Veil of Deception: Disturbing Experiences at Wedding Celebration
It was a beautiful summer day when Sarah arrived at the grand venue for the evening wedding celebration. She had been hired as a waitress for the night and was excited. Weddings were always her favorite assignments.
But as Sarah had just started her work, she noticed a familiar face in the crowd. Her heart skipped a beat. The man next to the bride, clearly the groom, was none other than James, her own husband.
What was he doing here?
Sarah wanted to believe that he was just a guest and not the groom, but she quickly realized that he shouldn't be there at all. He had told her that he was on a two-month business trip across the country.
As she now saw, that had clearly been a lie. Tears welled up in her eyes as the realization hit her. She knew that things hadn't been great between them for a couple of weeks, but she never expected this.
What should she do?
She wanted to confront him. She wanted to scream in his face. Yes, she had to admit, she wanted to slap him! But she was there because of work, so she couldn't.
Sarah didn't care. As soon as the official asked if anyone objected to this marriage, she stepped forward. She had to face him. And what she said shocked everyone. But what will she say to James? Did the bride know about his affair? And how will James react?
Sarah
Sarah worked as a waitress at various events. She had worked at golf tournaments and business parties, but today would surpass them all. Because today, she would attend her first wedding and had already seen the breathtaking venue. She couldn't wait to see it in person, so she hurriedly got ready.
Earlier this week, her work outfit had arrived; a tailored suit and tie, paired with a beautiful white blouse. She had never worn such well-made clothing at work before, and that had raised her expectations for the evening. but she couldn't get too excited, after all, she was here to work.
Feeling Energized
It was 6:00 AM when she woke up to get ready. She put on her makeup and styled her hair. The drive to the venue took 45 minutes, and she had to be there early to assist with the preparations for the day. As she drove away, she felt full of energy.
She arrived at the venue 50 minutes later, as there was some traffic. She checked in with her manager and got to work. They had to set up the dining tables and help the florist arrange the flowers. It was all very chaotic, but it brought Sarah back to her own wedding five years ago.
Her Own Wedding
However, she didn't marry her husband James at a place like this, but rather in a small church in the town of her childhood. They didn't have much money, so only their family and close friends came, ensuring that everything remained cozy and small.
Unlike this magnificent wedding, where, judging by the many dining tables, at least fifty, if not more, people were present. In her thoughts, she imagined how much such a wedding would cost.
Time for her break
After working all morning, it was time for Sarah's break. She had two to three hours off to freshen up for the evening wedding, have dinner, and have some free time. She spent this time walking through the forest directly behind the venue and returned promptly.
Sarah returned to the venue refreshed and with a full stomach from dinner. The free time had given her energy for the long evening ahead. At some point during the evening, she would only take a short five-minute break, but knowing how things go, she hadn't expected it.
Familiar Faces
The guests arrived, so Sarah grabbed a tray of champagne and started her rounds. She greeted everyone with a smile and offered them a glass from the couple as a welcome. After everyone had a drink, she returned to the kitchen for the next round.
As she went about her work, offering everyone a bite or a drink, Sarah noticed some familiar faces. She had no idea what they were doing here, but she stayed away to avoid an uncomfortable encounter. But not long after, she saw a face she couldn't ignore.
He was the groom
It was her husband James. James was wearing a suit suitable for a groom. Sarah was stunned at how comfortable he looked, chatting with everyone and seemingly having a good time. Sarah wanted to go to him, talk to him, and tell him what a coincidence it was that they were both here. But she was quickly awakened from her naive thinking.
Because there was no reason for James to look like the groom. As Sarah watched him closely, it dawned on her that he was the groom! Suddenly, Sarah's excitement turned into confusion and shock. She stood there, looking at her husband standing at the altar, waiting for his bride.
He had lied to her
Sarah couldn't believe her eyes. Suddenly, she remembered his lies from earlier this week. He had told her that he had to go on a business trip across the country for a few months. And to be honest, Sarah didn't mind being alone. Things weren't going well between them, but she never expected this...
The air around her started to feel thick, and Sarah's heart raced in her chest. She dropped her empty tray on the floor and rushed to the back to avoid being seen by James. There, she sat down and cried. It didn't take long for her colleagues to notice, and one of them sat down next to her.
Her colleague noticed it
"Are you okay?" asked a friendly-looking young man. He offered her a tissue and a glass of water. "I'm Dax. Shall I finish your rounds for you?" Sarah looked up. It was nice of him to offer, but she knew she had to remain professional. She couldn't afford to lose this job, especially not now.
"I'm fine," she said, wiping away her tears. "I recognized someone. Actually, my husband. He's here as the groom." Sarah had no idea why she was telling this stranger about her personal life, but he seemed trustworthy.
Smiling through the pain
"Oh shit," Dax exclaimed. "That's totally messed up." Sarah chuckled. James wasn't a swearer, and neither was she. But those words seemed to perfectly sum up this situation. She thanked Dax for his kind words and pulled herself together. There was only one way to survive the day here, and it wouldn't be easy.
She grabbed a tray of bites and maneuvered through the crowd, smiling despite the pain. It didn't take long for her to reach James. She smiled and locked eyes with him, offering him a bite with a deadly look. The shock and disbelief he tried to hide made Sarah feel a little better, but it wasn't enough.
She wanted revenge, her mind filled with anger
Her sadness and pain gave way to anger and the need for revenge. How could he get away with this? How could he marry someone else while still legally married to someone else? Did he really think she wouldn't find out? Or did he just want to drop her when he came back?
Slowly, Sarah's mind filled with anger. Her heart started beating faster and her palms grew sweaty. She wanted to punch someone in the face, which was evident. Because Dax came running towards her and grabbed her arm. "Don't do it," he said. But it was too late.
An angry manager
Sarah had made up her mind. She had to confront her so-called husband. Right here, right now, in front of everyone, including his bride. But just as she was approaching him, the organ began playing, and everyone was instructed to take their seats.
Still seething with anger, Sarah returned to the kitchen. But as she entered, she encountered an angry manager. "What were you doing over there, Sarah?" Sarah composed herself. She had to convince her manager that she was just offering the groom a glass of water for his nerves.
A close call
Fortunately, the manager believed her, and she wasn't escorted off the premises. At least not yet. Because what she had planned would definitely have her excluded from the wedding. If it were to continue, of course. But she had to wait for the perfect moment.
It felt like torture. During the ceremony, the staff was instructed to stand at the back of the church and watch. Dax checked on Sarah every few minutes, but she was remarkably good at hiding her pain. She stood there, maintaining her poker face as she watched her husband marry someone else.
Looking back
Sarah felt a knot in her stomach. Questions raced through her mind as she watched the happy smiles on the faces of the bride and the guests. How long had this been going on? She couldn't believe she had never noticed anything. And to make matters worse, James was celebrating the wedding they had always dreamed of without her.
She thought back to the past few months. James had been working longer hours and wasn't as loving as before. But to marry someone, you have to be in a relationship for longer than just a few months, right? This affair of his must have been going on for years, or so she thought.
This was her dream wedding
Sarah felt her eyes welling up with tears at this thought. This would have been her dream wedding, and James knew it. How could he be so heartless? She felt the anger surge back forcefully, just as James looked in her direction.
He made eye contact with her, but Sarah maintained her poker face. She could see that he looked sad and confused. Maybe he felt sorry for Sarah, but Sarah didn't care anymore.
He dug his own grave
He had dug his own grave, and now he had to lie in it. Suddenly, Dax shuffled towards her and touched her arm. "Whatever you're planning, don't do it," he whispered softly.
But Sarah knew what to do. She looked at the people in the crowd. She could only see the backs of their heads, but she could easily recognize some people she knew. It actually surprised her that so many people she knew were attending this wedding, knowing he was still married to her.
Familiar faces
She saw James' family and even some of their mutual friends. She hadn't seen them when she was serving drinks and appetizers earlier tonight, so she assumed they must have arrived later. She couldn't believe they would attend this wedding if they still believed he was married to her. Had he lied to them too?
It was all too much for Sarah. The anger inside her grew stronger as she thought about how messed up this situation was. At the same time, she noticed her supervisor keeping a close eye on her. She felt like all the walls were closing in on her, and then the perfect opportunity presented itself.
The officiant asked if there were any objections
The officiant asked in the room if anyone objected to this marriage. James looked at Sarah desperately, and she could feel Dax gripping her wrist. Obviously, they thought she would just jump up and have a meltdown, but Sarah tried to control herself. Something she wasn't planning on doing...
Because as the best man didn't hear anyone raising objections, he invited the couple to kiss. Sarah couldn't allow that. "NO!" she screamed. Her shout echoed through the church, and every single one of the guests turned around in shock. Had she really just done that?
Shocked and confused
Sarah stood frozen. She looked at the faces of everyone. The bride looked shocked and confused; James looked the same but also a bit guilty. The faces of the guests also appeared shocked and confused, but the people who knew Sarah were the most shocked of all, which was understandable, but Sarah felt the same.
She took a step forward, which felt right. It completely caught her off guard. She had a plan in her head, but that plan went out the window when she so bluntly screamed "No" through the church. Everyone expected her to say something, but she hesitated.
Not much time
Sarah really had to think about what she wanted to say, but she didn't have much time. Everyone was looking at her impatiently, so she simply took another step forward. She slowly walked down the aisle towards the couple at the altar. "Hello, James," she said when she reached them.
James looked at Sarah with a sad expression. "Sarah, what are you doing here?" he asked her softly. This confused the bride. "You know her?" she exclaimed. Sarah could see her puzzled expression. James sighed. He took Sarah by the arm and led her out through a small side door.
James hissed at her
"What do you think you're doing?!" "What do I think I'm doing?!" she exclaimed. "You're out here getting married to another woman while you're still married to ME! How is this MY fault?" Sarah couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did this man really want to tell her that he was INNOCENT?!
Now, even more people were gathering around them. The bride and some of Sarah and James' mutual friends looked at them all concerned. Sarah felt bad for involving everyone in such a painful situation, but at least they now knew what kind of man James was -- one you couldn't trust. But Sarah wasn't done yet.
She didn't care
After James had reacted this way, her concerns for his well-being disappeared. Originally, she had wanted to handle this in a civilized manner, but he left her no choice. She would expose James' biggest secret, and afterward, no one would want to be near him. At least, she hoped so.
She turned to the bride. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but James is already married," Sarah said cautiously. "And that's not all. There's something that only I know about James, and now, you have to know it too if you want to marry him."
She could destroy him
Sarah watched as James' expression quickly changed. "Sarah, what are you doing?" James asked again. This time, there was a hint of desperation in his voice. He clearly knew what Sarah was talking about. It made Sarah feel superior. She had something that could destroy him, and boy, would she use it?
"Sarah, please," someone said. Sarah turned around and saw James' mother approaching her. Tears instantly filled Sarah's eyes. She realized that her betrayal hurt James' parents even more than it hurt James. She had always loved James' parents and felt a special connection to his mother, especially since Sarah had lost her own mother at a very young age.
A surreal situation
James' mother took Sarah's hands and looked into her eyes. "Sarah, my dear, what are you doing here?" Sarah began to cry. Why was everyone acting as if it was her fault to be here? Why didn't anyone see how messed up it was for James to marry someone else?
"I'm here for work," she finally said. "But why does that matter? Why are you even here? Did James tell you that we're separated? Because that's a lie!" Sarah cried. This whole situation felt surreal. She prayed in her mind to be awakened from this terrible dream, but this wasn't a dream.
The bride interrupted her
Suddenly, the bride interrupted. "Um, Sarah? I'm sorry. My name is Lily. You said you wanted to reveal one of James' secrets? I'm really curious now, and as you said, I should know it if I want to marry him.
So please, tell me." Sarah hesitated. Lily seemed like a nice woman, and she didn't know that James was still married, or did Sarah want to make her believe that? But would she really ruin James' next relationship?
Was she looking for that?
Sarah giggled. What did she think? Of course, she wanted to ruin his next relationship! "Well," Sarah began. "You see, when I first met James, he wasn't in the right state of mind."
"Sarah, no!" James exclaimed, but Sarah continued. "So one morning, after James didn't come home, I went downstairs and found him naked on the couch... "Sarah, stop! We're not even married anymore!"
What did he just say?
Sarah paused. What did he just say? She looked around at everyone, but no one dared to meet her eyes. Only James' mother looked at her with sad eyes. She approached Sarah and held both her hands again. "Sarah, listen to what I'm about to tell you."
Sarah's heart pounded in her chest and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Her hands became sweaty and suddenly everyone stood too close together for her to find solace.
Sarah couldn't breathe.
She felt like she was about to suffocate and began to hyperventilate. Her mind filled with faint memories she hadn't had this morning. Was she going crazy?
Reality slipped away from her as she listened to James' mother. "You and James are divorced." No, Sarah thought. That can't be happening. I saw James just last week. Didn't I? "Sarah, listen to me," James' mother continued. Sarah couldn't speak. She looked at everyone's faces and suddenly fixated on Dax's face.
Was that the truth?
Dax looked very concerned. Sarah couldn't bear it. Everyone looked concerned and pitied her. Did James' mother tell her the truth? Sarah closed her eyes and tried to remember.
But from the confused memories she had, she couldn't make out anything. She remembered James being at her house just a week ago, but did that actually happen?
The realization hit her.
Suddenly, Sarah felt her body become heavy. Her stomach sank as the realization hit her. They were right. James and she WERE divorced. Tears streamed down Sarah's face as she fell to her knees. She could only cry. No one knew what to do in this situation.
James' mother crouched down beside her and wrapped her arm around Sarah. "Let's get you some water," she said, helping Sarah stand up slowly. They walked slowly towards the kitchen and sat down together at a table. "Please, Conny, tell me what's going on. I feel like I'm going crazy," Sarah asked.
She had a nervous breakdown.
"It's very difficult to understand, so you need to be calm first. You have to focus entirely on what I'm going to tell you, okay? I can't go on like this. James deserves to move on, and so do you."
Sarah nodded. She took a deep breath, took a sip of water, and listened to Conny. "Last year, you had a nervous breakdown. It was too much for James to handle alone, so he had to send you away." She paused.
James divorced Sarah last year
It would be very painful for Sarah to hear this story, so she wanted to tell it as slowly and carefully as possible. She continued, "During your absence, James met Lily.
They instantly clicked, and although it was a terrible thing for James to do, they started seeing each other. James couldn't bear the thought of cheating on you, so he divorced you while you were still in a facility."
Her memories came flooding back
Slowly, Sarah's memories started to come back. She began to cry as she listened to Conny telling her these strange things. "We believe that the brain blocks it out when it can't cope with the loss of the love of your life.
So it makes you believe that you're still the happy couple you were a year ago." Sarah's thoughts began to clear, and she could now recall what Conny was talking about.
Living a lie
She had been living a lie all this time. Every time she told her friends about something James had done in the past year, they remained silent, and now Sarah knew why. Why didn't they just tell her? Conny saw her puzzled look. "We tried to tell you, to argue with you, but you wouldn't listen. Every time we brought it up, you shut down. It's a delicate matter, and honestly, we didn't know how to handle it." Sarah sighed.
How could she ever move on from here? She needed to seek help, that was certain. But how could she trust the memories she had? Were they all made up, or were some of them real? She wanted to go home immediately. She just wanted to curl up and cry.
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