I’m David, Lizzy’s older brother and her only sibling. Six months ago, Lizzy surprised everyone by canceling her wedding.
With tears in her eyes, she told me, “David, I can’t go through with the wedding, not without Grandma here to see it.”
Our grandma passed away shortly after all the wedding plans were finalized, and Lizzy felt she couldn’t celebrate such a big day without her presence.
Despite her decision, we didn’t cancel any of the wedding arrangements.
Lizzy said, “The bookings are non-refundable, David. It feels like such a waste to lose all that money.”
As a result, the venue, the caterer, and even the hotel stays were still reserved in her name. Financially it made sense, but emotionally, it just added to the burden of her decision.
Little did I know, the real story was much more complicated, and soon, I’d find myself deeply entangled.
Since my flights were already booked, I decided to use the hotel reservation. Upon arriving, I noticed the wedding decor was still in place.
“Such a shame it’s all going to waste,” I thought as I walked towards the reception desk.
“Hi, I’m checking in,” I told the receptionist, showing her the booking on my phone.
“Just a moment, sir,” she replied as she verified my reservation.
Looking around, I saw the hotel staff bustling around, seemingly preparing for an event.
“Oh, you’re here for the wedding!” the receptionist chirped.
“Yeah, I was,” I said. “But now I’m just using the booking since the wedding was canceled.”
“Sir, the wedding is happening,” the receptionist looked at me, puzzled. “The first event begins at 3 p.m.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, stunned.
“Here’s the itinerary, sir,” she handed me a tablet with the event details. “You can take a look.”
Sliding my finger across the screen, I read the groom’s name. It was Mike, my sister’s ex.
“How is this possible?” I gasped in disbelief.
Mike was about to marry another woman at the same hotel Lizzy had booked for her wedding. The venue was all set for Mike to tie the knot with someone else.
I immediately pulled out my phone and called Lizzy.
Lizzy answered on the first ring, her voice tinged with confusion and worry. “David, what’s up? Why are you calling me from the hotel?”
