When my son, Ryan, was a senior in college, his girlfriend of three weeks told him she was pregnant. It was a shock to all of us. I loved my son dearly and wanted what was best for him, so I suggested that he take a DNA test. Ryan agreed and, when the test confirmed he was the father, he decided to marry Shelley.
However, Shelley was furious with me for suggesting the test in the first place. She began slandering me to everyone, spreading lies and painting me as a villain. Soon, I found myself ostracized and not invited to the wedding. My own family turned against me, believing the horrible things Shelley said about me. It was heartbreaking, but I kept my concerns to myself, respecting Ryan’s decision.
Two weeks before the wedding, my phone rang unexpectedly. It was Shelley’s mother, Jen. Her voice was tense and urgent.
“Hi. Get in the car and drive to me, it’s urgent,” she said.
“Hey Jen, what’s that?” I asked, bewildered.
Jen took a deep breath and dropped a bombshell on me. “We need to cancel the wedding because Shelley’s been lying. Ryan is not the father of her baby.”
I was stunned. “What do you mean? The DNA test said otherwise.”
“The test was manipulated. Shelley was desperate to marry Ryan. She knew he was a good guy and thought she could trap him. But the real father… well, it’s someone else.”
My mind raced. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Jen sighed, “Because I can’t let this go on. I’ve tried to talk sense into Shelley, but she won’t listen. She’s too wrapped up in her lies. I didn’t realize how far she had gone until I found some suspicious documents in her room. I confronted her, and she finally admitted it. Ryan deserves to know the truth before he makes a huge mistake.”
I didn’t waste any time. I drove to Jen’s house, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. When I arrived, Jen showed me the documents and the messages between Shelley and the real father. It was undeniable evidence.
We decided to confront Ryan together. I called him and asked him to meet us at Jen’s house. When he arrived, he looked confused and worried.
“Mom, what’s going on?” he asked.
I took a deep breath. “Ryan, there’s something you need to know about Shelley and the baby.”
Jen handed Ryan the documents. He read them, his face growing pale as he absorbed the truth. “This can’t be real…”
“It is, son,” I said gently. “I’m so sorry you have to go through this.”
Ryan’s shoulders sagged as he processed everything. “I can’t believe she would do this to me. To us.”
Jen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Ryan. I never wanted this for you.”
Ryan took a moment to collect himself, then nodded. “We need to cancel the wedding. I can’t marry someone who would lie to me like this.”
With a heavy heart, Ryan made the difficult decision to call off the wedding. He confronted Shelley, who, faced with the evidence, could no longer maintain her deception. The truth came out, and Ryan’s friends and family gradually understood why I had been concerned from the beginning.
In the end, Ryan moved on, grateful for the support of those who truly cared about him. The experience, though painful, taught us all valuable lessons about trust and integrity. And as for me, I was relieved that my son had been spared a lifetime of heartache and that, ultimately, the truth had set us free.