When Lawrence gave me an extravagant diamond necklace on our wedding day, I thought it was just an over-the-top gift. I had no idea his “symbol of love” was really hiding his cruel secret…
The morning of my wedding, I woke up in my bridal suite, my stomach swirling with nerves. At 35, I wasn’t a young, naive bride, but something about this day felt different. My wedding dress hung near the window, shimmering in the soft morning light.
I got up and walked over, running my fingers over the delicate fabric. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before the inevitable chaos began.
As if on cue, the door burst open. My bridesmaids rushed in, my mother right behind them, and my sister, Emily, bringing up the rear.
“The hair stylist will be here in twenty minutes,” my mother announced, already 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 buzzed with energy as my bridesmaids helped me get ready. Laughter, curling irons, perfume—everything blended together in a haze of wedding-day excitement.
Then, amidst all the chaos, Lily, one of my bridesmaids, hesitantly approached me.
“Uh… Kathryn,” she said in a hushed voice. “Lawrence is asking to see you. He said it’s really important.”
I frowned. “Before the ceremony? Doesn’t he know that’s bad luck?”
“I told him that, but he was really insistent,” she said, wringing her hands. “He said he has something special for you.”
I exchanged a glance with Emily. Something about this felt… off.
“Mom, everyone, can you give me a moment?” I asked.
My mother nodded and started ushering the bridesmaids out, but Emily hesitated. “Want me to stay?”
I shook my head. “Just grab me some tea? Chamomile might help calm my nerves.”
She studied me for a moment, then gave me a quick hug. “Alright. But get him out of here quickly. This is definitely bad luck.”
The door closed behind her, and a few seconds later, Lawrence stepped inside.
The moment I saw him, a strange unease crept over me. His eyes were too intense, his smile too forced.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice warm but oddly strained.
“You’re not supposed to see me yet,” I teased lightly.
“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.”
Curious, I lifted the lid. Inside was a diamond necklace—huge, extravagant, and completely unlike anything I would ever wear. The stones glittered under the light, throwing rainbows across the walls.
“Lawrence, this is…” I hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “It’s too much.”
“Nonsense,” he said smoothly. “You deserve something grand today. It’s a symbol of my love.” He lifted the necklace from the box and stepped behind me. “Promise me you’ll wear it during the ceremony.”
That uneasy feeling in my gut returned. This necklace wasn’t my style at all. Lawrence knew I preferred subtle, elegant jewelry.
“I appreciate the gesture, love, truly. But this necklace… it’s not really me,” I admitted hesitantly.
For the briefest moment, his face hardened. Then, just as quickly, it melted into a pleading smile. “Please, Kathryn. It would mean everything to me—to show your family that I’ll take care of you, that I can afford to. Just this once, I swear.”
I hesitated. Then, not wanting to start an argument on our wedding day, I nodded. “Of course, love.”
Relief flooded his face as he fastened the heavy necklace around my neck. The diamonds felt cold against my skin. I resisted the urge to pull it off.
“Perfect,” he murmured, kissing my cheek. “I’ll see you at the altar.”
As soon as he left, I turned to the mirror. The necklace sparkled brilliantly… but it felt wrong. I reached under the diamonds, my fingers brushing against the small burn scar on my collarbone. I had gotten it as a child in a kitchen accident.
The necklace covered it completely.
A strange, twisting sensation tightened in my chest. Why did that realization bother me so much?
Before I could process it, Emily burst into the room, panting and wide-eyed.
“You can’t marry him!” she gasped, her face pale. She pointed at my neck. “That necklace—it’s not just a gift. I know everything.”
“What are you talking about?” I whispered, dread curling in my stomach.
“I was coming back with your tea when I heard Lawrence talking to his best man,” Emily said, her voice shaking. “He was laughing, saying—word for word—’She swallowed the bait. Now nobody will see that ugly scar.'”
The air rushed from my lungs. “What?”
“He wasn’t giving you a gift, Kath. He was covering up something about you that he didn’t like!” Emily’s hands curled into fists. “And that’s not even the worst part. He was bragging about marrying into our family for the connections. He called you a ‘flawed asset’—his exact words.”
I sank onto a chair. Suddenly, it all made sense—the way he always subtly guided my wardrobe choices, his keen interest in my father’s business, his insistence on long necklaces or high-neck dresses.
“Are you sure you heard that right?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Kathryn, I wouldn’t lie to you. Not today,” Emily said, tears brimming in her eyes. “You deserve so much more than this.”
I stood slowly and turned to the window, looking out at the beautifully decorated garden. The altar. The guests waiting for our vows.
“What are you going to do?” Emily asked softly.
I exhaled deeply. A calm determination settled over me. “I’m going to marry him.”
Emily’s jaw dropped. “What? Did you hear anything I just said?”
“I’m going to walk down that aisle,” I continued, “wearing this necklace. And then I’m going to make sure everyone knows exactly who Lawrence really is.”
An hour later, I stood at the altar, Lawrence grinning proudly as he saw the necklace still on my neck.
“Do you, Kathryn, take Lawrence to be your lawfully wedded husband—”
I unclasped the necklace. It fell to the ground with a loud clatter.
“I can’t do this,” I said, turning to the guests. “I refuse to marry a man who is ashamed of me. A man who sees me as a prize, not a person.”
Lawrence went pale. “Kathryn—”
“Ask him why he gave me this necklace,” I told the crowd. “Ask him what he was trying to hide.”
A murmur spread through the guests. Lawrence stammered, his eyes darting to my father.
I stepped back. “You don’t love me. You love what I could give you. And I deserve better.”
With that, I turned and walked down the aisle—alone but free.
Emily met me at the door, linking her arm through mine. “That. Was. Amazing.”
I smiled. “It was the truth.”
And I never wore a necklace I didn’t love again.
