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
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My Father-in-Law Gave Me a Pillow as an Anniversary Gift – I Was Shocked When I Learned His True Intentions
When a mysterious package arrives at Kate and Josh’s home, they are confused to see that the sender is Josh’s estranged father. But things get even stranger when Josh finds a ticking box inside the gift — a beautiful pillow. A confrontation occurs, and Josh is left battling with the truth. Should he forgive his father, or act like their relationship is nonexistent?
Josh had just taken their daughter, Emily for a stroll around the garden when the doorbell rang, signaling that the day needed to begin.
A person holding a baby’s hands | Source: Unsplash
“I have a package for you,” the delivery man said as I opened the door.
I signed and carried the box into the kitchen. Our third wedding anniversary was this week, and Josh was always ordering things for me.
A person with a brown cardboard box | Source: Pexels
“I just want to surprise you, Kate,” he said one day while we were lounging on the couch. “It’s just the little things, you know?”
So, naturally, as I took the package to the kitchen, I just assumed that it was from him.
A couple on a couch | Source: Pexels
Until I took a pair of scissors and cut through the thick tape. Opening the package, I found a beautifully embroidered pillow, a note sticking out beneath it. It would have matched our living room décor perfectly.
Happy Anniversary, Josh and Kate! – Taylor.
A package with a pillow inside | Source: Midjourney
For a moment, I reveled in the kindness of the gesture. But then I remembered that there was no way possible that Josh would accept this gift.
“Hey, what’s this?” Josh said, coming back into the kitchen with Emily on his shoulders. “Did we order something?”
A man carrying his daughter | Source: Pexels
“Well, it’s a gift,” I said cautiously. “From your father.”
Josh pulled the note from me, his eyes flying across the paper.
I wondered what he was going to do. Josh and his father had a very complicated relationship. When Josh was a child, Taylor had abandoned him and his mother.
He had been seeing another woman, and when it finally came down to a choice, Taylor had chosen the other woman.
A mother and son | Source: Pexels
Josh had been seven, and he had never recovered from it. He told me all about it one evening when we went out for dinner.
“A father is supposed to choose you, Kate. But he went ahead and left us behind so that he could start a new life with his mistress. That’s not how this works.”
A couple having dinner | Source: Pexels
I understood his point of view. Of course, he had just wanted his father to be there for him and his mother.
Instead, Taylor had other ideas.
“He said that he needed to be happy, and that my mother was too strict with him. He had a job, but he was always doing illegal things on the side. So he packed up his things and left.”
A man with packed bags | Source: Pexels
“What do you mean?” I asked, shocked that Josh had been exposed to something like that at such a young age.
“Money, swindling it. Gambling, all that,” my husband said as he picked up his glass of whiskey.
And that was it. Josh didn’t speak to him again until a year before we got married.
Taylor had heard about our upcoming wedding through other relatives, and he thought it was the perfect opportunity to try and make things right between them.
A person holding a phone | Source: Unsplash
But Josh refused.
“I don’t want him around us on our special day, Kate. It’s not going to benefit anyone. And if anything, seeing him will spoil everything for me.”
“And you don’t think you’d regret it?” I asked as I folded wedding invitations into envelopes.
“Not at all,” Josh replied, picking up an envelope. “For all we know, someone will come and crash the ceremony because he owes them money.”
A wedding invitation | Source: Pexels
And that was that. Topic closed.
I didn’t want to push it. I knew it was up to him to deal with it later if he regretted it. I would support him, but I wouldn’t want to overstep anything, especially because Taylor sounded like a lot to deal with.
A couple embracing | Source: Pexels
When Emily was born, Taylor tried to get into our good books one more time. He wanted to reach out and try to make things right with Josh so that he could have his role of being a grandfather.
“I don’t want him around us. I don’t want him around our child. Please, Kate, don’t fight me on this one. This man is bad news,” my husband said, carrying our baby.
A newborn baby’s feet | Source: Pexels
So that was it.
Which brings us back to the present.
Josh picked up the pillow and felt it up and down; he even put it to his ear, his eyes widening.
“Sweetheart, we can’t keep this pillow!” he said.
A shocked man | Source: Pexels
Without another word, he rushed over and threw it out the back door.
“Josh, what’s going on?” I exclaimed, leaving Emily in her high seat with fruit slices.
“It’s ticking, Kate! There’s something inside. He’s up to something.”
A person cutting fruit | Source: Pexels
“Ticking?” I said. “What do you mean?”
We both went outside.
We stood over the pillow lying innocently among our garden flowers. I hesitated, then reached down to listen.
Sure enough, there was a soft ticking sound.
Yellow garden flowers | Source: Pexels
“Oh,” I said, shocked. I had been convinced that Josh had been hearing things that weren’t there.
Why would Taylor want to hurt us in any way?
“Take out your phone and video this entire thing,” Josh said as he bent to pick up the pillow. “Just in case something happens or there’s something illegal in there.”
A woman holding a phone | Source: Pexels
With a deep breath, Josh tore the pillow open to reveal a small, mysterious box equipped with a timer.
“What the hell is that?” I murmured, dread creeping up my spine.
“Let’s find out,” Josh’s jaw was set. “Call him.”
I dialed Taylor’s number, my hands trembling.
A man holding a box | Source: Unsplash
“Hi, Kate,” he said, his voice cheery. “Did you get my package? I didn’t know what to get you, but I knew that I had to get something.”
“There’s something inside the pillow,” Josh said. “A box. It’s making a sound. What is it?”
“Please be honest,” I said.
“It’s a gift, Kate. For your anniversary,” Taylor’s voice was calm, almost soothing to me.
A woman on the phone | Source: Pexels
“The sound is probably the timer; it’s supposed to make a sound and open on the day,” he said. “There’s something in there.”
My husband snatched the phone from my hand.
“Do you really think we want anything from you? What’s really in the box, Dad? Is there something that shouldn’t be there? Something illegal?” Josh demanded.
An angry man on the phone | Source: Pexels
“Please, Josh,” he said. “It’s just a gesture. I mean absolutely no harm.”
“If you truly mean that, then stay out of our lives.”
“Wait, Kate,” Taylor said. “Just open the box, okay?”
Taylor sighed deeply, and Josh reached out and cut the call.
I looked at my husband; he seemed confused by it all. I knew that he was curious about what was inside the little box, but he was traumatized by everything his father had done.
An expressionless man | Source: Pexels
“What do you want to do?” I asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said, holding his head.
“Let’s open it,” I said. “If he wanted me to open it, then there’s no way that he’s trying to hurt us, darling. Okay?”
Josh nodded slowly, finally accepting it for what it was. His father had simply wanted to reach out to us and give us a gift. That maybe everything was as easy as it seemed.
A man holding a phone | Source: Unsplash
“But record it, okay?” Josh said.
I picked up my phone again and began recording.
My husband pried the box open, revealing its contents: a check for $100,000.
Josh stared at the check, his emotions flying across his face as he tried to make sense.
“What is he playing at, Kate?” Josh asked, stunned. “There’s no way that this is clean money. He must be trying to cover up for something.”
But before we could process this further, Taylor called back.
An uncertain man | Source: Pexels
I answered, hesitant.
“We found the check,” I said. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I’m dying, Kate,” he confessed quietly. “I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, and I know that Josh hates me. But that money is for you guys. And if Josh doesn’t want it, then keep it for Emily’s future. For school. Nobody needs to know that it came from me.”
A bank cheque | Source: Flickr
I walked inside the house, realizing that we had left Emily alone for too long. Not that it mattered, because our daughter was sitting quietly by herself and eating her fruit.
Josh was right behind me.
“Dad,” he said, taking the phone from me. “If you’re really serious about your health, then please, we need to talk. No more games.”
A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels
“Thank you, Josh,” Taylor’s voice came through the phone. “You tell me when.”
We arranged to meet Taylor at a park later that week; it wasn’t far from us, and we often took Emily there.
As the day arrived, Josh was visibly nervous, fidgeting as we waited on a secluded bench.
When Taylor arrived, he looked frail and worn.
A secluded park bench | Source: Pexels
“I’m so sorry for everything. I was a terrible father. I don’t have much time left, but I want to spend it making amends.”
Josh took a long breath.
“It’s not easy, Dad. But I’m willing to try. For Emily’s sake, so that one day, she’ll know that her grandfather carried her through school.”
A smiling little girl | Source: Pexels
While Josh and my father-in-law spoke, I set up the picnic that I had brought along with me. I figured that if anything awkward happened, we all still needed to eat.
As we left the park, Josh squeezed my hand, a weight lifted from his shoulders.
“Maybe it’s good that pillow showed up, after all,” he mused, a small smile breaking through.
Things could only get better from here, right?
A picnic setup | Source: Pexels
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one
Leighton, after witnessing how her parents celebrated their anniversary, is sure about one thing — when she gets married, she will do just that. But when her anniversary rolls around, her husband skips their romantic dinner and lies about a meeting.
A newlywed couple at the beach | Source: Pexels
Curiosity prevails, and Leighton follows Josh, only to find him at a motel with the first person he ever loved. Is there a hidden truth, or is the story exactly what it looks like?
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.
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