My Fiancée’s Bridesmaid Sent Me a Photo the Night Before the Wedding—By Morning, the Ceremony Was Off (2 of 4)

It was a text from her bridesmaid, Julia. One of her oldest friends. We’d never been close—polite hellos and some awkward small talk over the years—but this was different.

No words. Just a photo.

And my stomach dropped the moment I opened it.

Ashley. In our bed. But she wasn’t alone.

Lying next to her was someone else—shirtless, grinning like a wolf. A man I didn’t recognize, but clearly knew her. His arm was across her waist. She was asleep, or pretending to be. The timestamp in the corner said it was taken three nights ago.

I stared at the screen, my pulse pounding so loud I could barely hear myself think.

At first, I thought maybe it was a joke. A cruel prank. But the background was unmistakable. My bedroom. My sheets. The framed photo of Ashley and me from Charleston sitting right there on the nightstand.

I called Julia immediately. She didn’t answer.

Then she texted one sentence that burned into me like a brand:

“You deserve to know the truth before you say ‘I do.’”

My hands were shaking as I re-read it, over and over. I didn’t sleep. I didn’t cry. I just shut down. Like a machine that got unplugged.