I Walked Up To My Groom At The Altar – All Of A Sudden, A Woman In White Dress Appeared Behind His Back

Chris proposes to Beth after six months of dating, and his excited family takes charge of the wedding arrangements. However, their unconventional ideas for the program prompt Beth to abruptly exit her own wedding.

This year, my boyfriend Chris surprised me for my 25th birthday by whisking me away to Hawaii.

It felt like a fairytale, considering we'd only been together for six months, and I wasn't anticipating anything extraordinary. Yet there, on the beach, Chris proposed, and caught up in the magic of the moment, I said yes. Deep down, I knew six months wasn't ample time to truly know someone before tying the knot.

Unbeknownst to me, that fairytale was on the brink of unfolding into far more drama than I ever anticipated.

I wasn't the type to spend hours daydreaming about my wedding. Thus, when Chris's family eagerly took the reins, dictating every detail and even offering to cover the expenses, I went along with it.

I must confess, there were moments when I felt a bit sidelined, particularly when I expressed that shades of blue weren't exactly my preference for the color scheme.

Opting to contribute to their enthusiasm seemed like the wiser choice rather than engaging in conflict with them.

On the day itself, I felt surprisingly calm, reassured by the fact that Chris's mom and sister had everything under control. Given that I wasn't particularly close to my own family, apart from my father, they didn't have significant roles to play in the proceedings.

"Beth," his mom, Leeanne, said, adjusting my hair. "I want you to walk down the aisle with your eyes closed."

"What? Why?" I exclaimed, already envisioning myself tripping over something as I walked.

"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 idea 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 concept sounded peculiar. It wasn't anything I had heard of before, but I also recognized that people often concocted superstitions and stories.

"I wouldn't have to wear a blindfold and ruin my makeup, would I?" 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.

It was utterly absurd, no doubt about it. But unfortunately, things only went downhill from there at my wedding.

At the altar, I cautiously opened my eyes, anticipating the affectionate gaze of my fiancé, but what I saw was far beyond anything I had expected.

Chris smiled at me, and then, in the next moment, another sight jolted me— a woman in a white dress stood behind him.

I couldn't discern from his expression whether he was aware of her presence. My mind raced with questions about her identity, but the murmurs around me quickly clarified — Julia, Chris's first wife.

"Chris, what's happening?" I whispered, gesturing towards Julia. My voice barely carried amidst the collective gasps.

Before either Chris or I could fully grasp this bizarre twist in the ceremony, Leeanne walked down the aisle, holding onto a little boy's hand. Every face turned to look towards them.

Then, Julia stepped forward, her arms open wide, ready for the boy to walk into them.

"This is Eli," she said, casting a glance at me. "He's six years old and autistic. He's the best part of me, but he's also part of Chris. Elizabeth, this is our son."

"But he wouldn't have told you that," Maggie chimed in from beside me—she was one of my bridesmaids.

"Did you know about Eli?" Maggie asked.

I shook my head, feeling the weight of the emotion thickening the air. All eyes were on me, but my focus remained on Chris, yearning for an explanation, an excuse, a denial—anything.

But none came. Instead, he nervously fingered his watch, guilt unmistakable on his face. But none came. Instead, he nervously fingered his watch, guilt unmistakable 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, his gaze scanning the room. Chris's features were unmistakably etched all over his face.

"You let me believe that your divorce was amicable and that there were no ties to Julia," I said. "But you left your family. You left your son."

"He left Eli when he discovered he was autistic," Maggie said loudly.

My heart sank. How could I have nearly married a man so callous and indifferent? He abandoned his son because of something inherent to him.

As the truth unraveled, I felt as though I was being submerged beneath the weight of it all. Leeanne, upon learning of Chris's desire to remarry, had orchestrated this dramatic revelation.

"You're too young, Elizabeth," she said. "You're too young to be entangled in his mess. He couldn't care for Julia, so she had to care for herself and Eli. Chris has disappointed me in many ways, but nothing will make up for neglecting his own child."

It appeared that my wedding had transformed into a harsh, public lesson directed at a man who had shirked his responsibilities.

I kicked off my heels, handing them to Maggie, and walked away from the altar—not as a bride, but as a woman who had narrowly escaped a life entangled in deceit.

The experience was painful—yes, it had only been six months of knowing Chris, but I was certain that what I had felt for him was genuine. That's why it hurt so deeply when I discovered the truth.

In the aftermath, I made the decision to prioritize myself. I realized I needed to travel and embrace life while I was still young. I craved more experiences—both the good and the bad—to help me determine who I truly wanted to be with.

I was certain about one thing—I didn't want to be with someone like Chris. A man who lied about having a son—a son who became invisible to him simply because he was autistic.

I'm just thankful that the only expense I incurred was for my wedding dress—which I promptly returned three days after the so-called wedding.

Even now, when I reflect on the whole ordeal, I can't say I harbor any resentment. Leeanne did what she felt was necessary. And she did it to safeguard me and that sweet little boy.

Have you ever experienced anything surreal?