As Noah and Alice prepare for their upcoming wedding, Noah grows suspicious of the new lavish purchases that Alice has made—items that are above their pay grade. Later, a mysterious man disrupts their wedding. Who is he, and what does he want?
After three years together, Alice and I were finally getting married. Initially, we didn’t care about having a big wedding—we just wanted the day to be a culmination of our love story, a day where we’d stand before our family and friends.
A wedding invitation and RSVP card | Source: Pexels
And yet, despite everything unfolding perfectly, a cloud of unease had settled over me, one that had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the recent changes I’d noticed in Alice.
“I just can’t wait for our big day,” Alice gushed over breakfast one morning. “I have a few surprises, but nothing set in stone yet.”
I had no clue what she was talking about, but I figured it would be worth it—Alice was always trying to make things special in her own way.
After three years together, Alice and I were finally getting married. Initially, we didn’t care about having a big wedding—we just wanted the day to be a culmination of our love story, a day where we’d stand before our family and friends.
A wedding invitation and RSVP card | Source: Pexels
And yet, despite everything unfolding perfectly, a cloud of unease had settled over me, one that had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the recent changes I’d noticed in Alice.
“I just can’t wait for our big day,” Alice gushed over breakfast one morning. “I have a few surprises, but nothing set in stone yet.”
I had no clue what she was talking about, but I figured it would be worth it—Alice was always trying to make things special in her own way.
A couple eating breakfast in bed | Source: Pexels
But then, in the weeks leading up to our wedding, Alice acquired several expensive accessories—a branded bag, designer shoes, and even a pair of enormous diamond earrings. It all seemed out of reach for us.
We’d always been practical about our finances, understanding our limitations. So, when I saw these designer items, I couldn’t help but question how Alice could afford them.
I asked her about it—I didn’t want to begin a new life with Alice without knowing.
“Are you sure we can afford this?” I asked, holding up the shopping bag, its content a silent accusation.
A pair of bridal shoes and earrings | Source: Pexels
Alice had been gone for most of the day, with her phone set to silent. I didn’t know where she had been, and my mind ran marathons. For a moment, I assumed the worst—that Alice was seeing someone else, someone who had splurged on luxury items.
“I got a bonus at work, Noah,” she said. “I just want to be perfect for our wedding. I want to go all out for this one day in my life.”
Alice smiled at me, a slow and reassuring smile.
I believed her. Of course, I did.
A woman smiling at the camera | Source: Pexels
Her explanation eased my worries, temporarily silencing the nagging voice in my head. And I was grateful because I wouldn’t willingly get married to Alice while nursing these treacherous thoughts.
As the ceremony began, Alice looked radiant, the very image of happiness, yet her eyes occasionally drifted to the hall’s entrance.
We stood there, listening to the priest speak about love and commitment inside and outside of marriage. Alice’s hand, tucked inside mine, grew sweatier as he spoke.
She continued to glance at the entrance the entire time.
“Are you okay?” I murmured to her. “What’s wrong?”
Alice shook her head slightly and smiled ahead at the priest.
A priest holding the bride and groom | Source: Pexels
We went ahead and said our vows, Alice’s eyes still flickering to the door.
Who did she expect to show up? I wondered.
The priest’s voice echoed through the venue once more—a solemn call for any objections to our marriage.
“If anyone here has any objection, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Silence reigned, causing me to smile.
But it was shattered within seconds by the dramatic entrance of a man whose presence immediately caused Alice’s face to light up in a way that I hadn’t seen throughout the entire ceremony.
A man wearing a suit | Source: Pexels
Every muscle in my body seized.
“Stop it!” the man boomed. “Stop the ceremony!”
Alice gasped, clasping her hands to her chest.
“I’m so sorry for interrupting the ceremony! I know I’m late, Father,” he said. “But please, let me just walk my little girl down the aisle. I’ve broken all promises to her, but this one, I can’t.”
Our guests murmured, their shock evident. Alice’s mother was on her feet, her hands clutching Alice’s bouquet tightly.
A shocked woman wearing blue | Source: Pexels
“Alice, is that…?” I began, my voice trailing off as the reality of the situation dawned on me.
Of course. Alice had the man’s eyes, and his chin. It was clear.
“Yes,” she whispered. “That’s my dad.”
Her father, a man who had been more absent than present in her life, had chosen this moment to fulfill a promise, to be there for his daughter when it mattered the most.
“Shall I carry on?” the priest asked me.
“No, let’s do the walk again,” I smiled.
A bride holding her father’s hand | Source: Pexels
As her father took her arm, guiding her toward me, I saw Alice in a new light. She finally looked like a bride who had been waiting for this day.
She beamed.
We began the ceremony again. This time, Alice laughed through her vows and cried through mine.
Afterward, her father embraced me tightly.
“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for looking after my girl.”
Later, when Alice and I were in our rented car, being driven off to the airport for our honeymoon, she told me everything.
A bride and groom sitting in a car | Source: Pexels
It turned out that Alice had reached out to her father a few weeks before the wedding. They had been speaking on and off over the years, but when it came down to our wedding—she just wanted him to walk her down the aisle.
“My dad bought me the handbag,” she admitted. “But the shoes and earrings were from my bonus.”
I’m not sure if my father-in-law plans on being a part of our lives, but I do know that I’m grateful he walked Alice down the aisle.
“Maybe he’ll stick around,” she said later when we were sipping on champagne.
Maybe he will.
A person holding a glass of champagne | Source: Pexels
Do you have any similar stories?
Shocking Truth Behind Riley Strain’s Death Finally Unveiled!
Riley Strain’s cause of death has been confirmed by an autopsy report obtained by TMZ.
According to the report, the 22-year-old college student died from drowning and alcohol poisoning. His death was ruled an accident.
This news comes three months after Strain’s mother shared her son’s final text message.
Strain, a senior at the University of Missouri, went missing in early March during a trip to downtown Nashville with his fraternity brothers.
The night he disappeared, Strain was asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink. Although his friends didn’t see him again after he left the bar, surveillance cameras, including a police officer’s body camera, spotted him several times before he vanished.
One of Strain’s friends called the police the next day to report him missing. Authorities started searching for him, but it wasn’t until March 22, two weeks after Strain was last seen, that they received a report of a body in the Cumberland River.
Officials confirmed the body was Riley Strain. He was found eight miles from where he was last seen.
#BREAKING: Riley Strain Press Conference:
-Around 7:28am, worker discovered body
-When removing an object from river, the body surfaced
-Fire Department retrieved body
-Medical Examiner reviewed body, confirmed to be Riley Strain
-Family has been contacted
-No signs of foul play… pic.twitter.com/ZeBrwJeDou— Alex Caprariello (@alcaprari23) March 22, 2024
The Tennessee Chief Medical Examiner’s report showed that Riley Strain had Delta 9 (a component of marijuana) in his system and his blood alcohol level was .228.
The autopsy also noted that there were no significant signs of injury.
When I first heard about Riley Strain, I hoped so much that he would be found alive. It’s so tragic that his life ended this way. Every day, I continue to pray for his family.
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