When Lawrence presented me with an extravagant diamond necklace on our wedding day, I thought it was just an over-the-top gift. Little did I know, his “symbol of love” was actually hiding a cruel secret.
I woke up in my bridal suite, my stomach fluttering with excitement and nerves. At 35, I wasn’t a starry-eyed young bride, but today felt different. The morning light filtered through the window, illuminating my wedding dress hanging nearby. I ran my fingers over the delicate fabric, taking a deep breath before the day’s chaos began.
Right on cue, the door burst open. My bridesmaids flooded in, my mother and my sister, Emily, close behind.
“The hair stylist will be here in twenty minutes,” my mother announced, checking her watch.
Emily placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “How are you feeling, Kath?”
“Nervous. Happy. Ready,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure about that last part.
The room quickly filled with chatter as everyone bustled about, making final preparations. Laughter, clinking glasses, the rustle of fabric—everything felt like a dream.
Then, hours later, amid the joyful commotion, my bridesmaid Lily hesitantly approached me.
“Umm, Kathryn…” she said softly, her voice almost lost in the noise. “Lawrence is asking to see you. He says it’s really important.”
I frowned. “Before the ceremony? Doesn’t he know that’s bad luck?”
“He was really intense about it,” she said, wringing her hands. “He said he has something special for you.”
Emily caught my eye from across the room, her eyebrow raised. That strange feeling in my gut tightened, though I couldn’t quite understand why.
“Mom, guys, could you give us a minute?” I asked.
My mother herded the bridesmaids out, but Emily hesitated. “Want me to stay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her. “Could you grab me some tea? Chamomile might calm my nerves.”
Emily sighed but nodded, squeezing my hand before slipping out.
A moment later, Lawrence entered. His suit was immaculate, his dark hair neatly styled. But it was his eyes that struck me—the intensity in them made my stomach twist.
“You look beautiful,” he said, stepping closer.
“You’re not supposed to see me yet,” I replied with a small smile.
“I know, but this will only take a minute.” He pulled out a red velvet box and held it out. “I wanted to give you this. Open it.”
I hesitated before lifting the lid. Inside lay a diamond necklace, so large and extravagant it nearly blinded me. The stones caught the light, throwing brilliant rainbows across the walls.
It was beautiful… but it wasn’t me.
“Lawrence, this is…” I struggled to find the words, forcing a smile. “It’s too much.”
“Nonsense. You’ll look stunning in it. It’s a symbol of my love,” he insisted, taking the necklace from the box. “Promise me you’ll wear it during the ceremony?”
That strange feeling in my gut returned. This wasn’t my style. Lawrence knew I preferred simple elegance. Or I thought he did.
“I appreciate the gesture, love, truly. But this necklace… it’s not me,” I confessed.
His face hardened for a brief moment before melting into a pleading smile. “Please, Kathryn. It would mean everything to me to show your family that I’ll take care of you. Just this once.”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Of course, love.”
Relief washed over his face as he fastened the heavy necklace around my neck. The diamonds were cold against my skin. I hated it, but he looked so pleased.
“Perfect,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. “I’ll see you at the altar.”
After he left, I turned to the mirror. The necklace sparkled brilliantly, but it felt foreign. Wrong.
Why?
My fingers instinctively reached under the diamonds to the burn scar on my collarbone—a childhood accident that had never truly bothered me.
A moment later, Emily burst into the room, panting and wide-eyed.
“You can’t marry him!” she gasped. “That necklace—it’s not just a gift. I know everything.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I overheard him talking to his best man. He didn’t see me,” she said, her hands trembling. “He said, ‘She swallowed the bait. Now nobody will see that ugly scar.'”
The air left my lungs. “What?”
“He was laughing about it, Kath! The necklace isn’t a gift—it’s a cover-up!” Emily’s voice shook with rage. “And that’s not all. He was gloating about marrying into our family, about the connections Dad could give him, despite your ‘flaw.’ His words.”
The room spun around me. Memories surfaced—the way Lawrence subtly influenced my wardrobe, his keen interest in my father’s business, his disapproval of low-neck dresses that revealed my scar.
“Are you absolutely sure?” I asked quietly.
“Kath, I wouldn’t lie about this. Not today,” Emily said, her eyes shining with tears. “He doesn’t love you. He loves what you can give him.”
I turned toward the window, the necklace’s weight suddenly unbearable. Outside, the wedding setup was flawless. Guests arriving, flowers perfectly arranged, the altar waiting for me.
“What are you going to do?” Emily asked cautiously.
A sense of calm washed over me. Not the kind that comes from naivety, but from knowing exactly who I am.
“I’m going to marry him,” I said, turning to Emily.
“What?! Did you hear anything I just said?!” she cried.
“I’m going to walk down that aisle wearing this necklace. And then I’m going to make sure everyone knows exactly who Lawrence really is.”
An hour later, I walked down the aisle. The music swelled, guests stood, and Lawrence beamed when he saw the necklace around my neck.
When the officiant asked, “Do you, Kathryn, take Lawrence to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I unclasped the necklace, letting it fall to the ground with a loud clatter.
“I can’t do this,” I said clearly. “I refuse to marry a man ashamed of me. A man who sees me as a prize.”
Lawrence paled. “Kathryn, what—”
“Ask him why he gave me this necklace. Ask him what he wanted to cover up. Then ask him what he hoped to gain by marrying into my family.”
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Lawrence stammered, but I was already walking back down the aisle, my sister by my side.
Hours later, dressed in my wedding gown, I sat in an ice cream parlor with my family, laughing over the biggest banana split ever.
No one who truly loved me would ever ask me to hide who I was. And from that moment on, I never would again.
Never ignore red flags. I won’t.
And I know one day, someone will love me for everything I am—flaws and all.
