Ava and Ethan’s romantic story seemed like a dream come true.
It was full of charming dates and deep conversations.
Just three months after meeting, Ethan proposed to Ava.
She was beyond thrilled.
But as their wedding day approached, a shocking revelation threatened to shatter their fairytale love.
It all started on a warm spring afternoon when Ava met Ethan at a cosy cafe.
The café also served as a bookstore.
She was browsing the shelves when their hands happened to touch.
They reached for the same book, Pride and Prejudice.
Ava looked into his warm brown eyes.
She was instantly captivated.
His dimpled smile made her heart quicken.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said with a charming smile.
‘We seem to have similar taste in books.’
Ava, feeling a little embarrassed, offered him the book.
But he offered to share it over a cup of coffee.
She couldn’t resist and agreed.
So they spent the whole afternoon on a cosy sofa in the corner of the shop.
They discussed their favourite books.
When Ethan asked for her number, Ava had already fallen in love with him.
Their romance quickly blossomed.
There were magical dinners under the stars, spontaneous weekend trips, and deep late night conversations.
It made it feel as if they had known each other all their lives.
Ava felt like the heroine of a romantic film.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was too perfect.
Three months after their chance meeting, Ethan proposed to Ava.
He did so in the very café where they had first met.
As the sun was setting, colouring the sky with beautiful pinks and oranges, he got down on one knee.
He asked her to be his wife.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ava through tears agreed.
She believed she had found the love of her life.
They planned a small, intimate wedding by the lake.
The lake was only a few miles from town.
Only close friends and family were to be there.
The pre-wedding celebrations were full of joy and laughter.
Everything seemed perfect.
Until a casual remark from Ethan’s sister, Olivia, shattered Ava’s world.
When they went to the bathroom together during the party, Olivia made the remark.
Her remark rendered Ava speechless.
‘I still can’t believe you managed to pull off that fake wedding,’ Olivia said lightly.
‘I mean, I know it was the only way for Ethan to get his inheritance, but you both deserve an Oscar for that performance.’
Ava’s heart sank.
‘What do you mean by fake wedding?’ – She asked in a trembling voice.
When Olivia realised her mistake, her face went pale.
‘Wait, you didn’t know? I thought you knew,’ she mumbled, trying to justify herself.
Ava insisted on the truth.
Olivia reluctantly explained that their grandfather had included the stipulation in his will.
Ethan would only inherit if he married within six months.
Everyone assumed Ava was part of the convenient arrangement.
Stunned and heartbroken, Ava waited until Ethan was asleep.
With trembling hands, she checked his phone.
The messages she found confirmed her worst fears.
Ethan had made fun of her in correspondence with friends.
He was calling the wedding a way to get his inheritance.
‘Just a few more months and the money is mine,’ one message read.
‘I can’t believe she fell for it.’
The realisation that her entire relationship with Ethan had been a lie broke Ava.
But instead of sinking into despair, she felt a sudden determination.
She put her phone down, got back into bed, and began planning her next steps.
Walking down the aisle on her wedding day, Ava felt the weight of betrayal.
But she also felt strong.
When it was time to say her vows, she took a deep breath and revealed the truth with firm resolve.
‘Ethan,’ she began, her voice full of emotion, ’when we first met, I believed I had found the love of my life.
But today I stand here not to marry you, but to reveal the truth.
This wedding was never a matter of love for you – for you it was all just a matter of money.
You saw me as a means to get your inheritance, and I refuse to be used.’
Surprised exclamations echoed through the crowd as Ethan’s smile faded, giving way to panic.
Ava turned away from the altar without flinching, regaining her dignity and walking away from the deception she’d been sucked into.
In the days that followed, Ethan tried to reach out to her, but Ava ignored his attempts.
Surrounded by the support of friends and family, she began to heal and rebuild her life.
She visited the café where it all began, not to reflect on the past, but to find again the joy she had once experienced there.
As time went on, Ava grew stronger, embracing the path of healing and self-discovery.
She knew that one day she would find true love – someone who would appreciate her for who she truly was.
Until then, she was content to know her worth and find strength in her resilience.
Reflecting on all that had happened, Ava realised that life is full of unexpected twists and turns.
What really matters is how we respond to them.
She decided to stand up for herself, break the bonds of deception and, in the process, discovered a deeper love – love for herself.
