The Stolen Wedding: A Tale of Sisters at War.

Gina had spent years saving for her dream wedding. She and Leo worked endless hours, took on extra shifts, sacrificed every luxury just to make that one day perfect.

On the morning of the wedding, Gina woke up with butterflies in her stomach and her heart full. She arrived at the venue an hour early, hoping to soak in every second of the experience. All she wanted was a peaceful moment before the ceremony—walk down the aisle alone, breathe, touch up her makeup, sip some champagne, and savor the fairy tale.

But instead, she saw a bride standing at her altar. Back turned. Adjusting her veil.

It was her sister, Jessica.

Dressed in white. Music playing. Guests arriving. Staff rushing around.

Jessica turned around, wearing a smug smile.

— “Oh! You’re early! I thought I’d have it all done before you got here. Well… so much for the surprise.”

Gina blinked, stunned.

— “Surprise?” she echoed.

Jessica gave an exaggerated sigh:

— “Come on, Gina. Why waste a perfectly good setup? Two weddings in one! Brilliant, right? And you know how Ben’s been pushing me to get married lately…”

Gina felt her stomach drop.

— “You… you actually planned to get married at my wedding? Are you insane?”

Jessica tilted her head with a pout.

— “Mom said ‘insane’ is a word we don’t use, Gina. Be kind. And don’t be so selfish.”

Selfish?

Gina felt something boil inside her. Jessica had taken from her all her life—clothes, ideas, even the attention of their parents. But this?

This was next-level cruelty.

She turned to Bella, the wedding planner.

— “Bella, did you know anything about this?”

— “Not at all,” Bella replied. “I was just getting the bridal suite ready. Your hair and makeup team is wrapping up now.”

— “Good,” Gina said with a calm smile. “Let’s handle this double-wedding situation. Please schedule my sister’s ceremony before mine. But grab your tablet.”

— “Of course,” Bella replied, unlocking it.

— “Please add the harpist’s final fee to our invoice. And about my sister’s side—make sure she pays in full before walking down that aisle.”

Jessica froze. Her smug smile faded.

Gina crossed her arms.

— “You added your own ceremony. If you’d actually planned a wedding, you’d know what that entails—extra time for the officiant, musicians, Leo’s student photographers—which you’ll have to pay for. And food? We only budgeted for our guests. I’m not splitting that with you.”

Bella, ever professional, turned to Jessica:

— “She’s right, Gina. But she missed a few things. We charge per guest. Every seat, every plate counts. Your guests will require more. That’s not cheap. Would you like to sit and review the additional costs?”

— “Wait… what?!” Jessica cried.

Bella remained calm.

— “You added a separate ceremony, Jessica. That comes with fees that must be paid upfront.”

Jessica laughed nervously:

— “No, no, no! This is all one event! There’s no extra this or that. Come on, Gina, tell her!”

Gina shrugged.

— “Not according to the contract. Your part was never in the original agreement. Weddings cost money, Jess. If you want one, you pay for it.”

Jessica’s face turned bright red. She dropped her veil, looked around for support.

No one backed her up. Not their mom. Not their dad. Not even Ben.

— “Mom?” she whimpered.

Their mother crossed her arms.

— “You planned this behind everyone’s back. Fix it yourself, Jessica.”

Jessica’s lip trembled, then she snapped. She yelled, stomped her feet, demanded that Gina “just share” because they were “family.”

— “You need to calm down, Jess,” Ben said. “I can’t believe you lied and said Gina and Leo were okay with this. I’m leaving.”

Jessica collapsed to the ground. Their father called security and had her escorted out.

Gina took a deep breath and smiled.

— “Ready to put on your dress?” Bella asked.

Gina nodded.

— “It’s almost time, sweetheart,” said her mom. “Let me help you.”

The wedding went on beautifully—romantic, intimate, joyful.

Without Jessica and her drama, the energy was light and electric.

Later, Gina’s mom pulled her aside for a hug.

— “I can’t believe she thought she’d get away with that,” she said.

— “Honestly? Me neither!” Gina laughed. “I told Leo after the ceremony, and he was stunned. It’s good he missed the drama—he probably would’ve let her go through with it just to keep the peace.”

— “You’ve got a good man, Gina. Don’t take him for granted.”

Before long, Gina’s father joined them.

— “She called. Said we should all be ashamed for ‘humiliating’ her.”

Gina rolled her eyes.

— “She humiliated herself. I just made sure she didn’t get a free wedding. Leo and I worked hard for this day. I wasn’t going to let her ruin it.”

That night, Gina and Leo sat together, hands intertwined, his eyes locked on hers as he raised a toast.

— “To my beautiful wife,” he said. “And for finally giving her the wedding she truly deserved.”

Cheers erupted around them.

Tears welled in Gina’s eyes.

Jessica’s absence didn’t matter.

Just as Gina kicked off her shoes, a loud knock shook the front door.

Persistent. Desperate.

She sighed and opened it.

Jessica stood there in sweatpants and an old hoodie, face swollen from crying. Her perfectly curled hair now a messy bun, mascara smeared under her eyes.

For the first time ever, she looked… small.

— “Gina,” she whispered. “Can I come in?”

— “Why?” Gina asked plainly.

— “I just… need to talk.”

Gina studied her. Everything inside screamed to slam the door. But something in Jessica’s expression—something vulnerable—made her pause.

She stepped aside.

— “Five minutes. That’s all you get.”

Jessica walked in, hugging her arms.

She stood in the living room, silent, staring around like she didn’t recognize the place.

Finally, she exhaled shakily.

— “Ben left me,” her voice cracked. “He said he needed a break. That he didn’t understand why I did what I did. That maybe I’m not the kind of person he wants to be with.”

She let out a hollow laugh and wiped her cheeks.

— “I guess I finally pushed too far, huh?”

Gina said nothing.

Jessica avoided her gaze.

— “At first, I didn’t think it was a big deal. I figured you’d be mad for a bit, then we’d move on—like always.”

— “But then Ben left. Mom and Dad won’t take my calls. And my friends… well, turns out I don’t have as many as I thought.”

She looked up, eyes red and pleading.

— “I don’t know why I do these things, Gina. I don’t know why I can’t be happy for you. I ruin everything. And now? I’ve ruined myself.”

For the first time in her life, Jessica admitted she wasn’t okay.

And for the first time, Gina didn’t feel responsible for fixing her.

She exhaled slowly.

— “Yeah, Jess. You did.”

— “Can we… start over?”

Gina looked at her and shook her head.

— “No.”

Jessica flinched.

Gina stepped closer, her voice steady and calm.

— “You spent years making me feel small. Stealing what wasn’t yours. Twisting the story so people thought you were the victim. And now, when you finally face the consequences,” she tilted her head, “you want a reset?”

Jessica swallowed hard and nodded.

Gina gave a short laugh and shook her head again.

— “I spent years waiting for you to change. But I’m done waiting,” she said, walking to the door and opening it. “Now you get to live with the choices you made.”

Jessica’s face crumbled.

For a moment, Gina thought she’d protest. But she didn’t. She just turned and walked away.

As she stepped outside, Gina spoke one last time:

— “I really hope you find yourself.”

Jessica paused, nodded once, then disappeared into the night.

Gina closed the door, locked it, and put the kettle on.

For the first time in her life, she felt free.

What would you have done?