As the day of my brother’s wedding approached, excitement and tension filled the air. Everyone was on edge, especially since Liam was known for his elaborate pranks, and he had hinted repeatedly that a big surprise was coming. Liam was always the life of the party, loving theatrics, so I assumed this was just another playful stunt. Liam and Denise had been together for years, so when Denise asked me to be a bridesmaid, I gladly accepted. She gave me a gift box of pampering treats and said, “Please, Daphne, I want you by my side on the big day. You’re not just Liam’s sister — you’re like a sister to me.”
Denise had earned my trust over time, especially after organizing my 21st birthday when my own friends had let me down. During the wedding preparations, Denise shared her excitement mostly with me, while Liam stayed distant from the planning, secretly working on a video montage for the ceremony. When Denise worried Liam might be getting cold feet, I reassured her, telling her he was just busy with a special surprise.
On the wedding morning, I found Liam calm and sipping champagne, smirking, and telling me, “You have no idea what’s coming, Daph.” The ceremony went beautifully, just as Denise had dreamed—the flowers, music, and ambiance all perfect. Just before their vows, Liam asked the priest to pause, then pulled out a remote as two groomsmen wheeled a TV to the altar. He proudly introduced a video montage of their love story—first dates, silly moments, romantic trips, cozy dinners—and everyone was touched, some even crying. But then, after the priest asked if anyone objected, Liam shocked us all by dropping Denise’s hand and firmly saying, “I do.” Denise was stunned, insisting it wasn’t funny, but Liam was serious.
He pressed the remote again, and the video changed to reveal footage of Denise at home, intimately involved with another man. The room fell silent as the guests stared in disbelief, and Denise went pale. The man from the video even stood up in the back, cursing. Liam announced that because of this betrayal, there would be no wedding. His voice was calm but full of pain as he said he couldn’t let them pretend everything was perfect.
Denise tried to plead, but Liam asked how long it had been going on. She stammered it was recent and admitted he wasn’t supposed to find out. Liam was furious she had brought the affair into their home. The guests were uncomfortable, whispering and shocked, while the priest quietly stepped back, unsure how to proceed. Liam walked away from the altar, leaving Denise and everyone stunned. Denise chased after him, but he ignored her, and her mother tried to salvage the moment. Later, I found Liam at the hotel bar, visibly crushed. He asked if I knew about Denise’s betrayal, and I said no. He explained how he had found the videos while making the montage, accidentally discovering the folder unlocked on her phone. He wondered if he was wrong to expose her publicly, and I told him it was justified but maybe better handled privately, as now anything could happen. Liam nodded but showed no forgiveness; cheating was a line he never crossed or tolerated. Then, almost playfully, he invited me to eat some of the wedding cake, saying there was no point wasting it. I followed him to the empty reception hall, determined to support him, knowing that despite feeling for Denise, my brother needed me most.
