After six months of dating, Chris proposes to Beth. His enthusiastic family runs with the wedding planning — only to include unorthodox items on the program, causing Beth to leave her wedding.
For my 25th birthday this year, my boyfriend, Chris, whisked me off to Hawaii.
It was a fairytale because we had only been dating for six months, and I wasn’t expecting anything. But then, Chris proposed to me on the beach — I said yes, swept away by the enchantment of the moment, although I knew that six months of knowing someone was not enough before marrying them.
Little did I know that fairytale was about to unravel into more drama than I had signed up for.
Beach proposal | Source: Pexels
I wasn’t one of those girls who spent hours dreaming up their wedding. So when Chris’s family, fueled by their eagerness and involvement, took complete control over every detail of the wedding, even offering to foot the bill — I allowed it.
I’ll admit that there were moments when I felt sidelined, especially when I said that shades of blue for the color scheme weren’t my cup of tea.
But contributing to their enthusiasm was the better option than fighting with them.
Then, the big day arrived, and I was completely calm about everything — knowing that Chris’s Mom and sister had sorted everything out. I wasn’t close to my family, so other than my father, they didn’t play any big roles.
Blue wedding decor | Source: Pexels
“Beth,” his Mom, Leeanne, said, fixing my hair. “I want you to walk down the aisle with your eyes closed.”
“What? Why?” I exclaimed, already thinking about tripping over something while walking.
“I can barely walk properly in these heels with my eyes open,” I chuckled.
“It’s just tradition,” Leeanne said. “I did it, too. The whole thing is about seeing your husband first — the first thing out of the darkness.”
“He’s supposed to be the light,” Chris’s sister, Maggie, giggled.
The whole thing sounded strange. It wasn’t anything I had heard of before, but I also knew that people always came up with superstitions and stories.
“I wouldn’t have to wear a blindfold and mess up my make-up, right?” I asked.
“No, just close your eyes and hold onto your father’s hand tightly,” Leeanne said.
When I told my Dad what I needed to do, he laughed, thinking I was joking.
Pair of glittery Jimmy Choo heels | Source: Unsplash
It was absurd, of course. But my wedding only got worse from there.
At the altar, I opened my eyes, expecting the loving gaze of my fiancé, but I got way more than I bargained for.
Chris smiled at me, and after a second, another sight sent shockwaves through me — a woman in a white dress stood behind him.
I couldn’t tell whether he knew she was there from his expression. I wondered who she was, but the murmurs around me revealed her identity — Julia, Chris’s first wife.
“Chris, what’s happening?” I whispered, pointing to Julia. My voice was barely audible amidst the collective gasps.
Woman standing in white dress | Source: Pexels
But before either Chris or I could process this bizarre twist in the ceremony, Leeanne walked down the aisle, holding onto a little boy’s hand. Every face turned to look toward them.
Then, Julia stepped forward and held her arms open for the boy, ready for him to walk in.
“This is Eli,” she said, looking at me. “He’s six years old, and he is autistic. He’s the best part of me, but he’s also part of Chris. Elizabeth, this is our son.”
“But he wouldn’t tell you that,” Maggie chimed in from next to me — she was one of my bridesmaids.
“Did you know about Eli?” Maggie asked.
Boy covering his face | Source: Pexels
I shook my head. The air had become dense with emotion. The crowd’s eyes were on me, but my gaze was fixed on Chris, desperate for an explanation, an excuse, a denial, anything.
But there was none. Instead, he fingered his watch nervously, guilt undeniable on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded, my voice shaking.
“I didn’t know how,” he stammered, avoiding eye contact.
I turned to look at Eli, who was holding tightly onto Julia’s hand and looking around the room. I could clearly see Chris’s features all over his face.
“You let me believe that your divorce was admirable and that there were no ties to Julia,” I said. “But you abandoned your family. You abandoned your son.”
“He abandoned Eli when he found out that he was autistic,” Maggie said loudly.
My heart sank. How could I have almost married a man who was so thoughtless and cold? He left his son behind because of something that he was born with.
As the truth unfolded, I felt I was drowning in the weight of everything. Leeanne, upon discovering that Chris wanted to remarry, had orchestrated this dramatic revelation.
Man holding his tie | Source: Pexels
“You’re too young, Elizabeth,” she said. “You’re too young to be caught up in his mess. He couldn’t care for Julia, so she cared for herself and Eli. Chris has disappointed me in many ways, but nothing will make up for the neglect of his own child.”
It turned out that my wedding was just a harsh, public lesson aimed at a man who had turned his back on his responsibilities.
I kicked off my heels, handed them to Maggie, and walked away from the altar — not as a bride but as a woman who had narrowly escaped a life bound to deceit.
The experience was painful — sure, it had only been six months of knowing Chris, but I knew what I had felt for him was real. That’s why it hurt so much when I found out the truth.
People holding passports | Source: Pexels
In the aftermath, I took time to focus on myself. I decided I needed to travel and live life while still young. I needed more bad romances and horrible dates before figuring out who I wanted to be with.
I just knew one thing for sure — I didn’t want to be with someone like Chris. A man who lied about having a son — a son that was rendered invisible to him because he was autistic.
I’m just grateful that the only thing I had to pay for was my wedding dress — which had been returned three days after the so-called wedding.
Even now, when I think about the entire episode, I admit I’m not mad about it all. Leeanne did what she needed to do. And she did it to protect me and that sweet little boy.
Little boy with red hair | Source: Pexels
Has anything unreal happened to you?
Here’s another story for you | Fred is about to get married to Julia when five other women dressed as brides show up and spoil his plans. Julia loves him, and Fred is very convincing. Even after the can of worms is forcefully opened, Julia can’t help but wonder if he is a changed man.
Demi Lovato Explains Why She Changed Her Pronouns From They/Them To She/Her
emi Lovato has explained why she switched from using they/them to she/her pronouns.
After starring in the critically acclaimed Disney films Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010), Lovato, 32, shot to fame.
She has also enjoyed success in the music industry; approximately 24 million recordings are thought to have been sold in the United States.
Regarding her gender identity and suality, Lovato has been exceedingly transparent with her fans throughout the years. In 2021, the vocalist of “Heart Attack” disclosed on Instagram that she is non-binary. The music sensation said,
“I’m excited to share more of my life with you all today and am proud to announce that I identify as non-binary and will be officially changing my pronouns to they/them going forward.” This is the result of extensive self-reflection and healing effort. I don’t
The singer of “Sorry Not Sorry” said that her early years in the South were “very confusing” and “not very open.”
Thankfully, it seems like Lovato is much more at ease disclosing information about her gender identity and s**uality these days. At YouTube Pride, she said that she was “thankful” to her family for “using my pronouns.”
Additionally, Lovato informed her followers that the shift occurred as she started to learn more about herself
The “Cool for the Summer” singer clarified in an interview with the music podcast Audacy Check-In: “I’ve utilized this time to truly investigate what feels right to me since I’ve learnt about gender identity and being non-binary or gender non-conforming.
“And after a year and a half of investigation, I came to the realization that it was time to share with the world my discomfort with being referred to as a’she’ or ‘her.’”Since it’s something new, I recognize that some people may find it difficult to get used to, but I want to encourage them to keep trying and let them know that it takes time to become used to.
Lovato acknowledged that she occasionally might even “mess up” while using pronouns.
Lovato disclosed on the show that she had developed intimate friendships with members of the LGBTQIA+ community in other places.
“My queer family has become more of a family than friends. I used to identify family as blood related,” the woman stated.
And it seems like I have two families right now. In addition to my biological family, I also have a gay family that I consider to be my chosen family.
Lovato’s engagement to singer and actor Max Ehrich ended a year before she came out as transgender.
The singer of “La La Land” later stated to Glamour that she thought their split was a blessing in disguise.
“As I got older, I realized how queer I really am,” she stated to the outlet. I was engaged to a man last year, and when that didn’t work out, I thought, “This is a big sign.”I had the idea that I would live a lifetime in a relationship. I was relieved that I could live my truth now that I wasn’t going to.
“And when I said goodbye to that relationship, I also said goodbye to everything that was holding me back from being my most authentic self,” Lovato continued during a visit at the 19th Represents Summit.
The pop singer also disclosed to the site that she wasn’t sure how her path of gender exploration would develop at the time.
“I may identify as transgender at some point in the future. I’m not sure how this appears to me. I may identify as non-binary and gender nonconforming for the entirety of my life at some point in the future, she said.
For me, at this precise moment, this is how I identify. Perhaps as I get older, I will come to identify as a woman; I’m not sure what that looks like.
The singer of “Skyscraper” said, “I’ve actually adopted the pronouns of’she/her’ again,” during an appearance on the Sprout Podcast.
“My energy, particularly last year, was balanced between my male and feminine energies, allowing me to enter a washroom where the signs read “women” and “men.”
“Since I didn’t feel particularly feminine, I didn’t feel like there was a restroom for me. I didn’t feel manly at all. All I felt was human.”
In addition, Lovato said she has been “feeling more feminine.””
“However, I believe that what matters is that nobody is flawless,” she said in closing. Pronoun errors happen to everyone occasionally, especially to those who are just learning. It all comes down to respect.
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