Instead of joyfully planning weddings together, my two engaged daughters were always bickering. But when I discovered my youngest daughter’s wedding dress destroyed and my stepdaughter standing over it in tears, I realized I’d completely misread the signs of what was really happening in our home.
I’m a mother of two: my biological daughter Hannah (22) and my stepdaughter Christine (23). They grew up together after my husband passed away years ago, and I’ve always tried my best to hold our blended family together.
A sad woman with her two daughters sitting at an outdoor funeral | Source: Midjourney
Last year, both girls still lived at home with me—well, mostly. They spent a good amount of time at their fiancés’ places.
Our house should have been buzzing with the excitement of two upcoming weddings. Instead, the atmosphere grew heavy every time Hannah scrolled through wedding ideas on her phone while Christine sat across from her, barely hiding her annoyance behind a forced smile.
“Look at these centerpieces, Mom!” Hannah held up her phone one evening, her blue eyes sparkling. “Aren’t they gorgeous? They’re doing this thing with floating candles and flower petals. John says it might be over budget, but I think we can make it work if we DIY some of the arrangements.”
Woman in her 20s with long, wavy black hair and blue eyes holding up a photograph during dinner in a house | Source: Midjourney
Christine grabbed her glass and headed to the kitchen. “I need a refill. Because apparently, we need to hear about every single wedding detail every single night.”
“Christine,” I warned.
“What?” She spun around. “I’m just saying, some of us are trying to eat dinner without a Pinterest board shoved in our faces.”
This was typical of Christine. She’d always turned everything into a competition with Hannah, from their grades to hobbies and even the attention I gave them after their father died.
Woman in her 20s looking annoyed in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
Hannah never played along, which only seemed to frustrate Christine more.
“Christine, honey,” I called after her. “Don’t you want to show us your wedding ideas too? You mentioned that vintage theme last week.”
“What’s the point?” She leaned against the kitchen door frame. “It’s not like I can get the venue I want anyway. Every decent place is booked through next summer.”
“There are other beautiful venues,” Hannah offered softly. “I could help you look—”
Woman in her 20s holding up her phone at a dinner table frowning slightly | Source: Midjourney
“Of course you could,” Christine cut in. “Because you’re just better than me at Googling.”
I sighed. They continued bickering until I intervened. Little did I know this was only the beginning of an implosion for our family.
A few days later, Hannah bounced into the living room, practically glowing. “John and I set a date!”
Christine froze with the TV remote in the air. “What?”
“Late January!” Hannah twirled around the room. “The Winter Garden had a cancellation, and everything just fell into place perfectly. The coordinator said we got so lucky!”
A wedding venue with a winter garden theme | Source: Midjourney
I watched Christine’s face fall. She’d been engaged to Eric for eight months but struggled to secure a venue. I also suspected that Eric was hoping to have a longer engagement before their wedding.
Meanwhile, Hannah had only been engaged for two months and was well on her way to getting married first. John, too, seemed pleased to move forward with their plans.
“You can’t have a January wedding,” Christine said, throwing the remote on the couch and standing up. “That’s too soon. Can’t you wait?”
Annoyed woman in her 20s sitting on a couch looking to the side | Source: Midjourney
“But we already booked everything,” Hannah replied, her excitement deflating slightly. “The deposit’s paid and… oh! Want to see my dress? I still can’t believe I found it!”
Without waiting for an answer, Hannah pulled out her phone and showed us a photo of herself in a stunning $1,500 wedding gown.
“I bought it yesterday,” she added softly. “I’m sorry. I wanted to have a fitting with my bridesmaids and you, Mom, so we could all pick. But this one went on sale online, and I just clicked! It only needs a few alterations. Everything feels meant to be!”
Woman in her 20s holding up her phone in a living room with a bright smile | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, honey! It’s beautiful. Do you have it safe in your room?” I asked. “We can take it to the seamstress today.”
“Sure! I was thinking—”
“I need some air,” Christine snapped, storming out of the room.
Hannah sighed at the interruption and went back to her room. Christine might have been disappointed about her delayed wedding, but she didn’t have the right to make this experience miserable for everyone.
I just didn’t know how to say all this without seeming like I was taking one side.
Worried woman in her 50s sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
A week passed, and Christine avoided us completely. My texts received short replies like “busy” or “with Eric.” But a few days before Hannah’s wedding, Christine showed up for dinner. John was there too, and something felt off.
The dining room was unusually quiet. John picked at his food, avoiding eye contact with everyone, especially Christine. Even Hannah seemed to notice something was wrong.
“Everything okay, babe?” she asked John, touching his arm gently. “You’ve hardly touched your food.”
“Yeah, just… work stuff.” He pushed his chair back, his fork clattering against the plate. “Mind if I get some air? Need to clear my head.”
Worried man in his late 20s sitting at a dinner table with uneaten food | Source: Midjourney
“Do you want me to come with you?” Hannah asked.
“No!” The word came out too sharp, making us all jump. “I mean, no, thanks. I just need a minute.”
A few minutes after John left, Christine excused herself to use the bathroom. When she didn’t return for a while, I started to worry. Then, she suddenly appeared in the dining room doorway.
“Eric’s waiting outside,” she announced, her voice tight. “I’ve got to go.”
“But you just got here,” Hannah said. “Can’t he come in? We haven’t had dessert yet.”
Untouched pie on a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
“No, it’s… huh… I have to go. Sorry.” Christine turned on her heel.
Something about her tone made me follow her. I was only seconds behind, but the front door was already closed. I also noticed her coat still on the hanger, which was strange for such a cold January evening.
When I stepped outside, there was no sign of Eric’s car. Did they just drive away really fast?
My stomach dropped as realization hit. Mother’s intuition, I suppose, because I rushed back inside and headed straight for Hannah’s room. As I approached, I heard a gasp.
A hallway in a home | Source: Midjourney
I pushed open the door and froze. Hannah’s beautiful wedding dress lay on the bed, cut to pieces from the waist down. Christine stood over it, tears streaming down her face.
“I SWEAR TO GOD IT WAS NOT ME,” she said, her hands shaking. “Mom, I know how this looks, but you have to believe me. I didn’t do this.”
My mind raced, trying to make sense of the scene. But Christine’s raw emotion, her desperate plea of innocence, made me pause.
Woman in her 20s crying in a bedroom | Source: Midjourney
“Okay, if you didn’t do this, tell me what’s going on,” I whispered.
With a fresh wave of tears, Christine told me everything. The truth was, she hadn’t been angry with Hannah about having a wedding first. She’d been worried about her because of… John.
Months ago, during Hannah’s birthday barbecue, she’d seen him acting suspiciously and even caught him texting someone in our backyard.
Man in his late 20s texting in the backyard | Source: Midjourney
“He said they were just texts from his ex,” Christine explained, wiping her eyes. “When I pressed him, he broke down and admitted having doubts about the wedding and talking to his ex about it. I told him, ‘You better figure your feelings fast because if you hurt my sister, I swear to God…'”
She took a shaky breath. “I gave him a deadline to tell Hannah, or I would. Days later, he promised everything was fine, so I dropped it. I should have known better.”
I closed my eyes, shaking my head. “Yes, you should’ve said something, but I understand. You’re the eldest. You wanted to protect her,” I sighed and thought of something. “How did you end up in here?”
Woman in her 50s looking worried and sympathetic in a bedroom | Source: Midjourne
“I saw him leaving Hannah’s room when I was heading to the bathroom. He looked… guilty at getting caught and walked by me and out to the backyard. I followed and confronted him again. I asked him, ‘What did you do?’ He just kept saying everything was fine, but his hands were shaking.”
Christine twisted her fingers together. “When he wouldn’t fess up, I pretended to leave with Eric but went to check Hannah’s room instead. That’s when I found the dress.”
“Oh, God,” I said. “He must have ripped the dress apart to delay the wedding. Why not just talk to Hannah?”
Man in his late 20s ruining a wedding dress in a bedroom | Source: Midjourney
“That’s what I’m saying,” Christine sniffled. “But it’s not just that. Mom, I think he’s cheating. We need to tell her the truth.”
I nodded. “Of course. Otherwise, she’ll think you did this,” I pointed to the dress. “I bet he was counting on that, too. The gall of that man. Come on; it’s time to stop our little girl from making a mistake!”
Christine grabbed my hand and we went out.
We confronted John right there in the living room. I thought he would fight back, but he cracked almost immediately, admitting to destroying the dress to delay the wedding and banking on Hannah’s issues with Christine to cover his tracks.
Man in his late 20s looking upset standing in living room | Source: Midjourney
Hannah was devastated. “Why didn’t you just talk to me?” she sobbed when he confessed. “If you were having doubts, why didn’t you say something? Anything would have been better than this.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, not meeting her eyes. “I’ll pay for the dress. I just… I couldn’t go through with it, and I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Tell her about the texts!” Christine demanded.
“What texts?” Hannah asked.
Confused, upset, and sad woman in her 20s standing in living room | Source: Midjourney
“Nothing, I—”
“Tell her the truth!” I screamed. Enough was enough! My baby wasn’t going to be played with anymore.
Under my harsh glare, John confessed that he’d been seeing his ex for a while now, and that’s why he was having second thoughts about the wedding.
“Get out of here,” Christine said, stepping protectively in front of Hannah. “Now! And never come back!”
An angry woman in her 20s stands in the living room pointing her finger | Source: Midjourney
I backed up the sentiment, and John scurried off like a coward. When the door closed behind him, something remarkable happened.
Christine sat next to Hannah, who was sobbing on the couch, and took her hand.
“Remember when Dad taught us to sew?” Christine asked softly after a while. “That summer we made those horrible matching sundresses?”
Hannah let out a watery chuckle. “They were so crooked. Dad said they had ‘character.'”
“Yes! Well, I actually learned how to do it properly later. Give me the dress.” Christine squeezed Hannah’s hand. “I have an idea. Let me fix this, okay? Not the wedding part, but… maybe I can save something from this mess.”
Ruined wedding dress on a bed | Source: Midjourney
“Why would you do that?” Hannah sniffled. “I thought you hated me.”
“I never hated you,” Christine said quietly. “I just… I always felt like I had to prove I belonged here. After Dad died, I was so scared of losing my place in this family. But you’re my sister, Hannah. I should have been protecting you all along instead of competing with you.”
That’s when I started blubbering.
Woman in her 50s crying from happiness in a living room | Source: Midjourney
Christine spent the following day transforming the ruined wedding gown into a stunning cocktail dress. So, when the original wedding date arrived days later, instead of a ceremony, we held a small family gathering at the venue.
Some of our relatives had traveled from across the country, so this was the perfect way to avoid wasting the money that had already been spent. Everyone was happy, including Hannah, who got to talk to her cousins and recount how we discovered John was a coward.
I was glad my daughter could smile after such a thing, and I knew that it was in part because Christine had been trying to protect her all along. Our family changed that day… for the better.
Woman in her 20s wearing a white cocktail dress smiles while talking to other people at a party venue | Source: Midjourney
“Mom,” Christine said as we watched Hannah twirl in her redesigned dress, showing it off to their aunts and cousins, “will you and Hannah walk me down the aisle when it’s my turn? Both of you? I know it’s not traditional, but…”
“I’d be honored,” I said, pulling her close.
“Me too!” Hannah chimed in, joining our hug.
Woman in her 20s wearing a white cocktail dress smiles with her arms open wide for a hug at a party venue | Source: Midjourney
US Open Buzz: Viewers Say Taylor Swift, 34, Looks ‘Pregnant’ after Seeing Her Belly in a Bodice Dress
Pregnancy rumors were stoked after Taylor Swift was spotted at the US Open with her boyfriend.
On September 8, at the US Open, Travis Kelce, 34, and Taylor Swift, 34, looked fantastic. Rather than their obvious displays of love and joy, Taylor’s body type in the event dress went viral.
Taylor dressed in a bright costume to see the Men’s Singles Final between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Taylor Fritz of the United States. The “Sora Linen Dress” of the Reformation was checkered in red and white.
The tiny straps on this $248 dress, which can be worn on or off the shoulders, and the snug bodice complete the design. Taylor accessorized her dress with brown heels, light jewelry, and black sunglasses.
But Travis sported a light beige Gucci bucket hat, a matching cardigan with red and green Gucci stripes, and a white golf shirt. Brown loafers and white shorts completed his ensemble.
Video of Travis and Taylor was made public, and they were seen in pictures at the wedding with Brittany and Patrick Mahomes.
A video of Travis and Taylor walking hand in hand into the tournament and exploring was uploaded on X by US Open Tennis. “In the age of tennis.” The account posted a video along with the caption, “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce arrive at the US Open.”
A video of the duo singing The Darkness’ “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” was also uploaded by the US Open. Singing from their viewing box, Taylor and Travis were having the best of their lives. “@taylorswift and @killatrav believe in love,” reads the US Open caption.
In a Latinus video, Taylor danced to a tune while Travis held onto her and bobbed his head.
In a different scenario from the same video, Brittany and Patrick were standing next to the singer and player who gave Travis a cheek kiss.
Internet users recognized Taylor’s belly after noticing images of Travis and Taylor during a tennis event. There were rumors that the “Lover” artist was expecting.
One Instagram user commented, “She looks pregnant,” while another questioned, “Is she pregnant?” Another person commented, “That GIRL is pregnant, lol.” Does Taylor Swift have a baby? A user on X commented, “She’s thin but has a slight belly.”
“When is Taylor Swift going to enthusiastically announce that Travis Kelce is pregnant with their child?” quipped a passerby. Some were ecstatic to see Taylor content, regardless of her pregnancy.
“Okay belly, either she’s full or pregnant either way I’m happy for her,” remarked one fan. Another admirer exclaimed, “Taylor looks so happy!” The sentiment was mirrored by someone else who said, “Okay, they’re officially too cute!” It’s too much joy to watch Taylor Swift fall in love.
Although Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have not addressed the pregnancy rumors, followers still make assumptions and comments.
Days before she and Travis made their US Open debut, Taylor faced criticism for her outfit as well.
On September 5, Taylor supported Travis by dressing controversially during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens game. She wore a scarlet pair of Giuseppe Zanotti boots, a Louis Vuitton purse, and a stunning Medusa ’95 Versace denim corset top when she arrived at Arrowhead Stadium.
Online images of Taylor at the game provoked heated debate. Using a pregnant emoji, one fan proposed getting pregnant. She’s growing hefty, they said.
One more said, “So tacky!” Will there be no fashion consultant for her? “One would think that with all her money, she could have had her stylist choose a better outfit,” remarked another.
Some found the negativity objectionable. One admirer remarked, “Such a cute outfit.” “Can’t believe some people say she “put on too much weight,”” exclaimed one supporter of her. She looks more human than a stick figure.
“Definitely find her more attractive with some extra meat on her bones,” was one comment made by fans in response to Taylor’s makeover. Never was fond of twig bod. The last praise was just, “She’s beautiful.”
Taylor seemed to have had a good time. She sat in Travis’ opulent suite with his parents, Ed and Donna Kelce, after they had entered the stadium.
Clearly at ease with one another, she and Ed engaged in lively conversation and laughter throughout the exciting NFL game.
In a subsequent video, Taylor stood and applauded, encouraging her partner from the sidelines.
In another Instagram picture, Taylor seemed totally absorbed in the game and was shouting loudly.
She celebrates in pictures with Travis’s father, displaying emotion. They fervently enjoyed the game and were Travis’s supporters.
Following the Chiefs’ victory over the Ravens, Travis and Taylor departed Arrowhead Stadium together.
As they walked hand in hand, the couple appeared content and in love. Taylor and Travis are in a public relationship, so their outings frequently go viral. For a variety of reasons, their date night photos became viral in July.
Perceptive observers conversed about the images’ physical attributes. Many have conjectured that Taylor, like her friend Brittany, might be expecting.
Taylor and Travis, a prominent Hollywood couple, were spotted out in London with pals. Their loved ones shared sweet pair images on July 16, which led some on social media to make assumptions about the couple.
According to Summitt Hogue and Brittany’s Instagram pictures, the “Blank Space” artist and tightrope runner from Kansas City is having fun with pals in Europe.
Summitt’s wife, Miranda Hogue, and Brittany’s husband, Patrick, the quarterback for Kansas City, also joined them.
The thrill of their trip was captured on Summitt’s Instagram carousel, which featured everything from trekking in nature reserves and on beaches with his wife and adorable daughters to taking a helicopter ride with Patrick.
In the fifth picture, Summit shared a lovely group shot that included Miranda, Brittany, Travis, Patrick, and Taylor. As the well-known pair moved in front of the other two pairs, Travis wrapped Taylor’s right arm around her shoulders and placed his hand beneath her breasts.
That evening, the vocalist of “Bad Blood” donned a light-blue dress by Vivienne Westwood. $1,010 is the price of the “Sunday gathered cotton midi dress.”
Taylor accessorized her Vivienne Westwood ensemble with a purple purse in the form of a heart. For $721.35 (€660), Taylor offers its “Josephine Heart Crossbody” in croc-embossed leather online. Her heels were block yellow.
Additional European travel adventures can be seen in Brittany’s carousel article. Brittany shared pictures of herself, her husband Patrick, and their adorable babies, Taylor and Travis.
In one stunning picture, Brittany and Taylor shared an embrace as their beaus posed behind them. Summitt was dressed the same way as Taylor.
Travis looked put together in a baseball cap and beige co-ord. Another picture included Taylor kissing Brittany’s head and the two of them hugging.
“What a time #Europe,” is how Summitt titled his photo, and Brittany responded, “London & Amsterdam, a time was had.” Regarding Travis and Taylor showing up in Brittany and Summitt’s Instagram pictures, some sent comments.
People on social media expressed unease about Travis touching his partner with his hand. “Swifties take a closer look at this guy,” a user wrote on Instagram. Whoa.
“Looks like she was trying to move his hand to her waist,” another person remarked. I think it’s hideous and disgusting.
Some people were critical of Taylor’s outfit. One witness questioned, “Why does Taylor’s wardrobe always look like something my grandmother would wear?” Another said, “Taylor needs to fire her stylist.”
Others looked at the couple photo where Travis put one hand on Brittany’s lower abdomen. Travis rubs his lower tummy and gestures to himself. What is meant by that? inquired on social media. “Travy get [Tay] preggers we need little besties for life,” remarked another.
A fan said, “Listen, you and Taylor are so cute!!!” in reference to pregnancy. I adore it, dear! Name my kid Goldie and give her to me. “Brittany & Taylor are both pregnant,” said another.
Although Brittany, a close friend of Taylor’s, has revealed that she will soon become a mother of three, Travis and Taylor have not confirmed their pregnancy.
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