Woman Thought Pretending to Be Someone’s Girlfriend at a Wedding Would Be Fun Until She Wished She Hadn’t — Story of the Day

Stuck in an elevator with a stranger was bad enough. But when Lena found out Dylan—a charming, suit-clad mystery man—needed a fake date for a wedding the next day, things got even weirder. A power outage, a bold proposition, and one tempting question: Would she really say yes to a total stranger?

Lena checked her watch for the third time in a minute. Late. Again.

She exhaled sharply, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she strode down the boutique hotel’s hallway.

The air smelled of fresh lilies, their floral sharpness mixed with the faintest trace of citrus and polished wood.

It was the kind of scent that clung to weddings—the kind that brought memories of champagne toasts, aching feet in high heels, and teary speeches that went on too long.

A fitting reminder, considering her best friend had gotten married last week.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Lena reached the elevator and jabbed the button, as if sheer determination could speed up the machinery.

She bounced on her heels, fingers tapping anxiously against the strap of her bag.

The soft chime of the elevator arriving barely registered in her brain before she darted inside.

Just as the doors started closing, a blur of movement caught her eye. A man lunged in after her, his shoulder bumping into hers as her suitcase wobbled dangerously.

“Sorry—” he started, a breathless chuckle in his voice. He straightened, brushing an imaginary wrinkle from his crisp suit.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Lena barely spared him a glance. “No worries.”

And then, everything stopped.

The elevator jerked violently. The lights flickered once, twice, then steadied. The hum of movement vanished.

Lena’s stomach clenched. A thick, loaded silence filled the small space.

She pressed the button repeatedly. Nothing.

“Oh, no. No, no, no,” she muttered, pressing her palm against the cool metal doors as if she could will them open.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Beside her, the man let out a deep sigh and leaned against the wall. “Classic. Always when you’re in a rush.”

Lena finally turned to him fully. Sharp blue eyes. Tousled blond hair. A suit that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover.

A Hallmark movie hero, if she’d ever seen one.

“I take it you have somewhere important to be?” he asked, his lips quirking in amusement.

“A dinner with a friend,” she muttered. “She got married last week. We planned this before I leave town.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Ah,” he nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Funny coincidence. The wedding I’m going to is tomorrow.”

Lena blinked. “Wait. You’re—”

“Dylan.” He extended a hand, palm up, as if this was the most normal introduction in the world. “Groom’s best friend. And emergency wedding date seeker.”

Before she could even process that, the intercom crackled overhead.

“Uh, folks? Seems like we’ve got a small power outage affecting the elevators. We’re working on it. Might take a bit.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Lena closed her eyes briefly. “Perfect.”

Dylan chuckled. “Look on the bright side. At least we’re not alone in here.”

She shot him a look. “Right. Because being stuck with a stranger is somehow better than being stuck alone.”

He shrugged, flashing a lazy grin. “Depends on the stranger, doesn’t it?”

They stood in awkward silence for a moment. The hum of hotel activity beyond the metal doors felt distant, as if they were suspended in time.

Then, out of nowhere, Dylan asked, “So, any chance you’re up for a second wedding in a week?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Lena turned to him slowly, brow raised. “Excuse me?”

“I need a date for the wedding.” He smirked, leaning against the wall like this was just another casual conversation.

“My ex is going to be there, and I’d rather not be the guy sitting alone at the singles table. Think of it as a fake date for a noble cause.”

Lena let out a short laugh. Was this guy serious?

“You’re really asking a total stranger to be your plus-one while we’re trapped in an elevator?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Dylan shrugged, completely unbothered. “So, is it a yes or a no?”

Lena never thought she’d actually go through with it.

The whole thing had sounded ridiculous—a fake date with a man she barely knew, just to help him save face at a wedding. And yet, here she was.

She smoothed her hands down the fabric of her red dress, the one she had almost left hanging in the back of her suitcase.

It wasn’t her usual style—too bold, too eye-catching, too much.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

But something about tonight made her want to be someone else, even if just for a few hours.

Dylan stood beside her, a glass of champagne in one hand, his other resting lightly on the small of her back. Steady, effortless, completely at ease. Unlike her.

She forced a polite smile as yet another guest approached, throwing curious glances her way.

Weddings were strange like that—everyone wanted to know who you were, why you were there, if your presence meant something.

Dylan, on the other hand, played the part perfectly.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He leaned down, murmuring in her ear, “That woman in the blue dress has been trying to figure out if we’re engaged for the past ten minutes.”

Lena barely stopped herself from laughing. “Should I flash a fake ring just to mess with her?”

His eyes twinkled. “Tempting. But then I’d have to plan an even faker proposal.”

They moved through the ballroom like they had done this a hundred times before—his touch easy, his words charming, his smile like a safety net.

And then there was the dance.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The moment his fingers laced with hers, the moment he guided her into a slow, fluid rhythm, Lena forgot for a second that this wasn’t real.

His grip was firm but gentle, the kind that told her to trust him. The warmth of his palm against her waist sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine.

This was pretend. She knew that. But something about the way he looked at her—like she was the only person in the room—made it too easy to forget.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

As the bride and groom swayed in the center of the dance floor, Lena tilted her head up. “So, tell me,” she murmured, “what’s the deal with this ex of yours?”

Dylan took a sip of champagne, and for the first time all night, his smile flickered. Just for a second.

“Maya,” he said, rolling the name on his tongue like it was still a part of him. “We dated for a while. Things got… complicated.”

Lena raised a brow. “Complicated how?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He exhaled slowly, eyes flicking down to the golden liquid swirling in his glass. “She thought I wasn’t serious enough. That I didn’t have time for her.”

“And did you?”

Dylan paused, then let out a dry chuckle. “Maybe not. But I was trying.”

Before Lena could respond, someone called Dylan’s name.

She turned just in time to see her.

Maya.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Lena didn’t need an introduction to know exactly who she was.

Tall. Poised. Beautiful in that effortless way that made other women feel like they were trying too hard.

Her presence filled the room with a quiet kind of power—like she knew she belonged anywhere she went.

And when she reached Dylan, she hugged him.

Not a casual, polite hug. Not an awkward, we-used-to-date hug.

Something in between. Something that made Lena’s chest tighten in a way it shouldn’t have.

She wasn’t supposed to care. This wasn’t real.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

And yet, it sure as hell felt like it was.

The reception was in full swing—laughter, clinking glasses, music that vibrated through the floor—but Lena barely heard any of it.

Her fingers gripped the stem of her champagne glass a little too tightly as she watched Dylan and Maya across the room.

Too close. Too familiar. Too much. Their voices were low, their expressions unreadable. Whatever they were saying, it wasn’t for her to hear.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

And yet, she couldn’t look away.

This was supposed to be a game. A favor. A night of harmless pretending. But now, her stomach twisted, and she hated the feeling.

A shadow moved beside her. “Everything okay?”

Dylan.

Lena blinked, dragging her gaze from Maya. She forced a smile, the kind that didn’t reach her eyes. “Great. You and Maya catching up?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Dylan’s frown was subtle but there. “Not really. She just wanted to check in.”

Check in. Right.

“Lena,” he started, voice softer now, careful. “You know this isn’t—”

“Not real?” she cut in, her heart hammering. “Yeah. I know.”

The words felt wrong.

She swallowed hard. She needed to leave before she made a fool of herself.

“Thanks for the night, Dylan,” she said, turning on her heel. “But I think I’m done playing pretend.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

And then, she walked away.

Lena had her bag packed before the sun had fully risen. She had spent the night convincing herself that walking away was the right choice. No messy feelings. No unnecessary complications. Just a clean break.

But as she slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped into the hotel lobby, her chest felt heavier than it should. Maybe it was just the lack of sleep. Maybe it was something else.

She headed toward the café, craving caffeine and distraction, but fate had other plans.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She turned the corner too fast, and suddenly—collision.

Hot coffee sloshed dangerously close to her dress as Dylan stumbled back, gripping his cup to stop the spill.

“Lena?” His voice was a mix of surprise and something else—something unreadable.

She cursed under her breath. Of course. Of course, she had to run into him now.

“I was just—” she started, but Dylan wasn’t buying it.

“Leaving?” His eyes locked onto hers, sharp, searching. “Without saying anything?”

Lena exhaled, torn between pride and something that felt a lot like longing. “It was just supposed to be a one-time thing, right?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Dylan was silent for a beat, then let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah,” he admitted, voice rough. “That’s what I thought, too.” He hesitated, then took a step closer. “Until I realized I didn’t want it to end.”

Lena’s pulse stumbled. “What?”

“Last night,” he said, his voice softer now, steady, “I watched you walk away, and all I could think about was how much I didn’t want you to go.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Her heart thudded against her ribs. “Dylan—”

“I don’t care about Maya,” he cut in, his tone firm, certain. “I don’t care about anyone else. I care about you.”

Lena wanted to believe him. But doubt—fear—clawed at her. “What if this is just—”

“It’s not,” Dylan interrupted, seeing right through her hesitation. “You feel it, too. Don’t you?”

She swallowed hard.

Yes.

Yes, she did.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

So, for once, she stopped overthinking.

She stepped forward, reached up, and kissed him.

A kiss that was warm. Real. Nothing like pretending.

Dylan smiled against her lips. “Does this mean you’ll stay?”

Lena laughed softly. “Maybe. But only if you promise to stop getting us stuck in elevators.”

Dylan chuckled, his hand slipping easily around her waist. “No guarantees.”

And with that, Lena finally let herself fall.

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My Ex-husband Got Our House, Car and All Our Money After Divorce – I Laughed Because That Was Exactly What I Planned

After a bitter marriage marked by Mike’s obsession with material wealth, Nicole shockingly agrees to give him everything in their divorce. But as Mike revels in his “victory,” Nicole’s laughter reveals a secret plan in motion. What Mike doesn’t know is that she’s about to make her final move.

I stepped out of the lawyer’s office with a blank expression, my shoulders slumped, looking every bit the defeated ex-wife. The rain was coming down hard, and the gray sky matched my mood — or at least the mood I wanted people to think I was in.

A woman walking past a window | Source: Midjourney

A woman walking past a window | Source: Midjourney

Inside, I was buzzing. My hands clenched the cold steel of the door handle as I headed toward the elevator. No one was around. Good.

The elevator door closed behind me with a soft ding, and as soon as I was alone, I let out a little giggle. It wasn’t something I planned; it bubbled up from deep inside like champagne finally uncorked.

The more I thought about what I’d just done the more it built up until I was cackling in the elevator like a lunatic.

A woman laughing in an elevator | Source: Midjourney

A woman laughing in an elevator | Source: Midjourney

If anyone saw me right then, they’d think I had finally snapped, gone over the edge from all the stress, but oh no, this was just the beginning. Everything was falling perfectly into place.

The house, the car, the savings — Mike could have them all. It was exactly what I wanted. He thought he’d won, and that was the best part. He didn’t have a clue what was coming.

The elevator stopped with a jolt, and I pulled myself together. I glanced at my reflection in the elevator’s mirrored wall: messy hair, tired eyes, and a faint smile still lingering on my lips. I didn’t even care. This was going to be fun.

A woman in an elevator | Source: Midjourney

A woman in an elevator | Source: Midjourney

A few weeks earlier…

Mike and I hadn’t been happy for years, but it wasn’t just the regular kind of falling out of love. Mike was obsessed with his image. He was all about the flashy cars, having the biggest house on the block, and wearing only designer clothes.

All of it was a performance, and I had played my part for too long. The cracks had started to show, and when the arguments became more frequent, I knew it wasn’t long before the inevitable happened.

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

The thing is, I wasn’t scared of the divorce. I knew Mike, and I knew exactly how this would play out.

He didn’t care about saving the marriage. No, what he wanted was to win — win the house, win the money, win the divorce.

All I wanted was to be free of this pretentious lifestyle. But that didn’t mean I was going to let him screw me over, either. So, I’d let Mike have what he wanted, but with a catch as sharp as a fishhook.

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney

It happened on a Tuesday. Mike came home late, again. I was in the kitchen, pretending to scroll through my phone, not bothering to look up when he stormed in.

“We need to talk.”

I sighed, barely masking the boredom in my voice. “What now?”

He slammed his keys on the counter, and I could practically feel the frustration radiating off him. He always got like this when things didn’t go his way at work, and of course, I was the easiest target.

An irritated man | Source: Midjourney

An irritated man | Source: Midjourney

“I’m done,” he said, his voice low and tight. “I want a divorce.”

I blinked up at him. Finally. I nodded slowly, like it was sinking in, but really, I had been prepared for this moment for weeks.

“Okay,” I said simply.

He frowned, clearly taken aback. “That’s it? No fight? No begging?”

I shrugged. “What’s the point?”

A woman staring ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman staring ahead | Source: Midjourney

For a second, he looked confused, like I had taken the wind out of his sails. He was expecting resistance, expecting me to plead with him to stay.

But I just needed to give him enough rope to hang himself with.

The divorce negotiations were as awful as I expected. We sat across from each other in a sterile conference room, lawyers flanking us, as Mike outlined every little thing he wanted. The house, the car, the savings; it was like he was reading off a grocery list.

Close up of a man's eyes | Source: Midjourney

Close up of a man’s eyes | Source: Midjourney

And the entire time, he had this smug little grin on his face, like he thought I’d break down and cry at any moment.

“Fine,” I said, barely listening. “You can have it all.”

My lawyer shot me a look, one that clearly said, “Are you sure?” But I just nodded.

Mike blinked. “Wait, what?”

“I said, you can have it. I don’t want any of it, except for my personal possessions.”

A woman | Source: Midjourney

A woman | Source: Midjourney

He looked stunned. “You… you don’t want the house? Or the money?”

“Nope,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “It’s all yours.”

His shock quickly morphed into glee. “Great. Then take this afternoon to pack up your belongings. It’s not much, so that should be plenty of time.” Mike glanced at his watch. “I’ll expect you to be out by six.”

“No problem,” I replied.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

He sat up straighter, his chest puffing out like he’d just won the lottery. And I let him think it.

And that brings me back to that moment when I stepped into the elevator in the lawyer’s office building, and couldn’t contain my laughter anymore.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I pulled out my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a second before I typed out a quick message: I’m heading to the house to pack up my things. I’ll call you when it’s time to make your move.

I hit send and smiled. Time for the real fun to begin.

A cell phone | Source: Pexels

A cell phone | Source: Pexels

Packing up the house was easier than I thought it would be. I didn’t want much, just a few personal things, mostly items that held memories that weren’t tainted by Mike. The house was too big for just the two of us anyway, and it always felt more like his house than mine.

I was taping up the last box when I picked up the phone to make the call. My mom, Barbara, answered on the second ring.

“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice light. “It’s time.”

A woman making a phone call | Source: Midjourney

A woman making a phone call | Source: Midjourney

There was a pause, and then Mom’s familiar, no-nonsense tone came through. “Finally. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

Mom couldn’t stand Mike. She saw right through his flashy facade the day I introduced them. But the best part? She had helped us buy this house. She was the reason Mike thought he had scored such a great deal on it, and now she was going to be the reason he lost it.

I hung up, feeling a strange sense of relief as I looked around. I was done pretending.

A woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney

The next morning, I was making breakfast in my new little apartment when my phone rang. I smirked as Mike’s name flashed across the screen.

“Hello?” I answered sweetly.

“You set me up!” Mike’s voice was furious, practically frothing at the mouth.

I put the phone on speaker, grabbing a piece of toast as I leaned against the counter. “I’m sorry, what are you talking about?”

A slice of toast | Source: Midjourney

A slice of toast | Source: Midjourney

“Your mother!” he spat. “She’s… she’s in my house! She’s taken over everything!”

“Oh, right,” I said, biting into my toast. “Remember that agreement we signed when she gave us the down payment? The one that lets her live there whenever she wants, for as long as she wants?”

There was a long pause, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his brain. I could imagine the look on his face, realization dawning.

A woman speaking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman speaking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

He had signed that paper years ago, too blinded by the allure of a fancy house to even think twice about the fine print.

“You! You cheated me! This isn’t over. I’m getting my lawyers—”

Before he could finish, I heard Mom’s voice in the background, sharp and cutting through the phone. “Michael, you better get your feet off that coffee table! And stop hogging the remote!”

There was a muffled sound as if Mike had turned away from the phone, trying to whisper. “Barbara, this is my house—”

A smiling woman on a phone call | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman on a phone call | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, hush,” Mom interrupted, louder now. “It’s my house just as much as yours. And another thing, what’s with all these cheap snacks? Do you know how to grocery shop? I’m not living off frozen dinners!”

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Mike mumbled something incoherent, his frustration barely contained, but before he could get another word in, I heard her again.

“And turn down that TV! You think I want to listen to that nonsense all day? If you’re going to watch those ridiculous car shows, at least mute it!”

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

There was a loud crash, followed by some more muttering, and then the phone clicked off abruptly. I took a deep breath, smiling as I sat down at the table.

Freedom never tasted so sweet.

Here’s another story: When I overheard my husband advising his friend to deliberately botch household chores, I felt a surge of anger. That moment marked the beginning of a transformation in our marriage, one where I decided to confront his weaponized incompetence by treating him like the child he was pretending to be.

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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