After a chance encounter and years of dating, Ryan and Hanna were about to walk down the aisle and commit to each other. But when Ryan’s mother revealed an incriminating video of Ryan with another woman, Hanna felt her heartbreak deeply. However, the truth behind the video came to light later, along with much more deceit than Hanna ever imagined.

Do parents enjoy dropping bombshells right before weddings? Apparently, some do, because that’s exactly what Ryan’s mother did—30 minutes before the ceremony.

Ryan and I met two years ago by chance. I was at the community theatre to support my friend Mila, who was making her directorial debut in the local musical. Standing outside after the performance, holding a bouquet of flowers for Mila, Ryan walked right into me, crushing the flowers.

“I am so sorry,” he said, picking up the bouquet. “I hate crowds.”

“I’m not a fan either,” I replied.

He chuckled and gestured for us to move away from the door. “I’m Ryan.”

“Hanna,” I introduced myself.

Just three months into our romance, Ryan proposed at a pub over a pint of Guinness and a plate of crispy potato skins. Last week was supposed to be our wedding, but things went wildly off track.

Initially, my family welcomed Ryan with open arms. As the only daughter, my parents were thrilled that I had found someone who made me genuinely happy.

“This is a different side to you, Hanna,” my mother observed one evening when we had Ryan over for a family dinner.

“He makes her happy,” my father said, smiling. “That’s all a father could want.”

Ryan felt the warmth and welcome from my family, which made our relationship even stronger.

On his side, it was similar. The Coles opened their home and hearts to me, and they wanted us over as much as possible. Mrs. Cole, Audrey, even started a coffee and manicure routine with me.

Everything felt right—until it didn’t.

Leading up to our wedding, I was calm. We planned the small church wedding down to the tiniest details. We knew exactly what we wanted for our special day. But on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, just before the ceremony, my soon-to-be mother-in-law pulled me aside.

“Darling,” Audrey said, “can we chat for a moment?”

I nodded and told her to wait until my glam team had finished my hair and makeup.

Something about her made me anxious. I kept an eye on her through the mirror. Her eyes darted around the room, often landing on my wedding dress.

When I was ready, and my mother was buttoning up my dress, I turned to Audrey. “I’m ready when you are,” I said, smiling.

Her eyes glazed over as she saw me in the dress. She had been at my fittings before, but this was different—this was the real deal. “Hanna,” Audrey started, “there’s no easy way to say this.”

My heart pounded. “Just say it,” I urged, trying to brace myself. “Tell me.”

Audrey took out her phone and handed it to me. “There are videos on this phone that will explain everything. I am so sorry, Hanna, but Ryan needs to be caught out.”

I couldn’t believe what I was about to see. The videos showed Ryan with another woman, an undeniable sign of betrayal.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Is this really him?”

“Look at the jacket on the bed,” Audrey pointed out. “Isn’t that the one you got him?”

I played the video again and saw the jacket. The hotel room looked familiar too—I was certain we had been there before.

“But Ryan’s face isn’t in the frame,” I argued.

I struggled to believe what I was seeing. How could my almost mother-in-law stand in front of me with a video of her son’s affair?

“Hanna,” she said slowly, “it’s right in front of you. You can choose to ignore it, but think of the man you would be marrying if you overlook this. Could you live with that?”

I shook my head, overwhelmed. “Fine,” I said finally.

“You’re calling off the wedding?” Audrey asked hopefully.

“No,” I replied. “I’m going to walk down that aisle and then break it off during the vows.”

“Okay, dear,” Audrey said, putting her phone away. “It’s almost time now.”

Sitting on the chaise, I waited for my father to come and get me when it was time to marry Ryan. My heart pounded as I approached the altar. Ryan’s tender smile only made it harder. He took my hand and squeezed it. It would have been perfect, had he not been unfaithful.

When the priest began quoting scripture about love and marriage, my heart settled, knowing what was coming.

“I don’t,” I said softly.

“Speak louder, Hanna,” the priest prompted.

“I don’t!” I repeated more confidently. The words echoed through the church.

Ryan was shocked, then confused. “Hanna? What?” he asked, hurt in his voice.

“Ask your mom,” I said, pointing at Audrey. “Mrs. Cole, please tell everyone what you told me earlier.”

Audrey nervously took out her phone and held it out. “Look,” I said to Ryan.

Ryan stepped back, almost tripping over the wedding arch. “That is not me, Hanna!”

“Ryan, you know it’s not me!”

He looked desperate, but I refused to meet his eyes. Then he confronted Audrey. “Mom, what is all this? Where did you get that video?”

Audrey shook her head and left the church.

I couldn’t listen to Ryan’s excuses anymore. “Hanna, please,” he begged. “I need you to believe me.”

I wanted to believe him, but the evidence—especially the jacket I had bought him—was too much. “I can’t do this,” I said. “I won’t.”

I bolted out of the side door, with my parents following me closely. Ryan tried reaching out all day, but by nightfall, I blocked his number.

Two days later, wrapped in a blanket, Ryan showed up at my parents’ house with takeout and flowers. “You expect this to fix everything?” I asked.

“I need to talk,” he said.

Against my better judgment, I listened. What Ryan revealed next took me by surprise.

“I confronted Audrey after the wedding,” he said. “She was home, eating toast and listening to old records like nothing had happened.”

“I think you did that,” I snapped back.

“Hanna,” he warned. “My mother orchestrated the video with her students. She didn’t want us to get married.”

My jaw dropped. Audrey, a high school teacher, also tutored college freshmen. When she realized our wedding was happening, she panicked. She got two students to stage the video, adding my jacket as a touch.

“I thought she liked me,” I said, digging into the food Ryan brought. “Clearly, she doesn’t.”

“She even edited the sounds,” Ryan chuckled nervously.

I was torn. For two days, I convinced myself Ryan was the villain who broke my heart. In reality, his mother, who pretended to claim me as the daughter she never had, broke our hearts. She believed I was unworthy of Ryan.

Ryan and I forgave each other immediately. After all, I had accused him of cheating in front of everyone.