Everything was set for the most important day of my life. I, Esther, dressed in my wedding gown, sat in my wheelchair, ready to finally say “I do” to the man I believed was the love of my life. The church was beautifully decorated, and the morning sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows created a dazzling display of colors around me.

My maid of honor and best friend, Lia, adjusted my veil with a radiant smile. “You look stunning, Esther. Kevin is a lucky man.”
I smiled back, feeling my heart race. “It still feels like a dream that this day has finally arrived.”
Kevin and I had met six months ago in a support group for people with disabilities. He was charismatic, caring, and seemed to understand me in a way no one else ever had. Like me, he used a wheelchair, and that created an instant connection between us. He made me feel special and loved. For the first time, I believed in a future filled with understanding and affection.
When the church doors opened, my father, Matthews, wheeled me down the aisle. His smile was genuine as he leaned in and whispered, “You look beautiful, princess. I’m sorry I wasn’t always the father you needed.”
I squeezed his hand, touched. “Dad, what matters is that you’re here now.”
We reached the altar, and Kevin looked at me with a smile that seemed full of emotion. Everything was perfect. The priest began the ceremony, and I felt like nothing could ruin this moment.
Then, out of nowhere, the church doors burst open with a loud bang. My dad came running down the aisle, shouting, “Stop the wedding! We’re calling this off!”
The church fell silent. Everyone turned to look. My dad, his face red with anger, was pointing an accusatory finger at Kevin.
“You have no idea who this man really is!” he shouted.
My heart started to pound. “Dad, what are you doing? Why are you doing this?”
Kevin looked as shocked as I was. “Mr. Matthews, there must be some misunderstanding…”
“There’s no misunderstanding!” my dad interrupted. “This man is a fraud. He’s using Esther. He pretends to be someone he’s not to scam vulnerable women and take everything they have.”
I was stunned. “That’s absurd. Kevin loves me.”
My dad took a deep breath and continued, “I hired a private investigator this morning, and he uncovered everything. Kevin is not disabled. He uses that wheelchair as part of his con to gain your trust.”
The silence in the church was deafening as my dad approached Kevin and poured the contents of a cup of water onto his legs. Kevin immediately jumped up from the wheelchair, revealing perfectly healthy legs.
The entire church was in shock.
My heart broke, and tears streamed down my face. “Kevin… you faked everything? How could you deceive me like this?”
Kevin tried to speak, but his voice trembled. “Esther, I… I can explain…”
“There’s nothing to explain,” I said, my voice heavy with pain. “You used me. You lied to me. I trusted you!”
At that moment, the police entered the church. One of the officers declared, “Kevin Johnson, you are under arrest for fraud and embezzlement.”
The revelation hit me like a wave. Even his name was fake. Kevin was escorted out of the church in handcuffs, and I stood at the altar, feeling as though the ground had crumbled beneath my feet.
Hours later, I sat in my room, overwhelmed with sadness. My dad knocked gently on the door. “Can I come in?” he asked.
In a quiet voice, I allowed him in. He sat beside me, his expression filled with regret. “Esther, I’m so sorry you had to go through this. I should have seen it earlier and protected you.”
Tears streamed down my face. “I felt so alone, Dad. Kevin made me feel special, like I finally had someone who understood me.”
My dad pulled me into a tight hug. “I know, sweetheart. And that’s on me and your mom. We were so focused on work and money that we forgot to be there for you.”
“I just want things to be different now,” I said, my voice breaking.
He nodded. “They will be. We’ll rebuild this together, one step at a time.”
In the days that followed, I focused on healing. I spent more time painting, an old passion that helped me process the pain. Slowly, with the support of my family and friends, I began to find the strength to move forward.
One evening, we were in the kitchen preparing dinner together, just like we used to when I was a child. Between laughter and conversation, I realized something important: the love and support I had always been searching for had been beside me all along. I just needed to open my eyes to see it.