I knew how much my fiancé loved me until he didn’t show up at the altar on our wedding day. A day later, I saw him signing papers in my father’s office without me knowing what it was about.
Brian and I visited our favorite fine-dining restaurant on the night of our sixth anniversary as a couple. He seemed very nervous, and I kept wondering why. “What’s wrong, Brian? Are you alright?” I asked him as he shifted in his seat a couple of times while looking behind me.
He nodded and tried his best to smile. “Yeah, of course, I’m okay,” he assured me. “It’s our anniversary and I couldn’t be happier.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
I smiled at his answer and proceeded to look at the menu. I had memorized the menu from all the times we’d been at the restaurant, but I still looked look over it for old time’s sake. By the time I looked up from the menu, I got the surprise of my life.
Brian was on one knee, and there was a group of musicians behind him, playing soft, romantic music with their violins. “Jane, honey. We’ve been together for six years now, and I’m more than certain that I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Brian declared. “Would you do me the honor of being my wife?” he asked.
I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands. “Of course, yes!” I said, jumping from my seat to give Brian a hug. I looked at the beautiful solitaire ring that Brian slipped on my finger and realized how long it would have taken him to save up for something so big and beautiful.
The following day, I went to visit my parents to let them know that Brian had proposed. My mom was delighted for me and gave me a big hug. However, my dad’s reaction was another story.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“You can’t possibly be happy marrying that man, Jane,” he told me. “What will become of you and your children? Will he even afford to buy you a house? To put your kids through private school?” he started to ask.
“Dad, how could you say that? Brian works hard, and I’m working too. We’ll figure it out together as every married couple does!” I shot back.
“How long did it take him to save up for that ring, anyway? As if that’s supposed to convince me that he can take care of you. If I were you, I’d give that ring back and call the wedding off. It’s not too late, Jane. There are many wealthy bachelors I can introduce you to – men that I can actually entrust my daughter and the future of my business with,” he told me.
I scoffed in disbelief, knowing all my dad ever cared about was money. I shook my head and left the house before I could say anything I’d regret.
Brian and I planned our wedding alone, with subtle help from my mom. Three months of preparation passed, and it was finally time for the big day.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Before the ceremony, Brian couldn’t find his sister and his niece. “Where are they?” he asked his mother. Reluctantly, Brian’s mom revealed that his niece Maxine had to be taken to the hospital for an emergency operation on her heart problem.
“Your sister’s been trying to find people she can borrow money from,” his mom told him. “The hospital won’t start on the operation unless they give a downpayment, but Maxine just doesn’t have that much time left. They need to start the operation as soon as they can.”
Without a second thought, Brian decided to approach my dad to ask for help. “Sir, I know this is going to sound bad, but I was wondering if you could lend me money for my niece’s operation. I had just spent most of what’s in my account on the wedding,” Brian admitted.
I decided to have a cup of coffee at a nearby coffee shop when I suddenly saw Brian looking around the area before entering my dad’s office building.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“I promise, I will pay you back in a month. I just need to get through the month before I get my paycheck,” he asked.
My father shook his head. “I knew you were up to no good,” he scoffed. “But yes, I will help you, on one condition,” he told Brian.
“What is it, sir? I’ll do anything,” Brian said without hesitation.
“You don’t need to pay me back for the money, but you need to disappear from Jane’s life. Run away, and never come back,” he declared.
Brian’s heart twitched upon hearing about my father’s condition. However, he remembered what his mom said about Maxine not having much time left, so he reluctantly agreed. It was his only chance to save his niece’s life.
A couple of minutes later, I was at the altar, weeping. Brian didn’t show up to the wedding, and everyone was trying to console me. “What happened? We were okay yesterday,” I cried. “Where did he go?” I kept asking, after hearing from guests that Brian was at the church earlier that morning.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The following day, my dad asked to meet me at his office. I was supposed to meet him in an hour and a half, but I arrived early.
I decided to have a cup of coffee at a nearby coffee shop when I suddenly saw Brian looking around the area before entering my dad’s office building. “What is he doing here?” I asked myself before deciding to follow him.
By the time I got the bill at the coffee shop, Brian had already entered the elevator. I had a feeling that he was on the way to my dad’s office, so I hurried up the next elevator to see what it was all about.
When I arrived, I saw Brian, my dad, and my dad’s lawyer in the same room. Because the glass windows were soundproof, I could not hear what they were talking about. Instead, I watched my dad’s lawyer hand Brian some papers, which he signed before shaking hands with the other men in the room.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
I couldn’t stop myself from barging in at that point. “What is this?! What are those papers and why are you here?!” I yelled.
My dad had a smug look on his face as if telling me he knew this would happen all along. “Your groom here just agreed not to see you ever again in exchange for money,” he told me.
I looked at Brian with the most painful look of betrayal. “Is that true?” I said, trying not to choke from the tightening in my throat that came after hearing what my dad had said.
“I’m sorry, Jane. It’s Maxine. She’s dying, and she needs an expensive operation to save her life,” Brian cried. “Yesterday, I asked your dad for help, and he said he’d help me if I didn’t attend the wedding. I’m sorry, Jane. I can’t bear losing my niece,” he sobbed.
“He just signed the agreement that he would never show up in your life ever again. If you hadn’t shown up, the papers stated that he would not be allowed to tell you the truth, either. But now that you’re here, I guess it’s better for you to know that he replaced your relationship for money,” my dad said, slamming the papers on the table.
“How could you do this to me?!” I yelled at my dad. “My life is not some toy you can just play with! You ruined my relationship, and you ruined what was supposed to be the best day of my life!” I cried.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“What kind of father are you?! I never want to see you again,” I said before leaving his office.
I could feel my knees grow weak, and before I could even reach the elevator, I collapsed on the floor, crying. “Why?” I cried to nobody in particular. It was then that I felt Brian’s arms wrap around me.
“I’m sorry, Jane,” he cried. “I love you with all my heart, but I also couldn’t allow Maxine to die. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
“You are the kindest, most selfless man I know,” I told Brian. “I know you only meant well. But I hope you had told me instead of going to my dad. That way, we still could have continued our wedding, and we could have helped Maxine together.”
Brian nodded and sighed upon realizing his mistake. “I didn’t know what to do. You weren’t at the church yet, and your dad was the first one I saw when I heard the news. I’m sorry, Jane,” he apologized to me.
“I understand if you never want to see me again, but I wish you could give me a chance to prove to you how much I love you. I really do, Jane,” he tried to assure me.
“I know you do, Brian, and I love you just as much,” I replied.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
That day, we decided to talk about our lives and what we could do moving forward. We visited Maxine at the hospital and paid for the surgery after getting refunds from our wedding suppliers. Maxine successfully underwent surgery, and she once again became the lively, loving girl we all once knew.
Three months passed, and Brian and I decided to start a new life together. We moved to a different city to start fresh, and I decided to cut my dad out of my life for good.
“I hope you understand why I had to do this, mom,” I said when I told my mom my decision of keeping away from dad. “It’s for my own good. He was too toxic for me, and I just couldn’t take it.”
It pained my mom to hear this, but she completely understood where I was coming from. “I will always be here for you, dear,” she assured me. “Please visit me, and always keep in touch. I can’t bear not seeing you for a long time.”
With my mom’s blessing, Brian and I got married in a simple celebration. Only my mom, his parents, a few of our close friends, and his sister and niece were in attendance.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Before leaving town, Brian and I mailed the check my dad had issued back to him. Since then, I never heard from him again. After quitting my job at the family company, he blocked my credit cards and any chance of receiving an inheritance.
With the money I had saved up for years and with Brian’s, too, we were able to buy a small house in the suburbs. I got a job at another company, and together, we worked hard to raise our three children in a loving environment.
What can we learn from this story?
- Never let money get in the way of your relationship. Jane’s dad thought getting Brian away from her would be as simple as giving her money. However, when Jane found out the truth about what her dad did, she was angrier with him than with Brian, as she knew Brian was in a difficult situation that left him with no choice but to agree to her dad’s wishes.
- Always be honest with your spouse and work through life’s challenges together. When Jane found out the truth, all she wanted was for Brian to have told her the truth, to begin with. That way, they could have avoided what happened at the wedding and continued on. Ultimately, they were able to work through their issues and work together to save Maxine and start a new life together without her dad in the picture.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who sees two children at his wedding, only to run away with them without explanation.
Banking Consultant Mocked My Postpartum Wife after Seeing Her ID – I Came Back a Few Days Later to Teach Him a Lesson
Banking Consultant Mocked My Postpartum Wife after Seeing Her ID – I Came Back a Few Days Later to Teach Him a Lesson
We had just welcomed our baby girl, and the postpartum period was tough on my wife Sarah. She gained weight and was exhausted. Last week at the bank, a rude consultant mocked her after seeing her old ID photo. How dare he? Furious, I went back a few days later to teach him an unforgettable lesson.
Hey everyone! Just your average new dad Edward here, sleep-deprived and running on cuddles (because hello, endless diaper changes!), but utterly smitten with my 8-week-old daughter, Lily.
A man holding a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash
She’s a total peanut with the cutest chubby cheeks and the softest hair you’ve ever seen. Being a parent is pure magic, don’t get me wrong. The gurgles, the coos, the way she lights up at the sound of your voice… pure symphony.
But man, nobody warned me about the postpartum period. It’s like this relentless beast that snuck in and stole the sunshine from my normally radiant wife, Sarah. Dark circles under her eyes, constant exhaustion… you get the picture?
Happy and peaceful mother cuddling with her child | Source: Pexels
Anyway, this story is about something that happened a few days ago, and I gotta get it off my chest. So buckle up, because it involves a jerk of a bank consultant who RIDICULED my postpartum wife and a FIGHT for a little bit of decency. Let’s go!
Sarah needed to hit the bank for some monotonous grown-up stuff. It wasn’t like brain surgery, you know? Just a quick in-and-out to get things sorted.
Woman with her baby in bedroom | Source: Pexels
“I’ll be quick!” she promised, throwing on a comfy dress, pulling her hair back in a messy ponytail (because hello, newborn!), and plastering on a smile, the kind that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but you hope does the trick.
Fast forward to later that night, and that smile was nowhere to be found. Instead, there were tear tracks and a trembling voice. Turns out, some middle-aged punk named Mark at the bank decided to unload on my wife.
The woman with her messy ponytail | Source: Midjourney
Sarah told me this jerk looked at her ID, then right at her (looking a little more “mom” than her pre-baby pic, which, duh!), and smirked, loud enough for the ENTIRE freaking bank to hear, saying:
“Wow, this must be an old photo. Motherhood’s been… DIFFERENT for you, huh?”
Man in suit pointing his finger | Source: Pexels
“I was MORTIFIED, Ed,” Sarah choked out, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Like, completely destroyed. All I wanted to do was vanish. But I forced myself to finish the transaction, holding Lily close like a shield. As soon as I could, I practically ran out of that bank, just wanting to get us both as far away from that jerk as possible.”
My blood went from lukewarm to lava in about two seconds. Who says that to someone, especially a new mom who’s already dealing with a million things?
Sad mother embracing her baby | Source: Pexels
I was LIVID. Sarah, my beautiful, strong Sarah, had been broken by a stranger’s cruelty. How dare someone be so heartless?
There was no way I was letting this slide. Sarah deserved better, and this bank, this place that allowed such behavior, needed an unforgettable lesson.
But storming in, fists flying, wouldn’t solve anything. I needed a plan, something calculated and effective. Something that would hit them where it hurts, you know?
Man pondering over his next actions | Source: Midjourney
A few days later, I snagged a sick day and marched into the bank, revenge simmering in my gut. I clutched a briefcase and scanned the room.
There he was, behind the counter, a middle-aged man with slicked-back black hair and a bored expression tapping away at his computer. A name tag proudly displaying the most punchable name in existence: “MARK.”
This was it. Show time.
Mark typing on a keyboard | Source: Midjourney
“Hello,” I approached him, extending a firm hand. “I’m considering transferring a significant amount of money here, but I need to be confident my funds are in trustworthy hands.”
Mark’s gaze flickered to the briefcase, then back to me. His bored expression morphed into something akin to excitement.
“Absolutely, sir,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “We’d be happy to assist you. How much are we talking about?”
Man placing his black briefcase on the table | Source: Pexels
I placed the briefcase on the counter, opened it slightly to reveal stacks of cash, and then closed it again.
“A considerable amount,” I replied, pausing for effect before adding, “enough to make a significant impact. Five million… in solid cash! But before we proceed, I need to speak with your manager.”
I could literally see dollars popping out of Mark’s eyes. He scurried to fetch Mr. Reynolds, the bank manager.
Briefcase with cash | Source: Midjourney
Mr. Reynolds, a portly man with a receding hairline, approached with a practiced smile that faltered slightly at the sight of the briefcase.
“Good afternoon, sir,” he greeted. “How can we assist you today?”
I cleared my throat. “As I was saying,” I began, “I’m interested in opening a new account, but customer service is paramount to me.”
Man offering a handshake | Source: Pexels
Mr. Reynolds puffed out his chest. “Of course, sir. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and treating everyone fairly.”
I nodded, my gaze flickering to Mark, who was now studiously avoiding eye contact.
“That’s good to hear,” I said, my voice dropping a notch. “Because my wife visited this very bank a few days ago and was subjected to a rather UNPLEASANT experience.”
A collective intake of breath filled the air. Mr. Reynolds’s smile vanished completely. Mark, finally meeting my gaze, looked like a cornered animal.
A startled man covering his face | Source: Pexels
“She was ridiculed by one of your consultants,” I blurted out, the fury in my eyes speaking volumes. “Mocked for not looking EXACTLY like her ID photo, which, by the way, was taken before the little miracle of childbirth.”
The color drained from Mark’s face. He probably knew where this was going. Mr. Reynolds cleared his throat, his brow furrowed in what seemed like genuine concern.
Man intensely staring ahead of him | Source: Pexels
“I… I apologize for that, sir. It won’t happen again,” he said.
“An apology won’t cut it,” I countered, leaning forward. “The point is, trust is CRUCIAL in banking. How can I entrust my money to an institution that employs people who can’t treat customers with basic RESPECT and EMPATHY?”
Mr. Reynolds shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, I assure you, such behavior is not tolerated here.” He shot a withering look at Mark, who mumbled something inaudible.
Man talking behind a glass panel | Source: Pexels
“Words are cheap,” I retorted, pushing the briefcase shut with decisive finality.
“My wife was hurt and humiliated. That’s a fact. And frankly, the thought of my hard-earned money lining the pockets of someone who thinks it’s okay to make fun of a new mother for something as natural as childbirth… it DISGUSTS me.”
The silence in the bank stretched. Mr. Reynolds seemed to be weighing his options, his gaze darting between me and the briefcase. Mark, his face flushed a deep crimson, looked like he wanted to melt into the floor.
Annoyed man with his arms crossed | Source: Pexels
“I understand your frustration, sir,” Mr. Reynolds finally replied. “Perhaps we can discuss this further in my office?”
Seeing the shame etched on Mark’s face and the flicker of understanding in Mr. Reynolds’s eyes, I decided to press my advantage.
“Very well,” I agreed, following Mr. Reynolds into his wood-paneled office.
Wood paneled office | Source: Midjourney
Once inside, Mr. Reynolds closed the door and gestured for me to sit. “Can you tell me more about what happened to your wife?” he asked, his voice devoid of the practiced cheerfulness.
I recounted the incident, my voice low but firm, reliving Sarah’s humiliation through my own anger. Mr. Reynolds listened intently, his expression grim. When I finished, he sighed deeply.
“This is unacceptable,” he uttered, his voice filled with genuine remorse. “Let me assure you, Mr…”
“Fisher,” I replied.
Man seated in his office | Source: Pexels
“Mr. Fisher,” he continued. “We will take appropriate action. Mark will be reprimanded, and we will be reviewing our customer service training program to ensure such an incident never happens again.”
I remained unconvinced. “Actions speak louder than words, Mr. Reynolds.”
He seemed to understand. “We’d like to make amends,” he offered in a polite tone. “Perhaps a small token of our apology? A complimentary financial consultation, perhaps?”
A man in suit looking ahead | Source: Pexels
The offer held no appeal. A complimentary financial consultation to make up for DISRESPECTING my wife? Hard pass, buddy!
“The only amends,” I declared, standing up, “are ensuring this never happens again and making sure your staff understands the importance of treating every customer with dignity, regardless of their appearance.”
Mr. Reynolds nodded curtly. “We understand. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Mr. Fisher.”
A man looking to his side with a shocked expression | Source: Pexels
I walked out of the bank, the briefcase still in my hand, feeling strangely triumphant. Maybe, just maybe, my little act had made a difference.
Later that evening, a knock on the door startled us. Sarah, still recovering from the emotional turmoil of the past few days, answered cautiously. A man she instantly recognized stood on the doorstep, holding a bouquet of tulips and a sheepish expression.
It was Mark.
A man holding a bouquet of tulips | Source: Midjourney
“Mrs. Fisher…” he stammered as he cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. “I… I just wanted to say I’m extremely sorry for what happened the other day. My comment was completely out of line and hurtful. And I feel awful about it.”
Sarah glanced at me, then back at Mark.
He launched into a heartfelt apology, explaining how my visit had opened his eyes and how committed he was to being more compassionate in the future. Sarah graciously accepted his apology, and after a brief conversation, Mark left.
Man apologizing to the couple | Source: Midjourney
That night, as I held her close, the tightness in my chest finally eased.
I walked into that bank angry but walked out with something far more valuable: victory for empathy, JUSTICE for my wife, and a reminder that even the smallest fight for what’s right can send ripples out into the world.
A question still lingers in my mind: What would you have done in that situation? Would you have confronted the perpetrator or walked away? Let me know how you would handle such a situation.
A man smiling | Source: Pexels
Leave a Reply