The Wedding That Almost Was

After being stood up at our wedding, we argued so badly that we ended up at the police station.

On my wedding day, my groom never showed up to pick me up.

The reason? My soon-to-be mother-in-law suddenly demanded that I add her younger son's name to the title of our new house-so that the house would serve as the marital home.

If I agreed to her condition to get married, I must have lost my mind!

01

Today was my wedding. I'd been up since 3:30 a.m. doing my makeup. Even though Collin and I hadn't been together very long-and despite having to deal with an overbearing future mother-in-law-I was still filled with excitement about the new life we were about to start, especially with a baby on the way.

But now, at 7:30 a.m., my groom was already late.

Who in their right mind would be late on their wedding day?

My phone still showed a text from 6:30 a.m.-a quick reply after I sent him a selfie of my finished makeup-and then nothing more.

I had an uneasy feeling that something was very wrong.

Could it be that my unpredictable future mother-in-law was at it again?

Clutching my phone, I hesitated about calling him.

I was surrounded by family, friends, makeup artists, videographers, and three bridesmaids-I dreaded that if I called, his mom might start a scene.

But my mom was worried and already pressed the phone to my ear.

"Quick, ask Collin what's going on. Don't tell me something happened on the way!" my mom urged.

"Hello! Emma? Why are you calling so late?"

Came a voice I recognized as Stephanie's. She is my future mother-in-law. The moment I heard it, I knew something wasn't right. Collin Bailey hadn't even left the house yet!

"Stephanie, what's wrong? What happened with Collin? He still hasn't left?"

"Listen, I need to discuss something with you. I was just talking with him, and well... it's delaying everything..."

Even as I heard Stephanie's saccharine tone, I couldn't help but picture her forced smile.

"Maybe we can talk after the ceremony. It's already getting late, and any more delay might ruin the schedule." I tried to keep calm, suggesting. I kept reminding myself that once we were married, we'd be independent.

I had my own home, so I wouldn't have to deal with her meddling forever.

"Emma, can you bring back the wedding fund money? You know, Collin's younger brother Patrick is getting married later this year, and our family isn't exactly flush..."

Oh no!

That was all I needed to hear. Of course, they were still obsessing over that $150K wedding fund.

Due to my pregnancy, our engagement had been rushed, and the promised $300K marriage fund had been repeatedly cut down by Collin's mom-Stephanie-who not only kept bargaining it down but also reassured us with promises of a new house and renovations after the wedding.

Seriously? Before the wedding was even over, they were already planning to pull back the cash to help fund Patrick's wedding? It felt like the money was being recycled at our expense.

"Didn't we agree that the wedding money would serve as the down payment for our new home, and that my parents would chip in as well?" I protested.

But Stephanie was absolutely determined. Her tone hardened as she said, "The money from your family should be enough to start with. Just bring back the money from us. I won't use it all for his brother-it's just a loan, and you'll get it back later. Besides, it's all for the baby!"

My anger boiled over, but I had to be polite to an elder. "Stephanie, hand the phone over to Collin so I can talk to him," I said evenly.

I believed Collin was still reliable-after all, he had saved up a portion of that money himself, and I'd contributed by purchasing our new home. That wedding fund was meant to help us build our future together.

But when Collin answered, his very first words were, "Just listen to her. We can save up more later."

My heart sank-I knew I had no choice but to return the wedding money.

It was clear his mother had already convinced him.

Collin had been working for three or four years by now. He surely had savings beyond just the wedding fund. If I took back that money, it would be like buying myself some peace of mind.

"Okay, I'll do as you say. Please hurry and come get me; all our guests are already waiting at the reception hall," I replied.

I didn't want my wedding to turn into a fiasco. My parents were already worried sick. My mom anxiously asked, "So, has Collin come yet?"

I set the phone down and looked around at the room full of relatives and friends. Forcing a smile, I announced, "Everyone, the groom will be here any minute-please head into the living room while I adjust my dress."

Everyone quietly left my room. My mom lingered, worry written all over her face. "What's going on? Is something wrong with his family?"

Tears threatened as I tried to keep my composure, the mix of hormones from my pregnancy and all the commotion making my emotions run high.

"It's his mom-she wants me to bring back the wedding money."

My mom paused mid-motion with a spoonful of herbal tonic meant for me, then let out a sigh. "That Stephanie is impossible. Fine, just give the money back. At least we trust Collin. Once you're married, you'll have your own home and won't have to deal with them so much."

I knew my parents were gentle and pragmatic people. In their eyes, it was better to avoid extra drama and let things slide-even if it meant sacrificing a bit of pride.

I could only sigh. Just then, the phone rang again. It was Stephanie.

"Emma, I almost forgot to mention-the girlfriend of Patrick, you know, comes from a well-connected family. She's looking for a partner who owns a house..."

My breath caught. Was this her next demand already?

"What do you mean? Are you saying I should lend him money to buy a house? Is this really the time to be discussing this?"

"Of course not, I mean, haven't you already prepared a house for your marriage?" Stephanie continued, "Look, you're already three months pregnant, and as your pregnancy progresses, you'll need more care. Why don't you move back home so I can take care of you? Let Patrick and his fiancée use the house for now-it's just a temporary arrangement. You'll get it back later. What do you think? Besides, your new house was just renovated-it's still full of chemicals from the fresh paint and new furniture. It's not a good environment for the baby."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It seemed like the calculations were becoming more and more outrageous-enough to make my head spin.

I raised my voice, "What are you talking about? How can you just give away our new home as a wedding gift? And my house has been well-maintained for years-it's not like it's hazardous!"

I realized how naïve I had been, completely unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Clearly, they weren't offering a temporary fix-they wanted my entire house for themselves.

Hearing no sign of agreement, Stephanie pressed on, "What about that small three-bedroom place you own in the suburbs? It's hardly worth anything since it's so remote. Just give that to Patrick. If you agree, I'll tell Collin to come get you immediately. And come on, you're pregnant-this wedding can't be delayed any longer!"

She knew exactly how to keep things moving- and she had clearly calculated that once I was pregnant, I'd have no choice but to go along with their plans.

My relatives were crowding the reception area outside, and I felt as though my world was closing in on me.

Amid the clamor, the weight of the heavy wedding gown felt like a suffocating shell.

Was I really being manipulated by his entire family?

In the dead of winter, I didn't even feel like turning on the heater. Instead, I cracked open a window to let the air in. The rush of cold wind chilled me to the bone, but it also cleared my head, snapping me back into thought.

I started to wonder if all of this was just a spur-of-the-moment decision or a long-planned scheme. And what exactly was Collin's role in all of this?

Taking a deep breath, I resolved to make one final stand -if even Collin was trying to take advantage of me, then there was no point in getting married.

02

Before the second call came in, I still trusted Collin completely. In our relationship, he always went along with whatever I wanted.

My parents never had high expectations for my future husband-as long as he treated me well and was reliable, they were happy.

In many ways, I felt I was the more accomplished one. At first, my parents were against me marrying into a modest, rural background, but once they saw how humble, courteous, and even accommodating Collin was to my impulsive nature, they eventually relented.

Besides, he was hardworking-over the past year he had never hesitated to celebrate every anniversary and holiday, winning back the romantic side of me. I truly believed that settling down with someone like him would be a good choice.

I earned a master's degree from a well-regarded university just a year ago and started a stable career as a school counselor at a public school.

Meanwhile, although Collin only held a bachelor's degree, his income was steady enough that I could even consider pursuing a PhD later if I wished.

So, I made compromises with reality.

However, Collin's mother-Stephanie-proved to be a constant source of trouble long before our engagement.

Their family had already slashed the wedding gift money in half, which didn't sit well with my parents.

After all, it's a matter of pride-wedding contributions from both sides are expected to be equal.

But Stephanie wouldn't give an inch; she even insisted that Collin add an extra $60K to round it out to $150K.

And that wasn't all. Soon after, she demanded that our families also cover the costs of the reception and dinner, and despite my repeated attempts to negotiate and mediate with my parents, her demands kept escalating until she even set her sights on my house.

Collin then took the phone. His voice wavered slightly as he explained, "I've already talked it over with my mom-we'll move in with her and let my brother have the house. I know this is our home, and it's not just my decision to make, but Mom promised to help with the baby in the future. Besides, I'm the older brother-I can't just stand by and watch my little brother struggle to get married, can I?"

Marrying Collin had been a decision made after weighing all the pros and cons.

I had once envisioned a warm, loving home and looked forward to building a life together-and even having a child to seal our love. But everything crumbled the moment I took that call.

I closed my eyes, feeling beads of sweat on my face.

I didn't even care if my makeup was ruined; I quickly wiped it away and demanded, "Our family home? You know that's my premarital asset- my parents bought that house, and I only added your name to give you a bit of recognition!"

"But your family owns several houses. Once we're married, we're one family-can't you at least help out my little brother?"

I couldn't stand to hear any more, ignoring the judging eyes of our relatives and friends gathered outside.

Today, of all days, I was done. If it weren't my wedding day, I swear I'd have unleashed every curse word in my vocabulary.

"Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm running a charity? Are you out of your mind? You're giving away our wedding home to your brother?" I shouted.

"No, no-just give one to Patrick. It doesn't have to be our wedding home!"

"Please! Your whole family is scheming. That house belongs to my parents-it's none of your business. Stop dreaming! I'm not getting married today!"

I screamed, so furious that I yanked the safety clip from the back of my wedding dress and clutched it in my hand.

I refused to wear that dress any longer.

Collin's tone grew desperate, "You're carrying my child-who else do you think you'll marry? Emma Walsh, do you really believe money makes you special? I can't imagine you, pregnant, with anyone else!"

"Today, I'm not getting married. I'm done with you!"

I snapped before slamming my phone on the floor and ending the call.

Within moments, my aunts rushed in from outside, unable to stand by any longer. They saw my makeup smudged by tears and immediately asked, "What happened, Emma? What did they say?"

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I managed to reply, "They've been completely bullying me. First, they demanded I return the wedding fund, and now they want me to pay for a house for his brother!"

At that, the entire room fell silent.

My dad was the first to react, wrapping his arms around me and saying, "Alright, my daughter shouldn't have to put up with this. A family like that isn't worth marrying into."

His words made my tears flow even faster, and I could barely speak.

I instructed the videographer to cancel today's schedule.

The young man, clearly taken aback by the situation, hesitated and said, "Miss Walsh, the fee isn't refundable, and we haven't filmed much today-would you still like us to edit and send you the footage?"

I waved him off, indicating that it wasn't necessary.

As he left, I asked the makeup artist to remove the tear-streaked makeup.

In that moment, I even found myself thinking-next time, I'd never hire them. I paid so much for that makeup, and it wasn't even waterproof!

After sending the photographer and makeup artist out the door, I leaned against the wall and began to consider what to do next.

The whole fiasco was utterly embarrassing-not only was all the money for the wedding wasted, but I'd also have to cancel the reception, the post-wedding brunch, and return all the items we had already ordered.

Worse still, I'd be forced to explain to our guests that the wedding wasn't postponed-it was entirely off.

I tried to comfort myself by thinking that, at the very least, I'd seen a real scumbag for what he was before tying the knot.

I was grateful that we hadn't finalized the legal paperwork yet.

I had harbored doubts about Collin and his family even before today, believing that those issues could be resolved.

Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I'd sensed a shift in his attitude. He was rushing everything-our wedding photos were thrown together, nothing like the professional shoot I had dreamed of-and every decision seemed dictated by time.

At our engagement, they even cut the wedding fund in half.

Now they wanted to take it back to fund his younger brother's wedding, and they were demanding that I sacrifice an entire house for them.

Every move was calculated, and it was clear they were taking advantage of my situation. I wasn't going to let them get away with it.

03

I never expected that canceling a wedding would be even more troublesome than planning one.

Yet, despite the chaos, the hotel staff-clearly seasoned in handling large-scale events-managed to process a partial refund for me.

What proved most challenging was apologizing to all the relatives and friends and enduring their endless lectures. We spent nearly the entire day on the phone, and by eight or nine in the evening, after seeing off out-of-town guests and quickly tidying up the room, everything had finally come to a close.

In the quiet that followed, I lay on a crisp white bed, staring at the streamers, paper decorations, and soft fairy lights my parents had carefully put up-something they'd never done before, as they'd always preferred a neat, uncluttered home.

Tears began to flow again.

At that moment, my mom entered with a bowl of soup and said gently, "Sweetheart, why don't you go sleep in our room tonight? It's been so long since you've slept with us."

That night, as I stayed quietly with my parents, an overwhelming sadness filled me. No one spoke; the silence was heavy with unspoken words. I felt a deep sense of remorse for disappointing them after all they had done for me.

Finally, unable to contain my emotions, I choked out, "Am I such a disgrace? Was I too impulsive? Maybe I should have held on a little longer-perhaps there would have been room for compromise. I shouldn't have lost my temper.

My parents were surprisingly calm, "This is a blessing in disguise. At least before you get married, you now know exactly who you're dealing with. We misjudged him-he simply lacks responsibility."

Mom added, "Don't worry about what happens. Your dad and I will always protect you, Emma."

My tears flowed unchecked, and I only managed to fall asleep around dawn.

Yet, even sleep offered no true rest; my dreams were haunted by Stephanie's domineering presence, by Collin's once-sweet words, and by the life growing inside me.

I hadn't even sorted out what to do about Collin and his family when, the next morning, Collin arrived at my doorstep.

His face was etched with exhaustion. He seemed about to call my parents but, noticing how awkward the situation was, simply asked me to talk downstairs.

Not wanting to discuss everything in front of my family, I followed him. As I caught sight of his car parked in the distance, I suggested, "Let's take it into the car. I don't want our neighbors to see any more of this mess."

He hesitated, then said, "Let's just talk here."

I struggled to keep my voice steady as I told him, "Honestly, I don't have anything left to say to you. I've already decided-I'm not marrying you. Yesterday, I called and canceled all the reservations. I'm not going to let you or your family make me pay for a lesson in the worst way possible."

Before he could respond, a figure suddenly charged from his car, clearly backing him up.

Of course-it was Stephanie.