“No, this can’t be happening!” My husband’s excitement for our wedding night turned to horror when I removed my dress. The secret I’d kept hidden all day was finally revealed, and his reaction left the room echoing with heartbreak and regret.

Our wedding had been picture-perfect—a true fairytale. Greg stood at the end of the aisle, smiling like he’d won the lottery. To him, this was the start of our perfect life together. But he had no idea I knew the truth.

As the ceremony and reception unfolded, everything seemed flawless. Guests clinked champagne glasses, laughter filled the air, and Greg’s parents beamed with pride. They adored their “perfect” son, and I played along as the perfect bride, smiling and laughing at all the right moments.

But beneath the surface, I was waiting for the moment to shatter the illusion.

The night finally wound down, and Greg was practically giddy with anticipation for our first night as husband and wife. His excitement was palpable as he led me to the master suite in his parents’ home, where they’d insisted we stay for our wedding night.

Once inside, he turned to me with a wide grin, already reaching for the zipper of my dress. “I’ve been waiting all night for this,” he whispered.

“So have I,” I replied softly, a knowing smile tugging at my lips.

Greg carefully unzipped the dress, his hands trembling with eagerness. As it fell to the floor, I turned to face him, revealing what lay beneath. The air seemed to leave the room as his expression shifted from joy to shock and disbelief.

“No… no, this can’t be happening!” Greg stammered, his voice cracking.

Stretched across my torso was a temporary tattoo of his ex-girlfriend Sarah’s face, accompanied by the damning words he’d whispered to her the night before our wedding: “One last taste of freedom before I’m bound to the same body forever.”

Greg stumbled backward, his knees giving way as he collapsed onto the floor. “How did you know?” he choked out, tears already streaming down his face.

“Sarah told me,” I said coldly. “She was all too eager to share your betrayal.”

Greg’s sobs grew louder. “I didn’t mean it! I made a mistake—I’m sorry!”

The sound of footsteps interrupted us. Greg’s parents, Marianne and James, burst into the room, alarmed by the commotion.

“What’s going on?” Marianne demanded, her eyes darting between Greg and me. Then she saw the tattoo. Her face went pale, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God…”

“It’s simple,” I said, my voice steady. “Your son cheated on me with his ex the night before our wedding.”

Marianne’s gasp filled the room as James’s face darkened. He stepped forward, towering over Greg, his hands clenched into fists.

“Gregory,” James growled. “Is this true?”

Greg couldn’t meet his father’s gaze. He remained crumpled on the floor, his sobs the only sound in the room. The silence between us was suffocating, broken only by Marianne’s trembling voice. “Greg? Tell me this isn’t true.”

But Greg didn’t speak. His guilt was written all over his face.

I stepped closer, my voice cutting through the tension. “He admitted it to Sarah. He told her he needed ‘one last taste of freedom.’”

James’s fury boiled over. “You’ve disgraced this family!” he roared. “How could you do this to Lilith?”

Marianne sank onto the edge of the bed, sobbing. “Greg, how could you? She loved you!”

Greg looked up, his tear-streaked face full of desperation. “Please, Lilith, I’ll do anything! Don’t leave me.”

I laughed bitterly. “Love me? If you loved me, you wouldn’t have betrayed me. This is over.”

Greg tried to grab my hand, but I stepped back. “I’m done, Greg. You made your choice, and now you’ll face the consequences.”

As I slipped into my robe, Greg begged one last time, “I’ll change! I’ll fix this!”

But his words meant nothing. I turned to his parents. “You can deal with him now. I’m leaving.”

Marianne sobbed harder, while James shook his head in disgust. “This is what you’ve done, Greg. You’ve ruined everything.”

As I walked out of the room, Greg’s cries echoed behind me. But I didn’t look back. With each step, I felt lighter, freer.

This wasn’t the life I had envisioned, but I knew one thing for certain: I deserved better, and I would never settle for less again.