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The Letter That Ended My Son’s Wedding Before the Cake Was Cut

I thought the envelope Eliza handed me before the ceremony was a sweet love note for Caleb. Instead, it became the spark that set everything ablaze. Hours later, during the reception, I gave it to him. He opened it with a grin, only for his face to collapse as he read. Without a word, my son walked out of his own wedding. Stunned, I turned to Eliza, begging for answers. She looked at me with unnerving calm and whispered, “The truth.” Then she turned back to her guests, leaving me frozen as the weight of it all settled in…

I never imagined my son’s wedding would unravel with a single piece of paper.

It began quietly, with Eliza pulling me aside just before the ceremony. She looked breathtaking in her gown—lace sleeves, soft satin, hair pinned with silver blossoms. She was radiant, but when I touched her hand, it was ice.

“I need you to do something,” she whispered. From her clutch, she pulled out a sealed white envelope. “Give this to Caleb. Not now. Not during. After.”