The dimly lit living room that was once filled with a child’s laughter reminded Eleanor over and over again of her profound loss and her inability to move forward. She and her husband, Joseph, lost their daughter Ava to cancer and nothing has been the same ever since. The grief and the pain that settled into Eleanor’s hard was extremely hard to even try to overcome. Eventually, the loss affected her realtionship with Joseph and the two split.
All Eleanor could wish for was to be a mother again.
Five years after Ava’s passing, she decided to adopt a child. Spending hours and hours on adoption sites, Eleanor’s attention was caught by the image of a young girl named Charlotte. This girl’s resemblance to Ava was incredible. They not only had the same hair color, but it seemed to Eleanor that they also shared facial features.
Without hesitating even a bit, Eleanor called Grace Adoption Services.
“Hello, this is Grace Adoption Services. I’m Samantha. How can I assist you today?” a warm voice came on the other end.
“My name is Eleanor. I’m hoping to adopt, and a little girl on your website has caught my attention,” she said, scratching her head.
“We’ll set up an appointment for you to come in and meet us. It’s always best if we do this in person.”
Eleanor was quick to agree. “I’m ready to take that step,” she said. “I want to make a difference in a child’s life.”
On the day of the meeting, Eleanor waited nervously at Samantha’s office.
“It’s wonderful to meet you in person,” Samantha greeted her. “I’ve read your application and can already tell you’d be an amazing parent.”
Eleanor was asked of the reasons she wanted to adopt and plenty of other questions about her background. She was also asked about her partner, with Samantha telling her that two-parent household had greater chances of adopting a child.
Eleanor explained that her relationship with her ex crumbled after the loss of their daughter, but the two were still in contact and trying to mend things between them.
Eleanor then left the agency with high hopes of being able to adopt Charlotte. She was so certain that her wish of becoming a mother again would come true that she even set a child’s room and bought everything Charlotte would need if she becomes her daughter.
What followed was a meeting at the park between Eleanor and Charlotte. Once she laid eyes on her in person, Eleanor was once again struck by the child’s resemblance with late Ava. She bought some coloring books and markers which Charlotte accepted with a quiet “Thank you” as a response.
The day was filled with fun and laughter, and Charlotte even told Eleanor that she would love her to be her mom because she didn’t want to be in the foster care any longer.
In the following weeks, Eleanor and Charlotte developed a stronger bond as Charlotte visited Eleanor’s home, explored her new bedroom, and shared meals with her.
Finally, Eleanor called Joseph. “Ellie,” he greeted warmly. “I’ve been thinking about you.”
“I have some big news to share. Can we meet tomorrow?” she told him.
The following day, Eleanor explained to Joseph that she wanted to adopt. “I can see this means a lot to you. It’s good to see you so alive again,” he responded. “I can’t let grief consume me,” she said. “We can’t let grief consume us.”
In the days to come, Joseph joined Eleanor and Charlotte to dinners and visited them in the house.
Charlotte was happy in what she hoped would be her forever home. “I’ve never had a mom like you. I don’t want to go back to foster care,” she told Eleanor. “I will be, sweetheart. I’ll be your mom forever.”
Finally, the adoption day arrived and Eleanor invited her closest family and friends to witness the beautiful moment. Joseph was also there.
At the hearing, Eleanor and Charlotte stood hand in hand before the judge as he finalized the adoption. Eleanor’s eyes filled with joyful tears as she looked at Charlotte, realizing they were beginning a new chapter together.
In her new environment, Charlotte flourished, serving as a reminder of the love Eleanor and Joseph once lost and the abundant love they still had to offer.
Being part of their lives, Charlotte brought Eleanor and Joseph closer together, and they rekindled their relationship.
One day, out of the blue, Eleanor received a call from Samantha. Her voice sounded strange and Eleanor heart skipped a beat because she could sense something was wrong.
“Eleanor, Charlotte’s biological mother has contacted me,” the adoption agency owner revealed. “She claimed that Joseph could be Charlotte’s biological father.”
“What? Charlotte could be Ava’s half-sister?” Eleanor whispered.
“We need to confront Joseph about this,” Samantha advised. “If he denies it, a paternity test may be necessary.”
“Why does it matter if she gave the kid up?”
“She said that the affair was quick, but if the biological dad suddenly wants to be in the picture, she may want to challenge the adoption,” Samantha explained. “I just want to be sure nothing can mess with Charlotte’s happiness.”
Eleanor hung up the phone and approached Joseph who was gardening outside. She told him what Samantha told her and asked him if he had had an affair with someone. Joseph confessed that he had a one-night thing with a woman whom he met in a support group for grieving parents he had joined after Ava’s death and their separation.
“It was a terrible mistake,” he confessed.
“You mean to say that you might be Charlotte’s father then if this woman gave her up for adoption?” Eleanor asked in horror.
“I left the group soon after she told me she was pregnant. But she might have given the child up for adoption,” Joseph nodded.
Eleanor, overwhelmed, asked about a paternity test which Joseph agreed without hesitation, “I will. I’ll own up to this all the way.”
While they waited for the results, Eleanor spoke to Samantha constantly. “In most jurisdictions, once an adoption is complete, it is generally irreversible,” her now-friend explained softly. When the results finally came Eleanor had a hard time breathing as they were opening the envelope that could change their lives yet again. She read it slowly, “Joseph is…not Charlotte’s father! Thank God!”
Upon hearing this news, Eleanor saw Charlotte’s resemblance to Ava as a miraculous coincidence and a second chance for her family. Through Charlotte, Ava could forever remain a part of them.
I Paid an Actor to Be My ‘Groom’ at a Fake Wedding to Get Revenge on My Ex, but Then We Had a Dramatic Plot Twist
Staging a fake wedding seemed like the perfect revenge on my cheating ex, but I never expected what happened next. As I walked down the aisle with a hired actor as my groom, little did I know how this elaborate charade would completely change the course of my life.
Jack and I had been together for five years. High school sweethearts. We met in sophomore year when we were paired up for a chemistry project. The irony isn’t lost on me now — our chemistry was undeniable from the start.
Late nights studying turned into stolen kisses in the library stacks. Homecoming dances, prom night, graduation — Jack was by my side through it all.
I thought we were rock solid, destined for forever. We had our whole lives planned out: finish college, get married, buy a house in our hometown, start a family. It was a simple dream, but it was ours. Or so I thought.
Then, six months ago, my world shattered. I found out Jack was cheating on me with Emily, one of my best friends since middle school. The betrayal cut deep on both fronts.
I discovered their affair in the most clichéd way possible — walking in on them at Emily’s apartment when Jack was supposed to be “working late.”
The image of them tangled together in Emily’s bed is seared into my brain. I remember every excruciating detail.
I was devastated and furious. How could they both betray me like that? Jack tried to explain, to apologize, but his words were just noise. Emily cried, saying it “just happened” and she never meant to hurt me. As if that made it better.
After the initial shock and sadness wore off, the real torture began. Jack and Emily started flaunting their relationship all over social media. At first, it was subtle — likes and comments on each other’s posts. Then came the cute couple selfies, shots of romantic date nights and inside jokes in the comments.
How could he move on so quickly while I was still picking up the pieces of my broken heart? I was suffering while Jack was living his best life. Each smile, each loving glance captured on camera felt like a personal attack. Didn’t he feel any guilt? Any remorse for throwing away five years together?
That’s when I hatched my crazy revenge plan: a fake wedding. If Jack wanted to show off his new relationship, I’d show him I could do one better. I’d stage the most picture-perfect wedding and flood social media with photos of my “perfect” new life.
I called my friend Kira, the only one I trusted with this insane scheme. “Hey, you still know that actor guy? Tom, right?”
“Yeah, why?” Kira sounded suspicious.
“I need a favor. A big one.”
I outlined my plan to Kira, expecting her to tell me I was crazy. Instead, after a long pause, she said, “You know what? Let’s do it. Jack deserves to squirm a little.”
Two days later, I was sitting across from Tom in a coffee shop, outlining my ridiculous plan. Tom was everything Jack wasn’t — tall, dark-haired, with an easy smile and a mischievous glint in his eye.
“So let me get this straight,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You want me to pretend to be your groom at a fake wedding?”
I nodded, feeling a bit ridiculous but still determined. “I know it sounds crazy, but after what Jack did… I need this.”
“I’m in,” Tom interrupted, grinning. “Sounds like fun. Plus, it’ll be great practice for my acting reel.”
Over the next few weeks, I threw myself into wedding planning with a fervor that surprised even me. Every decision was made with social media in mind. How would this look in photos? What would make Jack and Emily the most jealous?
I chose a venue that I knew Jack had always loved — a picturesque barn on the outskirts of town. My dress was a designer knock-off, but in photos, it would look like I’d splurged on the real thing. I even went as far as to hire a professional photographer friend to capture every moment of our “special day.”
“You sure about this?” Kira asked as we picked out flowers. “It’s not too late to back out.”
“Absolutely,” I lied, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach. Was I taking this too far? But then I’d remember Jack and Emily’s latest couples post — a sunset beach pic with the caption “Never been happier” — and my resolve would harden.
The day of the fake wedding arrived, bringing with it a flurry of activity. Hair, makeup, last-minute decorations — it all felt surreal. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my veil, when Tom knocked on the door.
“Ready to get fake married?” he grinned, looking dashing in a tailored tux.
I took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.”
The ceremony was surprisingly convincing. Tom played his part perfectly, his vows so heartfelt I almost believed them myself. As we exchanged rings and sealed our “union” with a kiss, I couldn’t help but think of Jack. This was supposed to be us, once upon a time.
After the ceremony, we posed for countless photos. Tom’s arm around my waist felt oddly comforting. We laughed and joked between shots, our chemistry apparent even through the lens.
“You’re a natural,” I murmured as we smiled for another shot.
“What can I say? I’m a method actor,” he winked, pulling me close for a staged romantic moment.
The reception was a whirlwind of fake toasts, first dances, and cake cutting. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, but beneath the act, I felt a genuine lightness I hadn’t experienced in months.
That night, I posted a flurry of wedding photos on social media. “Found my true love,” I captioned one. “New beginnings,” on another. My finger hovered over the post button for a moment before I pressed it decisively. This was it. My grand gesture of moving on.
It didn’t take long for my phone to explode with notifications. Friends congratulating me, family members confused — and then, Jack.
“You couldn’t wait to flaunt your new guy? Pathetic,” his message read.
I smirked, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction. But as I lay in bed that night, doubt crept in. What had I really accomplished? Was this elaborate charade really going to make me feel better?
The next morning, I met Tom for coffee to debrief. As we talked, I found myself opening up about Jack, the betrayal, and how lost I’d felt these past six months. Tom listened with genuine empathy, offering insights I hadn’t considered.
“You know,” he said, stirring his latte thoughtfully, “sometimes the best revenge is just being happy. Really happy, not this fake Instagram version.”
His words struck a chord. We ended up talking for hours, long after our coffee had gone cold. Tom was funny, kind, and surprisingly easy to talk to. As we said goodbye, I found myself wishing our time together wasn’t just an act.
Over the next few weeks, Tom and I kept in touch. What started as casual meetups to maintain our “newlywed” facade for social media turned into real dates. It felt natural, effortless, nothing like the performance we’d put on for my revenge scheme.
We went hiking, tried new restaurants, spent lazy Sundays binge-watching TV shows. I found myself laughing more and thinking about Jack less. The pain was still there, but it was dulled, overshadowed by this new, unexpected connection.
“So,” Tom said one night over dinner, about two months after our “wedding,” “are we going to talk about how our fake relationship turned into a real one?”
I laughed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “I guess we should, huh?”
We decided to give it a shot, for real this time. But our unconventional start didn’t go unnoticed.
“Are you sure about this?” Kira asked when I told her. “It’s not just part of the act?”
“It’s real,” I assured her. “Unexpected, but real.”
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. When the truth about our fake wedding came out — as secrets inevitably do — we faced backlash from friends and family who felt deceived. Jack even tried to use it as ammunition, painting me as unstable and manipulative.
But Tom stood by me through it all. We weathered the storm together, emerging stronger on the other side. And slowly, people came around, seeing the genuine happiness we’d found in each other.
As I reflected on everything that happened, I couldn’t help but marvel at the journey. What started as a misguided attempt at revenge led me to true love and personal growth I never expected.
I realized that the best revenge wasn’t about making Jack jealous — it was about finding genuine happiness for myself.
Life has a funny way of working out sometimes. And while I wouldn’t recommend staging a fake wedding as a path to happiness, I can’t regret the choices that led me here — to Ryan, to love, and to a future brighter than I ever imagined.
What would you have done? If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you about a woman whose best friend refused to believe her husband was cheating on her, so she set up a foolproof trap, unprepared for the explosive consequences.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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