I stared at my reflection, adjusting my veil for what felt like the hundredth time. Today was supposed to be perfect—the happiest day of my life. I had no idea that within hours, everything I thought I knew about love, family, and trust would be tested.

The ceremony had gone beautifully. Finn looked devastatingly handsome in his tux, and I felt like a princess in my dress. We exchanged vows, sealed them with a kiss, and just like that—I was Mrs. Nora Callahan.

The reception sparkled with music, laughter, and champagne bubbles. Finn and I cut our cake, smearing frosting across each other’s faces, everyone cheering. For a moment, it felt magical. It felt safe.

Until Mike, our videographer, tapped me on the shoulder with a look that didn’t belong at a wedding.

“Hey Nora, can I talk to you for a sec?” he asked.

Something in his tone made my stomach knot. I followed him to a quiet corner.

“There’s something you need to see.”

Mike turned his camera screen toward me. My breath caught.

There, in crystal-clear detail, was my new father-in-law, Gerald, sneaking up to the gift table. He glanced around nervously, grabbed a wrapped box, and slipped out of the room.

My heart dropped. Was he stealing from us?

I thanked Mike, forcing myself to stay calm. The man I had just promised to call “Dad” for the rest of my life was possibly a thief. But something about Gerald’s nervous, almost desperate face in the video tugged at me.

I found him near the bar, swirling his drink, laughing with relatives. My pulse hammered as I approached. “Gerald, can I talk to you? Alone?”

His smile faltered, but he followed me.

“I saw the video,” I said bluntly. “You took one of our gifts. Why?”

For a moment, he looked stricken, cornered. Then he leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Nora, I wasn’t stealing. I was protecting you.”

My frown deepened. “Protecting me? From what?”

His next words made my skin crawl.

“From Vivian. She tampered with that gift. She wanted to hurt you.”

I froze. “What are you talking about?”

Gerald’s face was pale with tension. “She planted silverware rubbed with orange peels inside that box. I overheard her earlier, slurring to herself in the dressing room. She knew about your allergy. She wanted you to touch it, break out in a rash, ruin your honeymoon. The tickets aren’t refundable, Nora. She planned to use them herself.”

My chest constricted. My allergy wasn’t deadly, but it was painful and humiliating. Why would Vivian—my new mother-in-law—want to sabotage me?

“She wanted to take our honeymoon?” My voice trembled.

Gerald nodded grimly. “I couldn’t let that happen. I took the box so I could clean the silverware before anyone noticed.”

I leaned against the wall, dizzy. Gerald stealing had been easier to stomach. But this? This was twisted.

When I found Finn, I pulled him aside. “We need to talk. About your mom.”

As I explained, his face shifted from confusion to shock to fury. “I can’t believe she’d stoop this low.” His jaw clenched. “We’ll deal with her. But not today. This is our wedding.”

So we smiled, we danced, and we pretended. But every time Vivian’s eyes met mine, her bright smile masking malice, my skin prickled.

Later, she cornered me near the bar. “Nora, darling, have you opened my gift yet? The silverware set? You’ll love it.”

My blood chilled. She was so casual, so convincing. “Not yet,” I forced a smile. “We’ll save it for after the honeymoon.”

Her eyes gleamed. “Perfect. I can’t wait to hear what you think.”

As she drifted away, Gerald brushed past me, murmuring, “Don’t worry. It’s taken care of.”

The rest of the night blurred—dancing, toasts, laughter—all while a secret darkness loomed beneath the glittering surface. When Finn and I finally slipped away under a rain of rice and cheers, I glanced back. Vivian was waving sweetly, the picture of a proud mother.

But now I knew the truth.

In the car, Finn squeezed my hand. “We’ll deal with her later. For now, it’s just us. We’re a team.”

And I believed him. But as the city lights faded, a question gnawed at me: how do you move forward, knowing someone who’s supposed to love you wanted to destroy you?

This was supposed to be the start of our happily ever after. Instead, it felt like the first chapter in a war I never asked to fight.