Groom Disappears on Wedding Day without a Trace, Bride Learns He Traded Her for Money — Story of the Day

Donning a beautiful white dress, a bride arrived in church to marry the love of her life, unaware of the surprise waiting for her inside. Hours later, the guests left, leaving the bride crying after learning her groom had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

"So, Mom," Harper said to her mother, Catherine sitting across the dinner table. "You told me you wanted to ask Jack something important before our wedding. What was it?"

Harper had invited Jack over for dinner a month before their wedding. The couple began dating a year ago and soon decided to start a new chapter in their lives. But Catherine felt her daughter had made an irrational decision.

"Yes, Jack. I wanted to ask you something," Catherine said as she placed the fork on her plate and folded her hands. "Why did you break up with Kathy, your ex-girlfriend?"

"Mom!" Harper's eyes widened as she looked at her mother.

"It's okay, Harper. I know your mother wants to know me better before we tie the knot," Jack said. "I broke up with Kathy because things weren't working out between us. We fell out of love too soon."

"Really? I heard you left her after her business went bust, and she went bankrupt. Isn't that true?" Catherine asked sternly.

"Oh, no," Jack chuckled. "Those are just rumors."

"How can you even think Jack would do something like that, Mom? He's not greedy for money!" Harper yelled.

"I didn't mean that―" Catherine tried to explain.

"I know what you mean, Mom! You just made this up to make Jack feel bad. I don't think you want to see me happy!" Harper stood up and stomped out of the kitchen.

"No, Harper," Catherine said and followed her daughter. "I always want to see you happy, honey."

"Then please don't embarrass me in front of Jack. I love him, and we're getting married next month," Harper said. "Please don't spoil my big day!"

On her wedding day, Harper donned a beautiful white dress paired with a delicate silver jewelry set before she left her house for the church. I'm finally going to tie the knot with the best man I know, she thought to herself, unaware of how her life would soon take an unexpected turn.

Harper slid her hand inside her bag to pull out a dollar then she looked at the beggar's face and stopped midway. "Jack? Is that you?" she asked.

When she entered the church, she noticed Jack hadn't arrived yet, so she went inside the preparation room and chatted with her bridesmaids. Catherine entered the room ten minutes later and asked Harper to call Jack.

"The guests are waiting for him, sweetheart. Tell him to come soon," Catherine said in a worried voice.

"Sure, Mom. I'll call him." Harper picked up her phone and dialed Jack's number.

Why is his phone switched off? Harper wondered. After trying to contact him multiple times, Harper felt her heart pound, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"What happened?" one of her friends asked, but Harper couldn't explain and began crying.

Hours later, the guests began to leave the church. Some guests were frowning and cursing Catherine and Harper for wasting their time, while others consoled them.

Watching her daughter cry made Catherine feel sad, so she hugged Harper and said, "Don't worry, sweetheart. Whatever happened is for your own good."

"What do you mean, Mom?" Harper cried. "Jack left me. Can't you see? He doesn't want to marry me now, and that's all because of you!"

"Because of me? Why do you think so?" Catherine asked.

"Because of what you asked him at the dinner table the other day, remember? It must have scared him," Harper said.

That day, Harper contacted all of Jack's friends and family members, but no one knew where he was. She even visited the local hospitals and the police station to no avail.

Ten years later, Harper, a successful businesswoman, was walking down the street near her house when a beggar approached her.

"Please give me a dollar. I'm starving," he cried.

Harper slid her hand inside her bag to pull out a dollar then she looked at the beggar's face and stopped midway. "Jack? Is that you?" she asked.

The beggar admitted that he was Jack and told Harper why he didn't show up at their wedding. "I'm really sorry, Harper, " he said.

"When I was dating you, I never told you, but I was in debt," Jack explained. "I needed money, and somehow, your mother learned about my situation."

"Then what?" Harper asked.

"Well, your mother offered me $20,000. But she said I couldn't marry you if I wanted the money. She asked me to choose between you and the money," Jack said while looking at the ground.

"And we all know what you chose!" Harper rolled her eyes.

"Look, Harper, I really needed that money, but your mother never gave me all of it," Jack said.

"What do you mean?" Harper asked.

"She gave me $2000 before the wedding, and when I asked her for the remaining amount later, she refused," Jack revealed. "So here I am, begging on the streets because I lost everything."

"Serves you right, doesn't it?" Harper said as she pulled out her checkbook from her bag. Then she scribbled on one of the checks and pulled it out of the book.

"Here is your $18,000. You honestly earned this amount by trading me for it, Jack," she smiled at him. "Thank you for disappearing from my life. It feels so good without you!"

Later that day, Harper called her mother and apologized for being angry at her ten years ago. "Mom, I'm really sorry for everything. I always thought Jack left me because of you, but I was wrong," she said.

She told Catherine about how she accidentally bumped into Jack in the afternoon. "Mom, you were right. It's all for the best. I'm so glad you made that life-changing offer to him."

What can we learn from this story?

• Trust your elders. They are wiser than you. Harper refused to believe what her mother said about Jack and later learned that her mother was right. Had she listened to her earlier, she wouldn't have experienced heartbreak.
• Greed will ruin your life. Jack's love for money made him lose everything and live on the streets. Catherine may have helped her pay his debts if he chose her daughter over money, but he lost his chance.

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Click here to read another story about a bride who disappeared from her wedding without a trace and met her groom five years later.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.