Sarah opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the sun-drenched white ceiling of her bedroom. She stretched, a soft smile playing on her lips, and turned her head. Beside her, arm thrown carelessly over the pillow, slept Jason, her husband. Husband… The word still felt foreign on her tongue, but it sent a warm wave of comfort through her chest.
Yesterday was their day. Their wedding.
Sarah slipped quietly out from under the duvet, threw on her silk robe, and padded into the kitchen. She flipped the switch on the coffee maker and pulled the leftovers of the wedding cake from the fridge—a three-tier vanilla bean masterpiece with buttercream roses that everyone had raved about. She sat at the island, broke off a piece of the sponge cake, and closed her eyes. The events of the previous evening replayed in her mind like a movie reel.
The reception had been at “The Ivy Trellis,” a charming, family-owned bistro with about twenty tables. She and Jason had spent weeks choosing the spot, finally settling on it for its intimate, unpretentious vibe. There were about forty guests, just their inner circle. Parents from both sides, a few close friends, Sarah’s colleagues from the elementary school, and Jason’s buddies from the auto body shop where he worked as a lead mechanic. And, of course, the bridesmaids: Emily, Jessica, and Chloe.
Sarah recalled the moment her father walked her down the aisle. Dad was wearing a sharp charcoal suit he’d clearly bought just for this occasion, fighting back tears the entire walk.
“You look so beautiful, sweetheart,” he had whispered as they paused before the arbor, draped in white roses and greenery.
Then came the moment she saw Jason standing at the end of the aisle. He looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. His eyes were shimmering, a nervous smile trembling on his lips. Tall, broad-shouldered, looking dashing in a navy blue suit—her Prince Charming.
They had met only six months ago. It was funny to think about now—at a Barnes & Noble downtown. Sarah was browsing the education section for lesson plan resources, while he was in the automotive aisle nearby. She had accidentally bumped him with her elbow while reaching for a book on a high shelf.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” she stammered, blushing furiously.
“No worries!” he laughed. “Here, let me get that for you before you bring the whole shelf down.”
He grabbed the book, handed it to her, and asked, “School teacher, right?”
“How did you guess?”
“The look. My third-grade teacher had the exact same look: strict but kind.”
They started talking right there between the bookshelves. He walked her to her car and asked for her number. He called that same evening. Things moved at lightning speed after that: dates, walks through the city at night, cooking dinner together. Jason turned out to be attentive and caring. He always asked about her day and even brought her Starbucks at school during a particularly brutal week of standardized testing.
A month later, he said, “I’m serious about this, Sarah. I want you to be my wife.”
Sarah had laughed then. “Jason, we barely know each other.”
“So we’ll get to know each other,” he replied. “But I already know you’re the one.”
Maybe it was too fast. Her mom had been skeptical: “Sarah, are you sure? Six months is nothing.” But Sarah felt it in her gut: yes, she was sure. With Jason, everything felt easy, calm, and secure. He didn’t play games, didn’t ghost her, didn’t mess with her head. It was honest and grown-up.
He proposed four months in, at the park by the fountain, with no audience. Just a simple ring with a modest diamond, but it felt sincere.
“Marry me. I promise to make you happy.”
Sarah took a sip of her coffee and looked at the band on her finger. Gold, thin, with an inscription inside: Sarah + Jason. Forever. He wore a matching one. They had picked them out together at a local jeweler’s, arguing playfully and laughing as they tried on different styles. In the end, they chose the simplest ones—no paving, no intricate designs.
“The important thing is that they’re ours,” Jason had said.
There was a moment at the wedding yesterday that Sarah would remember forever. The first dance. The DJ played a slow acoustic cover of “Stand by Me.” Jason held her by the waist, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear:
“Thank you for existing. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Sarah’s breath hitched. She pressed herself tighter against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The guests around them smiled, phones raised to capture the moment, but to the two of them, it felt like they were the only people in the universe.
Then came the father-daughter dance. Dad shuffled awkwardly; he had never been much of a dancer.
“Sorry, honey, if I’m stepping on your toes,” he muttered.
“Dad, you’re doing great,” Sarah reassured him, hugging his shoulders. He was shorter than Jason, so she didn’t have to look up as high.
“You’re a married woman now,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “Take care of yourself. If you need anything, you know where Mom and I are.”
“Always.”
Sarah nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. It was a poignant moment, the final dance of Daddy’s little girl before fully stepping into her new life.
The guests partied late into the night. There were speeches, toasts, and dancing. At the head table, Jason held her hand, occasionally kissing her temple. His friends swapped stories from the shop, while Sarah’s colleagues reminisced about funny classroom mishaps.
And Jessica was constantly hovering nearby. She had always been like that: loud, vibrant, impossible to miss. A tall blonde with legs for days and a talent for wearing tight dresses. They had been friends since college, though, to be honest, Sarah never felt a deep spiritual connection with her. Jessica was the type who loved being the center of attention, catching admiring glances, and flirting with anything that moved. But not inviting her to the wedding was out of the question—she was an old friend, after all.
Sarah remembered how, at one point in the evening, Jessica had draped her arms around Jason’s shoulders and laughed loudly at something he said.
“Good job finding our Sarah!” she announced so everyone could hear. “Take care of her, she’s pure gold!”
Jason smiled and nodded. At the time, it seemed like typical friendly banter. Jessica was always touchy-feely with everyone, kissing cheeks and hanging onto arms. It was just her personality.
The apartment they were currently in—or rather, the one they had crossed the threshold of together last night—was Sarah’s. A two-bedroom condo in a nice complex on the north side of town. She had inherited it from her grandmother three years ago. Grandma had been a bookkeeper her whole life, meticulous and frugal, saving every penny. She bought the place in the nineties when prices were low. Before she passed, she signed the deed over to her only granddaughter.
“Let this be your nest,” Grandma had said from her hospital bed. “Don’t sell it, Sarah. Keep it.”
Sarah never thought of selling. She did some light renovations, painted the walls in soft neutrals, updated the living room furniture, and installed new cabinets in the kitchen. It was cozy and felt like home. When Jason first visited, he immediately noted:
“It feels… warm here. Like a real home.”
He had been renting a studio apartment on the outskirts of town, claiming he was saving up for a place of his own, but the mechanic’s wages made it slow going. When they got married, the housing question solved itself.
“Move in with me,” Sarah had said. “Why pay rent when we have a place to live mortgage-free?”
Jason agreed without hesitation….
Sarah loved her job as a third-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary. It was her second year with this class—twenty-five energetic kids she loved with all her heart. The salary wasn’t astronomical, but it was steady, and having good benefits helped. Plus, with the fully paid-off condo, she didn’t have a mortgage or rent hanging over her head. They could live comfortably without the rat race. Sarah never chased luxury; she was content with simple joys: good books, Sunday walks, family dinners.
The sound of footsteps behind her snapped her back to reality. Jason walked out of the bedroom, hair messy, wearing just his boxers and a t-shirt. He yawned, stretched, and scratched the back of his head.
“Good morning, wife,” he grinned, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
“Good morning, husband,” Sarah replied, feeling a smile spread across her face. “Want some coffee?”
“Yeah. Why are you up so early? We could have slept in.”
“Couldn’t. Too much adrenaline, I guess.”
He sat opposite her, grabbed a piece of cake with his bare hands, and took a bite.
“Yesterday was awesome, right?” he said with his mouth full. “Everyone left happy. Robert, the manager, even said it was one of the liveliest weddings they’ve hosted.”
“Yeah, it was great,” Sarah agreed. “Everyone had fun. Even Dad danced.”
“Your dad’s a good guy. Solid. I’m glad he accepted me.”
“He accepted you immediately. He said you seemed reliable.”
Jason chuckled, downed his coffee, and stood up.
“Alright, I’m gonna jump in the shower. Then I gotta run out for a bit, swing by the shop. The boss called, said an urgent job came in—some guy needs his transmission looked at ASAP. You mind?”
“No, of course not. Go ahead.”
He went into the bathroom, and Sarah was left alone in the kitchen. Silence, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the distant traffic outside. She looked at her phone on the table. It was five minutes to eleven. Strange that no one had called yet—usually, after big events, friends and family started buzzing the phone early to debrief and share photos.
Suddenly, the phone lit up. Unknown Caller. Sarah frowned and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Mrs. Sarah Miller?” It was a male voice, professional but polite.
“Yes, speaking. Who is this?”
“This is Robert Henderson, the manager at The Ivy Trellis. We hosted your wedding yesterday.”
“Oh, hi Robert!” Sarah brightened. “Thank you again, everything was organized perfectly.”
“You’re welcome. But I’m not calling about that.” The manager’s voice dropped, becoming serious, even tense. “Mrs. Miller, I have a very delicate matter to discuss with you.”
“Yes?” Sarah felt a prick of alertness. “Did something happen?”
“You see, we were reviewing security footage this morning. We had a minor glitch with the system the day before, so the technician came in to ensure everything was recording correctly. And…” he hesitated. “Well, we found something on the tape. It concerns your… your event.”
“Footage?” Sarah asked, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Mrs. Miller, I can’t discuss this over the phone. You need to see this in person. Believe me, I wouldn’t disturb you the morning after your wedding if it wasn’t critical.”
Sarah’s heart began to beat faster. Dozens of thoughts raced through her mind: Did someone steal something? Was there a fight among the guests? But no, the evening had been peaceful.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “I can come by. When?”
“The sooner the better. I’ll be here all day. And one more thing, Mrs. Miller…” he paused again. “Please come alone. Do not tell your husband. This is important.”
“What?” Sarah half-rose from her chair. “Why? What is on that tape?”
“Just come. You need to see it for yourself. I’ll be waiting in my office. Just… trust me, you need to view this alone first.”
He said goodbye and hung up. Sarah froze with the phone in her hand, staring into the void. A cold knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. What a bizarre conversation. Why did she have to go alone? And mostly, what could possibly be on that recording?
The sound of running water came from the bathroom—Jason had started the shower. Sarah swallowed hard; her mouth felt like sandpaper. Maybe it was a mistake? Maybe the manager confused them with another party? But his tone had been grave. You don’t use that tone for nothing.
She replayed yesterday evening in her mind. Everything was fine, right? Jason was by her side, they danced, laughed. Jessica had had a few too many drinks and flirted with everyone, but that was standard Jessica behavior. Nothing weird. Or maybe…
Sarah frowned. There was a moment when she was dancing with her dad for a long time, maybe ten minutes. Jason had stepped away. She hadn’t seen him then. When he came back, he said he’d stepped out to take a work call. It hadn’t seemed suspicious at the time.
Her head started to spin. Sarah stood up, paced the kitchen, and sat back down. She had to go. She had to see what was on that tape. Otherwise, the speculation would drive her insane…
Jason walked out of the bathroom, cheerful, fresh, towel-drying his hair.
“Listen, I’m gonna get dressed and head to the shop, okay? I’ll be back by lunch. We can grab a bite together.”
“Okay,” Sarah nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’ll probably head over to see Emily. She left her purse here yesterday.”
It was a lie, but Sarah couldn’t think of anything else. She couldn’t tell the truth: The restaurant manager called and told me to urgently come watch a security tape without you. That would sound insane.
“Cool.” Jason pecked her on the cheek and went to get dressed.
Twenty minutes later, he was gone. Sarah was alone. She sat on the sofa, hugging her knees. The anxiety grew with every passing second. What if it was something bad? What if… No, she didn’t even want to think about it.
She dressed quickly: jeans, a sweater, a jacket. Grabbed her purse and keys and left the condo. She felt sick. Her hands were shaking as she pressed the elevator button. Everything inside her screamed: Don’t go, don’t look, ignorance is bliss!But curiosity and fear dragged her forward.
The restaurant was a twenty-minute drive. Sarah got behind the wheel of her old Ford Focus—another inheritance from Grandma—and drove. The road felt endless. She turned on the radio, but the upbeat pop music grated on her nerves, so she turned it off. The silence pressed against her ears.
When she pulled into the parking lot of “The Ivy Trellis,” it was empty. They usually only opened for dinner, but the front door was unlocked. Sarah walked in. The main hall was the same, but the tables were stripped of their linens, chairs stacked upside down. The magic of the wedding was gone; now it was just a room waiting to be cleaned.
“Mrs. Miller?” Robert stepped out from behind the bar. He was a man in his fifties, wearing glasses and a neat beard. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept well.
“Hi,” Sarah said quietly. “I’m here. What did you want to show me?”
He nodded silently toward the back hallway.
“Follow me. You’d better sit down for this.”
Robert led Sarah down a narrow corridor past the kitchen and utility rooms. It smelled of industrial cleaner and faint stale food. They reached a small office at the end of the hall. Inside was an old desk, two chairs, and a whiteboard. On the desk sat a laptop with a large external monitor.
“Please, have a seat,” the manager gestured to a chair. He remained standing, arms crossed. “Mrs. Miller, I want to say right off the bat: I feel terrible about this. I debated whether or not to show you, whether to just delete it. But then I decided: you have a right to know the truth. Better now than later, when it could be much worse.”
“You’re scaring me,” Sarah whispered. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap. “What is it?”
He sighed, pulled the laptop closer to her, and grabbed the mouse.
“We have security cameras all over. Three in the main hall for safety. But there’s also one in the dry storage room, where we keep liquor, linens, and bulk supplies. We installed it after some expensive inventory went missing two years ago. The camera is high in the corner, very discreet. Guests aren’t supposed to be in there, but yesterday…” He trailed off. “Well, see for yourself.”
He clicked the mouse. A video file opened. It was black and white, slightly grainy but clear enough. The angle was from above, showing the whole room. The storage room was small, about ten by ten feet, lined with metal shelves full of boxes. In the far corner were mops and buckets. To the left, an old loveseat, probably for staff to take a quick break.
Timestamp: 9:43 PM. Yesterday. During the reception.
Sarah remembered that time. Around ten, she was dancing with her father.
On the screen, the door to the storage room opened. A woman walked in. Tall, blonde hair loose over her shoulders, wearing a tight red dress. Sarah recognized her instantly—Jessica. The bridesmaid. She glanced over her shoulder, checking if anyone was watching, then stepped inside.
A second later, a man appeared in the doorway. Broad shoulders, dark suit, familiar walk. Jason.
Sarah froze. Her breath caught in her throat. She stared unblinking at the screen, feeling her stomach twist into a tight knot.
On the video, Jason closed the door behind him. Jessica turned to him and said something (there was no sound yet). He stepped closer. She put her hands on his chest. He grabbed her waist. And in the next second, they were kissing.
Not a quick, accidental peck. A long, deep, hungry kiss. Jessica ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. Jason pressed her against the shelving unit, his hands sliding down to her hips. They kissed like people who had wanted to do this for a long time. Like lovers…
Sarah couldn’t tear her eyes away. It felt unreal. A nightmare. But the screen didn’t lie. Her husband, who yesterday vowed his faithfulness, who kissed her in front of everyone, who whispered “you’re mine forever,” was kissing another woman. And not just any woman. Her friend. Her bridesmaid.
On the recording, they broke apart. Jason said something and smirked. Jessica laughed, throwing her head back. Then they sat down on the old loveseat. Jessica pulled a vape pen from her clutch, took a hit, and offered it to him. They sat there, talking. Sarah could only see their lips moving and their body language.
“I’m going to turn on the audio,” Robert said softly. “The camera records sound, but the quality isn’t amazing. The tech cleaned it up a bit.”
He turned up the volume knob. Voices came from the speakers. First muffled, then clearer.
“…thought I was gonna lose it,” Jessica was saying, exhaling a cloud of vapor. “Watching you dance with her all night, kissing her… God, Jason, I almost screamed.”
“Chill out, babe,” Jason replied, putting his arm around her. “Just hold on a little longer. Everything is going according to plan.”
“According to plan,” Jessica scoffed. “Easy for you to say. Do you know how sick it makes me feel when she whispers, ‘Thanks for being here, bestie’? I literally want to gag.”
“Don’t gag,” he chuckled. “You’re a great actress. You played it perfectly.”
“Yeah, bridesmaid of the year…” Jessica sneered. “Hey, how long do we have to keep up this charade? When are you finally going to divorce her?”
Sarah felt the ground drop out from under her. She gripped the edge of the desk so hard her knuckles turned white. The words hit her like physical blows.
“Don’t rush it,” Jason said on the screen. “We have to do this smart. First, she puts my name on the deed. In this state, once I’m on the title, I own half. We wait three or four months so it doesn’t look suspicious. Then I file for divorce. We force a sale of the condo, I take my half of the cash, and you and I live the way we wanted.”
“And if she doesn’t add you to the title?” Jessica asked.
“She will,” Jason said confidently. “I’m already working on her. Telling her, ‘Let’s put everything in both our names so I feel like a true partner in this marriage.’ She thinks it’s about equality. She’s gullible. Another week or two, and she’ll be running to the county clerk’s office herself.”
Jessica laughed—a sharp, cynical sound.
“God, you’re a genius! Seriously! Making that schoolteacher fall in love with you was easier than stealing candy from a baby.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Jason shrugged. “She was lonely, desperate for a guy. Works at a school for peanuts, lives a boring life. Then here comes me—good looking, attentive, flowers, compliments. She fell right into my lap.”
“True.” Jessica put the vape away. “At first I was worried you actually fell for her. When you told me you were gonna marry her, I freaked out.”
“Oh please, Jess!” Jason pulled her closer, kissing her neck. “You know I only love you. Sarah is just a means to an end. She has a fully paid-off condo in a prime location. No mortgage. We sell that place, buy ourselves something nice, and have a cushion to start over.”
“Are you sure she won’t smell a rat?” Jessica asked.
“Nah. She’s naive. Believes every word. Yesterday I told her I wanted kids with her, and she almost cried tears of joy.” He smirked…
“Kids? Ugh, having kids with her sounds like a nightmare. She’s such a prude.”
“Totally,” Jessica chimed in. “I remember in college she was always such a goody-two-shoes. Homework on time, never partied. Boring as hell.”
“But she has a great condo,” Jason concluded. “And that’s what matters.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Then Jessica turned to him, putting a hand on his knee.
“Hey, can we start seeing each other normally soon? Without all the sneaking around?”
“Of course. As soon as the divorce papers are filed, we move in together. Maybe we’ll even get married, if you want.”
“I do,” she smiled. “I’ve wanted to be your wife for a long time. A real wife, not that idiot out there celebrating.”
Jason laughed and hugged her. They kissed again—long and greedy.
Sarah watched the screen, feeling something inside her rip apart. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn’t wipe them away. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think. Inside, there was a void—black and cold.
“I have to get back before Emily starts looking for me,” Jessica said on the screen, checking her reflection in a compact mirror.
“Go ahead. I’ll come out in a couple of minutes so we aren’t seen together.”
“Okay.” Jessica pecked him on the lips. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
She left. Jason stayed alone, checked his phone, fixed his tie in the reflection of a metal cabinet, and walked out. The door closed. The screen showed an empty room.
Robert hit pause. The silence in the office was deafening. Sarah sat motionless, staring at the frozen image. Tears dripped onto her jeans.
“I am so sorry,” the manager said quietly. “I know this is horrific. But I thought… you had to see it. Otherwise, this… this man would continue to deceive you.”
Sarah was silent. The words were stuck in her throat. She tried to process what she had just seen. Jason didn’t love her. He never loved her. It was all a lie from the beginning. The bookstore, the dates, the proposal—all a performance. He played the role of the loving man to get his name on her property deed. And Jessica? Her friend. Or rather, the person she thought was a friend. They were laughing at her, planning how to rob her and dump her.
“Mrs. Miller?” Robert asked. “Can I get you some water?”
She slowly raised her eyes to him. His face was full of pity.
“Thank you,” she croaked, taking the glass he offered. The water was cold and shocked her system.
“Can I have a copy?” she asked. “On a flash drive?”..
Robert nodded. “Absolutely. I have a drive right here. I’ll transfer it now.”
As he worked, Sarah stared at a spot on the wall. Her thoughts began to organize. First chaotic, now clearer. And with every second, something new was growing inside her. Not just pain. Not just grief. Rage. A burning, sharp desire to answer. To strike back.
They thought she was stupid. A naive teacher easily wrapped around a finger. Someone who would sign over her life because she was too trusting. And then they would discard her like trash and laugh about it.
But they were wrong. Sarah wiped her face. The tears stopped. In their place came something cold and hard. Resolve.
“Here,” Robert said, handing her the USB drive. “If you need anything else, I’m here.”
Sarah took the drive and closed her fingers around it tight.
“Thank you,” she said, meeting his eyes. “Thank you for showing me the truth.”
“You’re welcome. I have a daughter myself… if this happened to her, I’d want someone to tell her.”
Sarah walked out to her car. She sat in the driver’s seat, staring through the windshield. The flash drive lay on the passenger seat. A small piece of plastic that held the entire truth. Her life for the past six months—one big counterfeit bill.
She started the engine. She couldn’t go home—Jason was there. Or rather, a stranger with her husband’s face and a rotten soul was there.
She drove aimlessly for a while, then pulled over at a park. She checked her phone. Two missed calls from Jason. A text: Where are you? I’m home, waiting for lunch. Another text from Emily: How’s the wifey life?
Sarah blocked her phone screen. She could just leave. Pack a bag, go to her parents, file for divorce. But something inside resisted. They wanted to humiliate her. They wanted to steal her home. And they thought they could walk away laughing? No.
She dialed her dad.
“Sarah? Why aren’t you home? Is everything okay?”
“Dad…” her voice trembled, but she steadied herself. “I need your help. Can I come over?”
“Right now? Of course, honey. Did something happen?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
Then she called Emily. The real friend.
“Em, it’s me. Can you meet me at my parents’ house? Emergency.”
“Sarah, you sound weird. Are you okay?”
“No. I’m not. Just get there. Bad news.”
Sarah clenched the USB drive in her hand. This was her weapon. And she was going to use it.
Her parents lived in a cozy ranch house on the south side. Her mom was waiting on the porch when Sarah pulled up.
“Sarah, baby, what happened?”..
Sarah collapsed into her mother’s arms and finally let herself sob. Not from shock, but from the sheer heartbreak of it. Inside, they sat at the kitchen table. Dad looked grim.
Emily arrived ten minutes later, breathless. “Sarah, you’re scaring me.”
Sarah put the flash drive on the table. “Watch this.”
They gathered around her dad’s laptop. Silence fell as the video played. Mom gasped. Emily swore loudly. Dad turned a shade of purple Sarah had never seen before.
“I’m going to kill him,” Dad said quietly when it ended. “I’m going to find that son of a bitch and break his legs.”
“Dad, no,” Sarah said, putting a hand on his arm. “He’s not worth jail time.”
“How dare he…” Dad hissed. “I shook his hand. I called him son.”
“I know.”
Emily stood up, pacing the kitchen. “Is he at your place right now?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you gonna do? Go back and scream at him?”
“No,” Sarah shook her head. “If I confront him now, he’ll deny it. Or he’ll cry and beg and say it was a mistake. I know his type. He’s a manipulator. I want him to understand what it feels like to be humiliated. Publicly.”
“You want revenge?” Emily asked.
“Yes. They laughed at me, Em. They planned to steal my home. I want them to regret it.”
“She’s right,” Dad said. “Let the bastard get what he deserves.”
“Okay,” Emily nodded. “I’m in. What’s the plan?”
Sarah wiped her eyes. The fire inside her was burning hot now.
“I want to gather the guests again. Everyone who was at the wedding. Have an ‘impromptu post-wedding dinner’ at the restaurant. And show them this video.”
Emily let out a low whistle. “Damn. That is… savage. You serious?”
“Dead serious. I want everyone to see who he really is. I want everyone to see what kind of friend Jessica is. I want them to be ashamed.”
“He’ll be there too,” Mom worried.
“Exactly. I want him to watch his world crumble.”
They spent the next hour plotting. Dad took notes. Emily made a guest list.
“We need a projector,” Sarah said. “Robert, the manager, can set it up. I’ll tell Jason I want to show a ‘thank you’ video montage to the guests.”
“When do we do the reveal?” Dad asked.
“Once everyone has eaten and relaxed. I’ll make a toast, and then… roll the tape.”
“Sarah,” Emily looked at her with newfound respect. “I always thought you were the soft one. But this? This is warrior queen energy.”
Sarah smiled grimly. “I’m just done being the nice teacher everyone walks all over.”
That evening, she called the restaurant. Robert picked up immediately.
“Mrs. Miller? I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“Robert, I need to rent the room again. This Saturday night. I’m hosting a dinner.”
Saturday arrived. For two days, Sarah played the role of the happy newlywed. She smiled at Jason over breakfast, asked about his cars, cooked dinner. It was terrifying how easy it was to lie once you knew the truth…
On Friday night, Jason asked, “Do we really have to do this dinner tomorrow? I’m kinda beat.”
“Oh come on, babe,” Sarah said lightly. “I already invited everyone. It’s just a casual thing to use up the rest of the bar tab and thank everyone. It’ll be fun.”
He shrugged. “Fine. Whatever makes you happy.”
On Saturday evening, guests started arriving at The Ivy Trellis around 7:00 PM. Sarah wore her white rehearsal dinner dress. Jason looked sharp in his suit, playing the part of the doting husband. Jessica arrived in a tight black dress, heels clicking, waving at everyone.
“Sarah! Love this idea!” she chirped, kissing Sarah’s cheek.
“Glad you came, Jess,” Sarah smiled. Judas kiss, she thought.
By 7:30, everyone was seated. Forty people, wine flowing, laughter in the air. Jason was in the center of it all, telling jokes.
Sarah caught Robert’s eye by the bar. He nodded. The projector was set up, a large white screen dominating one wall.
Sarah walked to the front of the room. She tapped a spoon against her glass. The room quieted down.
“Friends, family,” Sarah began, her voice projecting clearly. “Thank you for coming back tonight. I know it’s unusual, but we wanted to extend the celebration. And… I have something special to show you. A video that captures the true essence of our relationships.”
Jason smiled at her. Jessica took a sip of wine.
“Robert, if you please.”
The lights dimmed. The projector whirred to life.
The grainy black and white image of the storage room appeared. Timestamp: 9:43 PM.
The door opened. Jessica walked in. Then Jason.
A few guests chuckled, thinking it was a blooper reel. Then the kissing started.
The chuckles died instantly. A gasp rippled through the room. Jason’s mother dropped her fork; it clattered loudly against her plate.
Jason shot up from his chair. “Sarah! What is this? Turn it off!”
But Sarah stood like a statue. And then the audio kicked in.
“…God, Jason, I almost screamed… watching you dance with her…”
Jessica’s voice echoed through the silent hall.
“Chill out, babe… Everything is going according to plan.”
Jason’s voice. Undeniable.
Jason tried to rush the projector, but Sarah’s dad and a burly cousin stepped in his path.
“Sit down,” Dad growled. “You’re going to watch the whole thing.”..
The guests were frozen in horror.
“…Once I’m on the title, I own half… We force a sale… and you and I live the way we wanted.”
Jason’s father, a strict, hardworking man, stood up slowly, looking at his son with horror.
“Making that schoolteacher fall in love with you was easier than stealing candy from a baby.”
Sarah’s colleagues gasped. Her principal, Mrs. Vance, looked at Jason with pure venom.
“She’s such a prude… boring as hell.”
“But she has a great condo. And that’s what matters.”
The video ended with them professing their love and exiting. The screen went black. The lights came up.
The silence was heavy, suffocating. Every eye was fixed on Jason and Jessica.
Sarah slowly slid her wedding ring off her finger. She walked over to the table where Jason stood, pale as a sheet, and dropped the ring onto his empty plate. It made a sharp clink.
“Here’s your ring, Jason. You are not my husband anymore. I’m filing for an annulment Monday morning. You will never be on the deed. You get nothing. Nothing but shame.”
“Sarah, wait, I can explain…” he stammered, reaching for her.
“Don’t touch me!” she snapped. “Get out of my house tonight. If your things aren’t gone in an hour, they’re going in the dumpster.”
She turned to Jessica, who was trying to shrink into her chair.
“And you. My ‘best friend.’ You can go too. Everyone here knows exactly who you are now.”
Emily stepped forward. “Yeah, Jess. Run along. Unless you want to hear what I really think of you.”
Jessica grabbed her purse and bolted for the door, head down, amidst whispers of “trash” and “home wrecker” from the guests.
Jason stood there, ruined. His father walked up to him.
“You… you did this for money? You used this girl?”
“Dad, listen…”
Smack.
The sound of the slap echoed through the room. Jason stumbled back.
“Get out of my sight,” his father said, voice shaking. “You’re no son of mine.”..
Jason looked around. No one would meet his eye. His friends looked at the floor in embarrassment. He turned and walked out the door, alone.
The tension broke. Sarah’s mom rushed to hug her. Friends surrounded her.
“You are so brave,” Mrs. Vance told her. “Good for you, honey.”
Jason’s mother came up, tears in her eyes. “Sarah, I am so, so sorry. We had no idea.”
“I know, Mary. It’s not your fault.”
Sarah went home with her parents that night to ensure Jason was gone. The condo was empty. His clothes were gone. He had fled.
The annulment was processed quickly due to fraud. The condo remained 100% Sarah’s.
Three months later, spring was breaking. Sarah sat in a coffee shop with Emily, watching the rain wash the streets clean.
“You know,” Sarah said, stirring her latte. “I’m actually grateful to him.”
“Excuse me?” Emily choked on her muffin.
“I am. He taught me a lesson. I was too naive. I let people walk all over me. I’ll never be that girl again. I’m stronger now.”
Emily smiled and squeezed her hand. “Hell yeah, you are.”
Sarah looked out the window. She was single. She was alone. But for the first time in a long time, she felt completely, wonderfully free.
