Samantha is on cloud nine, basking in the afterglow of her engagement to Rob. Until she gets a message from Rob’s ex-girlfriend, claiming that Sam’s engagement ring is Emily’s hand-me-down. Samantha is left trying to decide what to do next.
Of course, I couldn’t stop smiling. It seemed that all the stars in my life had finally aligned, and I was getting my happily ever after.
But it’s not always that easy, right?
I sat in bed scrolling through my camera gallery. I had just returned from a perfect trip to Santorini where Rob had proposed to me.
It had been magical.
The breathtaking sunset, the sparkling ocean, and the love of my life on one knee. It all felt like the ultimate dream.
“I’m going to get some snacks for the flight, love,” Rob said when we were at the airport. “Do you want to come?”
I looked at our pile of luggage; the thought of moving everything just seemed like too much effort.
“No, you go ahead,” I said. “I’m going to post our engagement pictures before the flight.”
Rob chuckled and kissed my head before walking away.
I shared our pictures, and the likes and comments started streaming in.
“Come on,” Rob said a little later as we were ready to board our flight. “It’s time to go home.”
The next day, when we had finally gotten back and showered off the flight, I logged onto my socials and scrolled through the notifications. Which was when a new message popped up.
“Who are you?” I asked aloud, trying to look at the woman’s profile picture.
I went to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water while her profile loaded. She seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place her.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the message.
“What?!” I gasped, looking at the image sent.
It was a punch to the gut. There it was, a woman’s hand adorned with the exact engagement ring Rob had just given me days before.
I’m glad you loved it, Samantha. Rob ordered it to make it custom for me! Sometimes I even regret returning it because it’s so beautiful…
Emily. It was Rob’s ex. He had told me about Emily, but he had never mentioned that he proposed to her.
Now, I was confused. And angry. And betrayed.
“What should I do?” I asked myself, looking out the kitchen window.
I didn’t know what to do. But I knew that I needed more information before speaking to Rob. A thousand doubts flooded my mind.
“Stop it,” I said aloud. “You need to get to the bottom of it before imploding your entire life.”
I sat down and stalked my way through Emily’s profile. It was filled with photos of her travels, friends, and life events that made her seem glamorous.
I was about two years in when a photo got my attention. There was a photo of Emily and Rob, smiling at each other, with my engagement ring snugly on her finger.
But still, I needed more.
The next morning I contacted Jake, Rob’s friend from college.
“He would know everything I need,” I said, sitting on the counter to text him.
Sure, I can meet you for coffee tomorrow.
Two smiling young men | Source: Midjourney
We met at our local café, which was where Rob had introduced us when we first started dating.
“Hey, thanks for meeting me,” I said, trying to keep myself composed.
“No problem,” Jake said. “What’s up? Is everything okay? I spoke to Rob this morning, but I didn’t mention that we were meeting today.”
I ordered our drinks when the waiter came over and explained the situation to Jake.
“Look,” I said, showing him the photos and the message from Emily.
Jake shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. He took care in adding his sugar to the cup of coffee.
A close-up of two cups of coffee | Source: Midjourney
“Rob loved Emily. A lot,” he said, sighing deeply. “That ring was custom-made for her because he knew what she wanted. But when they broke up, she returned it. I guess he kept it because it was expensive and maybe he was just being sentimental. I didn’t know that he used the same ring for you.”
“How could he be so thoughtless?” I asked.
A close-up of a man | Source: Midjourney
“I’m really sorry, Samantha. And I don’t think Rob even knew what he was doing. I just know that the ring meant something to him.”
I thanked Jake for his honesty and left the café.
A young woman in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
I knew that I could have chosen the easy way and broken up with Rob soon after finding out. But I wanted more. I wanted to hurt him the way that I was hurting.
So, over the next few weeks, I meticulously prepared for the wedding. It was Greek-themed, to honor our engagement.
Notebooks on a table | Source: Midjourney
“You’re taking this too far,” my sister said when we went cake tasting.
“How so?” I asked.
She was the only person who knew the truth and what I planned on doing.
“You’re enjoying this revenge plot. And what’s worse is that Rob doesn’t suspect a thing.”
Mini-cakes on a plate | Source: Unsplash
I smiled at her.
I contacted Emily again and invited her to the wedding under the pretense of reconciliation. Admittedly, I was surprised when she accepted the invitation.
The wedding day arrived, and I knew I looked stunning in my wedding gown. But I also had a second gown on a hanger in my dressing room.
A young woman in a wedding gown | Source: Midjourney
A gown for Emily.
My sister brought Emily to me when she arrived, and it was time for the final steps of my revenge plan.
“Thank you for coming,” I said when she walked into my dressing room. “I know this is unconventional, but I have a special role for you in today’s ceremony.”
A wedding gown on a hanger | Source: Midjourney
Emily looked intrigued, a slight frown appearing on her face.
“What do you need me to do?” she asked.
I handed Emily the gown.
A woman wearing a green dress | Source: Midjourney
“Put this on and walk down the aisle. Take my place. I need to teach Rob a lesson.”
If Emily thought I had lost the plot, she didn’t show it. Instead, she took the dress from me and nodded.
As the guests waited expectantly, the music began to play, and Rob took his place at the altar.
A smiling groom | Source: Midjourney
He had no idea what was coming.
The doors opened, and instead of me, Emily walked the aisle, dressed as the bride.
Gasps and murmurs filled the room. Rob’s smile faltered before a look of confusion and horror took its place.
A close-up of a groom looking forward | Source: Midjourney
“What are you doing here?” he stammered.
“Surprise!” I said, stepping into the venue. “Honey, I thought that it would be fitting to bring someone else into our special day, someone who has a history with the ring you gave me.”
The guests turned to look at me, shocked and bewildered.
A close-up of shocked guests | Source: Midjourney
My sister, from the front of the hall, started to laugh awkwardly.
“You see,” I continued. “Rob proposed to Emily with this ring, and when she returned it to him after their breakup, he thought that it was time to recycle the ring. Am I just not good enough, Rob?”
Rob turned a deep shade of red.
A pensive groom | Source: Midjourney
“This wedding is off,” I said. “Unless, of course, the other bride wants to marry you?”
Emily shook her head and dropped the bouquet to the ground as she walked toward me.
“You should have known better,” she said to Rob.
With that, I turned on my heel and walked out of my own wedding. I knew that I hurt Rob and that I had been petty. But I felt that the situation called for it.
A sad young bride | Source: Midjourney
And if that wasn’t enough, then surely the cost of the wedding would hurt Rob’s pockets.
“Wait for me!” my sister said, running through the door, trailing her shawl behind her. “I’m coming too!”
We got into the car waiting outside to whisk the newlywed couple.
A car parked on a road | Source: Midjourney
“So, where to?” my brother asked from the driver’s seat.
“Let’s get some food,” my sister said, taking off her shoes in the back seat.
I don’t know if I did the right thing, but I do know that I saved myself from a lifetime of uncertainty with Rob.
A young smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
