After six months of dating, Chris proposes to Beth. His enthusiastic family runs with the wedding planning — only to include unorthodox items on the program, causing Beth to leave her wedding.
For my 25th birthday this year, my boyfriend, Chris, whisked me off to Hawaii.
It was a fairytale because we had only been dating for six months, and I wasn’t expecting anything. But then, Chris proposed to me on the beach — I said yes, swept away by the enchantment of the moment, although I knew that six months of knowing someone was not enough before marrying them.
Little did I know that fairytale was about to unravel into more drama than I had signed up for.
Beach proposal | Source: Pexels
I wasn’t one of those girls who spent hours dreaming up their wedding. So when Chris’s family, fueled by their eagerness and involvement, took complete control over every detail of the wedding, even offering to foot the bill — I allowed it.
I’ll admit that there were moments when I felt sidelined, especially when I said that shades of blue for the color scheme weren’t my cup of tea.
But contributing to their enthusiasm was the better option than fighting with them.
Then, the big day arrived, and I was completely calm about everything — knowing that Chris’s Mom and sister had sorted everything out. I wasn’t close to my family, so other than my father, they didn’t play any big roles.
Blue wedding decor | Source: Pexels
“Beth,” his Mom, Leeanne, said, fixing my hair. “I want you to walk down the aisle with your eyes closed.”
“What? Why?” I exclaimed, already thinking about tripping over something while walking.
“I can barely walk properly in these heels with my eyes open,” I chuckled.
“It’s just tradition,” Leeanne said. “I did it, too. The whole thing is about seeing your husband first — the first thing out of the darkness.”
“He’s supposed to be the light,” Chris’s sister, Maggie, giggled.
The whole thing sounded strange. It wasn’t anything I had heard of before, but I also knew that people always came up with superstitions and stories.
“I wouldn’t have to wear a blindfold and mess up my make-up, right?” I asked.
“No, just close your eyes and hold onto your father’s hand tightly,” Leeanne said.
When I told my Dad what I needed to do, he laughed, thinking I was joking.
Pair of glittery Jimmy Choo heels | Source: Unsplash
It was absurd, of course. But my wedding only got worse from there.
At the altar, I opened my eyes, expecting the loving gaze of my fiancé, but I got way more than I bargained for.
Chris smiled at me, and after a second, another sight sent shockwaves through me — a woman in a white dress stood behind him.
I couldn’t tell whether he knew she was there from his expression. I wondered who she was, but the murmurs around me revealed her identity — Julia, Chris’s first wife.
“Chris, what’s happening?” I whispered, pointing to Julia. My voice was barely audible amidst the collective gasps.
Woman standing in white dress | Source: Pexels
But before either Chris or I could process this bizarre twist in the ceremony, Leeanne walked down the aisle, holding onto a little boy’s hand. Every face turned to look toward them.
Then, Julia stepped forward and held her arms open for the boy, ready for him to walk in.
“This is Eli,” she said, looking at me. “He’s six years old, and he is autistic. He’s the best part of me, but he’s also part of Chris. Elizabeth, this is our son.”
“But he wouldn’t tell you that,” Maggie chimed in from next to me — she was one of my bridesmaids.
“Did you know about Eli?” Maggie asked.
Boy covering his face | Source: Pexels
I shook my head. The air had become dense with emotion. The crowd’s eyes were on me, but my gaze was fixed on Chris, desperate for an explanation, an excuse, a denial, anything.
But there was none. Instead, he fingered his watch nervously, guilt undeniable on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded, my voice shaking.
“I didn’t know how,” he stammered, avoiding eye contact.
I turned to look at Eli, who was holding tightly onto Julia’s hand and looking around the room. I could clearly see Chris’s features all over his face.
“You let me believe that your divorce was admirable and that there were no ties to Julia,” I said. “But you abandoned your family. You abandoned your son.”
“He abandoned Eli when he found out that he was autistic,” Maggie said loudly.
My heart sank. How could I have almost married a man who was so thoughtless and cold? He left his son behind because of something that he was born with.
As the truth unfolded, I felt I was drowning in the weight of everything. Leeanne, upon discovering that Chris wanted to remarry, had orchestrated this dramatic revelation.
Man holding his tie | Source: Pexels
“You’re too young, Elizabeth,” she said. “You’re too young to be caught up in his mess. He couldn’t care for Julia, so she cared for herself and Eli. Chris has disappointed me in many ways, but nothing will make up for the neglect of his own child.”
It turned out that my wedding was just a harsh, public lesson aimed at a man who had turned his back on his responsibilities.
I kicked off my heels, handed them to Maggie, and walked away from the altar — not as a bride but as a woman who had narrowly escaped a life bound to deceit.
The experience was painful — sure, it had only been six months of knowing Chris, but I knew what I had felt for him was real. That’s why it hurt so much when I found out the truth.
People holding passports | Source: Pexels
In the aftermath, I took time to focus on myself. I decided I needed to travel and live life while still young. I needed more bad romances and horrible dates before figuring out who I wanted to be with.
I just knew one thing for sure — I didn’t want to be with someone like Chris. A man who lied about having a son — a son that was rendered invisible to him because he was autistic.
I’m just grateful that the only thing I had to pay for was my wedding dress — which had been returned three days after the so-called wedding.
Even now, when I think about the entire episode, I admit I’m not mad about it all. Leeanne did what she needed to do. And she did it to protect me and that sweet little boy.
Little boy with red hair | Source: Pexels
Has anything unreal happened to you?
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Dolly Parton grew up “dirt poor,” never seeing a toilet until she was eight, and now generously donates to charities.
Dolly Parton is one of the most well-known performers in the country music scene and has been for many years. She has long been recognized for her melodic voice, inventive lyrics, and distinct sound.
Her career started when her first album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” came out in 1967. Since then, she’s had a lot of hits, like “Jolene,” “9 to 5”, and “Coat of Many Colors.”
Also, Parton wrote and sang the epic ballad “I Will Always Love You” in 1973. Whitney Houston made the song famous in 1992.
Parton is a businesswoman, actress, author, and humanitarian, in addition to being a singer-songwriter. She has used her influence to benefit society through her music and shows.
She has always gone out of her way to be an inspiring role model for many individuals worldwide. Dolly Parton’s influence on music will last for a long time because she is such a talented artist who stands out from other country musicians.
Dolly Parton grew up in poverty and trouble. She was born on January 19, 1946, in Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children, and grew up in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River with her parents and siblings.
Her father was a sharecropper without education, while her mother was of Welsh origin. “We were dirt poor but wonderfully joyful,” Parton later stated of her family. Despite their absence of material belongings, they were overjoyed and filled with love.
Parton fell in love with music when she was young, thanks to the stories and ballads her mother told her. Parton was determined to make a name for herself, so when she graduated from high school, she moved to Nashville to start a music career.
Parton’s dedication eventually made her one of country music’s most famous musicians. Many people named her the 2021 Person of the Year for all she has accomplished as a true icon.
Parton has also done a lot of charity work for her career, which shows how much she cares about other people.
She thinks that giving back will help others who are going through similar difficulties achieve success as she did despite their terrible circumstances.Dolly Parton reflected on her humble beginnings growing up in a low-income family.
Although meals were limited, and they frequently slept three to a bed, her parents could put a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, and clothes on their backs for their children.
Despite their lack of financial resources, they were surrounded by others who suffered far harder than they did.
The family’s modest cabin was barely big enough for them, so they spent most of their time outside. When she was eight, Dolly first saw a toilet when visiting her aunt’s house. She was initially scared to use it since she thought it would suck her down!
During the winter, the family made their soap and bathed once a week, and during high school, she had to wash her bed every day because her brothers left it dirty at night.
Dolly Parton, who grew up in poverty and had a rough childhood, has always remembered the lessons she learned from her family.
She brings up these recollections when discussing her music and other elements of her life. “My love for my family will never end,” she adds, adding that it “is always there and directs me in whatever I do.”
Her fortune is reported to be approximately $375 million, but she continues to donate to charity. Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, initially granting scholarships to students at the high school she attended.
However, it has expanded to include many more schools and deserving instructors. This foundation is just one example of Parton’s generosity; it demonstrates how deeply she cares about helping others less lucky than herself.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was a remarkable initiative created by the artist in 1995 as an homage to her late father. It began in Tennessee but quickly spread around the country, delivering over 1.3 million books to over two million children each month.
The effort reached an extraordinary milestone in 2018 when the 100 millionth book was distributed, something Parton confessed she could never have thought would happen.
She added that it all felt like destiny and that she had planned for it to be a unique project dedicated to her father’s home county and the surrounding areas.
Parton’s kindness shows up when things go wrong, like when she set up the My People Fund after the devastating Great Smoky Mountains wildfires in 2016. More than $9 million was raised to help 900 families affected by the disaster.
Parton also gave a lot of money to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after her niece got treatment there for leukemia.
Dolly Parton has been incredibly generous throughout her life and business. She has donated to several causes, including the American Red Cross, HIV/AIDS charities, and animal rights organizations.
Parton also became a prominent champion for Covid vaccines in 2020, donating $1 million to help create the Moderna vaccine.
Parton’s giving comes effortlessly, and she is deeply committed to it. She once stated in an interview that she is “addicted to the sensation of giving” and enjoys “knowing that I’m making a difference in the lives of others.”
Dolly Parton’s caring attitude and upbringing have significantly influenced her philanthropy – her generosity has been essential in making charitable contributions to better the communities around her.
Because of her kind donations, many people and groups have been able to make significant contributions to important causes, which we are grateful for.
Dolly Parton’s compassion, kindness, and help for people who are less lucky than us will inspire others.
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