his card and I left the police station in tears, a crushing realization settling in. John’s thorough deceit left me alone to face the fallout.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Present time…
There he was, John, now called Arnold, mingling confidently at his wedding, appearing every bit the affluent businessman he was impersonating. I knew the truth about him, but seeing him laughing and engaging with guests filled me with a mix of anger and fear.
Without hesitation, I marched towards him, my heart pounding. As he turned and saw me, his smile dropped momentarily. Before he could speak, I slapped him, the sound resonating across the hall, silencing nearby conversations.
“You are a scoundrel and a swindler!” I yelled, ensuring everyone could hear.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You must be mistaken,” he said.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Turning to the bride, Catherine, I exposed him, “This man is not who he claims to be! I know him as John; he is my ex who cheated on me right before our wedding. He left me drowning in debt and ran away with all my money!”
Arnold, now desperate, declared, “She’s mentally ill! Don’t listen to her. My name is Arnold, not John.”
Ignoring his lies, I retorted, “Oh, really? And I suppose you have a multitude of passports and names to use as well? How convenient for your scams!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
I pulled out my phone to call the police but was interrupted by a man stepping forward, his badge visible.
“Ma’am, my name is Peter Greenwood, and I’m the chief of the local police department. I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” he said sternly. “This is my sister’s wedding, and I know Arnold well. He’s a good man. You’re clearly confused.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Defeated and furious, I left, my mind racing with plans for exposing John’s true identity. I couldn’t let him deceive Catherine as he had deceived me.
At a nearby cafe, I mulled over my options while sipping strong black coffee. Remembering Catherine’s story about her grandmother’s sister, Linda, who she wished could see her happiness, sparked an idea. It had been decades since Catherine last saw her.
“What if Linda comes to the wedding today?” I murmured to myself, envisioning a plan. There would be no real Linda—I would take her place.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Then, I called Carla, a talented makeup artist, and asked her to make me look like a 90-year-old woman. She agreed, and came to my place in no time.
Soon, I was sitting in my living room, transformed into an elderly woman, ready to reintroduce myself as Linda at the wedding. I was determined to expose Arnold and prevent another disaster.
Approaching the banquet hall entrance as “Linda,” I told the guards, “My name is Linda, I believe I’m expected.”
They hesitated, not finding my name on the list. “Oh, dear, there must be some mistake. Please, could you call Miss Catherine?” I requested with a frail voice.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Soon, Catherine approached, puzzled. “Who are you?” she asked.
“Don’t you recognize your grandmother Linda?” I replied, maintaining the elderly act.
Tears welled up in Catherine’s eyes as she embraced me. “Grandma? Wow, you look…it’s been ages! How did you— How did you know about today?”
“Grandma Linda always knows, my dear Catherine!” I chuckled.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Inside, I sought out the event coordinator and requested the microphone. Addressing the gathering, I began, “Good evening, everyone. I am so delighted to be here today to celebrate the union of these two wonderful souls.”
I glanced at Arnold, then announced, “And I have brought with me a very precious gift. A legacy that has been passed down in our family from generation to generation.”
Pulling out a fake sparkling diamond, I declared, “This is a precious diamond, worth about $800,000. It has been in the bank storage all my life, and I will return it there today. I give Catherine the right to use this storage and keep this diamond safe.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
While Catherine thanked me with tears, I watched Arnold closely. Two hours later, he made his move. He stood up, excused himself to use the toilet, and moments later, the lights went out. I knew it was Arnold. I knew he had his eyes on the diamond in my purse.
I quickly hid behind the back entrance with a glass decanter in my hand, leaving my purse on the table. As Arnold rushed through with the diamond, I struck him on the back of the head. He collapsed, dropping the diamond.
“You were right,” Catherine’s brother, the police chief, said upon witnessing the scene. He soon called his team at the wedding venue to arrest Arnold.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Catherine approached with shock and gratitude on her face. “Amanda, it was you all along?” she whispered.
I confirmed, explaining my actions to protect her. She was too shaken by the events on what was supposed to be the biggest day of her life. But a week later, imagine my surprise when she showed up to meet me, thanked me, and offered me a job as her personal assistant.
“I’d be honored, Catherine,” I accepted, embracing a hopeful future.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends.
Man Hears His Dog Barking from Afar, Finds It Sitting near an Abandoned Baby – Story of the Day
Jack checked on his dog Ralph who kept barking on the street, only to discover an abandoned baby with him. The baby turns out to be a very special girl who would change Jack’s life forever.
Despite being a wealthy man, Jack was known as one of the kindest and most generous people in town. He could have had it all until three months ago when he discovered his wife had been cheating on him with his best friend.
Jack divorced his wife, and she moved to a different state with his now ex-best friend. He didn’t let the incident harden his heart, and he remained kind towards everyone around him. However, everybody knew that he was quite a lonely man no matter how kind and friendly he was.
To ease his loneliness, Jack got himself a dog and named it Ralph. “At least you won’t betray me, right Ralph?” he said once he got him, smiling through the pain.
As he was a busy man, Jack had Ralph trained to behave. He would allow Ralph the freedom to run in their backyard in the afternoons, and once he grew tired, the adorable dog would find its way back inside the house.
One day, he let Ralph outside. He was watching a movie on TV when he realized Ralph had not returned home yet. He stepped out and heard the dog barking from afar.
Jack ran over the fence to get closer. Once he reached the road, he saw Ralph next to a baby lying on the grass.
“You poor child,” he said, saddened that someone would leave a helpless baby out on the street. He checked around the area for a bag that might have belonged to the child, but there wasn’t any. A tiny baby was crying, lying in a basket, while my dog sadly nudged her with his nose, as if out of sympathy. Inside the basket, I found a note. I read it with a heavy sigh.
“Don’t look for her parents. This child is yours now. Take care of her.”
Before taking her home, he went to the nearby convenience store and purchased baby milk and diapers so that he could properly care for the child. When they got home, he fed her and changed her diapers. Then he called the police and reported the incident.
“This poor baby was left alone on the street with nothing but her clothes. There were no other adults in the area, so I took her in,” Jack explained.
The police said that they would check CCTV footage in the area to find her parents. However, they were to search for foster parents for the baby for now.
After hearing this, Jack didn’t hesitate. “Can I become her guardian?” he asked. “I run my businesses from home, so I wouldn’t have any problems taking care of her.”
The police got a couple more details and proof of identification from Jack, and they allowed the little girl to live with him. Jack took care of her for months, and when it was determined that her parents could not be identified, she was up for adoption.
As soon as he could, Jack processed the papers needed to adopt the little girl, whom he named Emily, legally.
He raised Emily as his own daughter, even naming her after his mother who also raised him on her own. He loved Emily dearly and provided her with everything she needed and more.
Likewise, Jack was Emily’s hero. She looked up to her dad and always wanted to be around him. Together, they enjoyed every meal together and would go to the park, their favorite ice cream parlors, and the arcade where they spent time a lot of time together.
When Emily turned seven and started going to school, many of the parents and even teachers would note how Jack and Emily looked alike. Even Jack’s friends would say that they “looked like twins.”
Jack never thought of Emily as his adopted daughter, so he took these as compliments and would simply smile every time someone spoke about their resemblance.
One day, while Emily was playing with Ralph in their backyard, she fell and scratched her head on the pavement. As Jack began to treat the wound with an antiseptic, he noticed an incredible thing.
“Would you look at that, sweetheart? We have the same birthmark!” he said, surprised. He never noticed Emily’s birthmark before because her hair covered it.
“We were always meant to be together, dad,” she said, wiping her tears away and smiling at her dad.
Curious about how this could happen, Jack decided to do a DNA test. He took a sample of Emily’s hair and sent it alongside his own. He didn’t think much of it, but he was stunned when the results came about three weeks later.
The test showed a 99.9% match that Emily was his daughter. He had always been a loyal man, so it only meant one thing – his ex-wife had been pregnant with his child.
He decided to give her a call, and she answered. “What do you want, Jack?”
“Why didn’t you tell me we had a daughter?” he asked her as soon as she answered.
“I didn’t want to raise your child, nor did I want to see you ever again, so I left her on the road. I knew you’d find her anyway. Bye now, and please don’t ever call me again,” she said before putting down the phone.
Jack couldn’t believe it and was in tears. While knowing that Emily was actually his biological daughter did not affect his love for her, he was glad to know that he was able to care for his own daughter.
“What’s wrong, dad?” Emily asked after she saw her dad crying.
“Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. I’m just really happy,” he explained. “Remember what dad told you? That you were sent to me from heaven even though I was not your real dad?” he asked her.
Emily nodded. “You are my real dad, dad. Don’t forget that,” she corrected him.
“Yes, sweetheart. I am your real dad. These DNA results prove that” he said, handing her the paper.
“I told you, dad. We were always meant to be together,” Emily said, hugging him.
A few years later, Jack found love again. Having been present in all of Emily’s school activities, he eventually fell in love with one of her teachers.
Two years after they got married, Emily gained a baby sister. Emily took on being a big sister with a lot of pride and joy.
Since then, Jack, Emily, and the rest of their family have lived peacefully and happily. They valued their time together as a family more than anything. This prompted Jack to retire early to spend more time with his children.
Leave a Reply