The Wedding They'll Never Forget - Chapter 6: Chapter 6
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Desperation sent Paul hunting for me. He called my office, showed up at my parents' house, even cornered my closest friends.
I'd expected nothing less. That's why I'd prepped everyone weeks in advance. They'd already been told the wedding was canceled, and they played their parts perfectly.
Their performances were Oscar-worthy - feigned surprise, carefully vague answers: "Haven't seen her, but she's safe."
With each dead end, his rage boiled hotter. The realization must have hit him like a punch to the gut - everyone knew about his betrayal. He'd lost not just me, but our entire support system.
Later, my family told me how Paul completely lost it outside their house, screaming like a madman until security dragged him away.
That night should have been our wedding reception - champagne toasts, laughter, dancing. Instead, he was roaming the streets like some unhinged stranger, howling at the moon.
But the humiliation didn't stop there. Too ashamed to face his parents and explain the trainwreck he'd made of our wedding, his last resort was Claire.
When he barged into her apartment, he found it empty. She'd been couch-surfing since losing her job - another casualty of his stupidity. Claire had nothing left to give him.
Then came the financial gut punch. For years, I'd managed our shared accounts. The credit card in his wallet? Useless without me paying the bills. The cash in his pocket wouldn't last a week.
By the time I was done, he had nothing. No home. No money. No allies. Every landlord turned him away - his name now synonymous with scandal. Even professional contacts ghosted him when the full story broke.
His reputation was radioactive. With Claire gone too, all he had left was his car - his new mobile home. He could've swallowed his pride and gone to his parents, but facing their disappointment? That was a bridge too far.
Paul never understood the depth of my reach. We built our business together, but he assumed he could just walk away and start fresh.
What he didn't know? I'd been planning this chess move long before he considered leaving. Our industry runs on relationships, and I'd spent years cultivating mine. I made sure Paul's name would be mud wherever he went.
I started subtle. Pushed him out of our company under the guise of "restructuring." No one questioned it - not after the Claire debacle. The team had my back, isolating him from the business he helped create.
Our failed wedding became national gossip. Those industry bigwigs Paul thought were his friends? Turns out they were mine. Nobody wants workplace drama, and Paul had become its poster boy.
Job hunting became impossible. Doors that once swung open now slammed shut. I made sure even unrelated companies got the memo.
The final dagger? That startup he was eyeing. He aced the interviews, thought he had it in the bag. What he didn't know? I'd already spoken to a board member friend. They strung him along, then ghosted him.
Same story when he tried launching his own venture. Investors would Google him and run for the hills. Who backs a known backstabber?
Paul became professional kryptonite. Didn't matter if he switched industries - his reputation followed like a bad smell.
I dismantled his future just like he'd dismantled our life. He thought he could cheat and walk away unscathed. Now every exit he tries leads to another brick wall. Karma's a bitch, Paul. And she works for me.
I'd expected nothing less. That's why I'd prepped everyone weeks in advance. They'd already been told the wedding was canceled, and they played their parts perfectly.
Their performances were Oscar-worthy - feigned surprise, carefully vague answers: "Haven't seen her, but she's safe."
With each dead end, his rage boiled hotter. The realization must have hit him like a punch to the gut - everyone knew about his betrayal. He'd lost not just me, but our entire support system.
Later, my family told me how Paul completely lost it outside their house, screaming like a madman until security dragged him away.
That night should have been our wedding reception - champagne toasts, laughter, dancing. Instead, he was roaming the streets like some unhinged stranger, howling at the moon.
But the humiliation didn't stop there. Too ashamed to face his parents and explain the trainwreck he'd made of our wedding, his last resort was Claire.
When he barged into her apartment, he found it empty. She'd been couch-surfing since losing her job - another casualty of his stupidity. Claire had nothing left to give him.
Then came the financial gut punch. For years, I'd managed our shared accounts. The credit card in his wallet? Useless without me paying the bills. The cash in his pocket wouldn't last a week.
By the time I was done, he had nothing. No home. No money. No allies. Every landlord turned him away - his name now synonymous with scandal. Even professional contacts ghosted him when the full story broke.
His reputation was radioactive. With Claire gone too, all he had left was his car - his new mobile home. He could've swallowed his pride and gone to his parents, but facing their disappointment? That was a bridge too far.
Paul never understood the depth of my reach. We built our business together, but he assumed he could just walk away and start fresh.
What he didn't know? I'd been planning this chess move long before he considered leaving. Our industry runs on relationships, and I'd spent years cultivating mine. I made sure Paul's name would be mud wherever he went.
I started subtle. Pushed him out of our company under the guise of "restructuring." No one questioned it - not after the Claire debacle. The team had my back, isolating him from the business he helped create.
Our failed wedding became national gossip. Those industry bigwigs Paul thought were his friends? Turns out they were mine. Nobody wants workplace drama, and Paul had become its poster boy.
Job hunting became impossible. Doors that once swung open now slammed shut. I made sure even unrelated companies got the memo.
The final dagger? That startup he was eyeing. He aced the interviews, thought he had it in the bag. What he didn't know? I'd already spoken to a board member friend. They strung him along, then ghosted him.
Same story when he tried launching his own venture. Investors would Google him and run for the hills. Who backs a known backstabber?
Paul became professional kryptonite. Didn't matter if he switched industries - his reputation followed like a bad smell.
I dismantled his future just like he'd dismantled our life. He thought he could cheat and walk away unscathed. Now every exit he tries leads to another brick wall. Karma's a bitch, Paul. And she works for me.
End of The Wedding They'll Never Forget Chapter 6. Continue reading Chapter 7 or return to The Wedding They'll Never Forget book page.