There were complete sets of fine china, envelopes full of cash and gift certificates, monogrammed kitchenware, and crystal vases. All the typical wedding gifts that every couple expects.
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And then it was finally my turn to present my special contribution.
I slowly stood up from my chair, smoothed down my dress, and walked purposefully towards the gift table. All heads in the room turned as I wheeled over a huge box wrapped in shimmering satin and tied with a sparkling silver ribbon that glittered in the light.
The thing was almost as tall as the gift table itself.
Immediately a whisper began, which spread through the room like wildfire.
“Oh my God, look at the size of that thing!”
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“That must have cost her a small fortune!”
“I wonder if these are pieces of furniture or perhaps works of art?”
Even the wedding photographer eagerly began taking photos, convinced he was capturing the highlight of the entire evening.
Kara’s face lit up with greedy delight when she saw how enormous my present was. Her eyes widened, her glossy lips parted in surprise, and she actually clapped her hands like an excited little girl on Christmas morning.
“Oh, Dani!” she shrieked dramatically, so loudly that almost the whole room could hear. “You really didn’t have to take this on!”
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I maintained a gentle and innocent facial expression.
“It’s something very special that I chose especially for you,” I said clearly, making sure my words could be heard at the neighboring tables. “I really wanted you to open it here before everyone else, so that everyone could see it.”
Excited gasps and murmurs went through the crowd as Kara tore open the wrapping paper with her perfectly manicured fingernails.
With her perfectly manicured fingers, she reached into the box and pulled out a neat stack of cream-colored envelopes tied with a gold ribbon. She held them out to the crowd and let out a high-pitched, nervous laugh.
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“What are these? Letters?” she asked, waving the envelopes around as if it were all a joke.
The guests leaned forward in their chairs, whispering and pulling out their cell phones to film. With trembling fingers, she tore open the first envelope. The gold lettering glittered in the light of the reception lamps.
“Payment receipt – A destroyed flower bed – $500.”
Her smile froze completely.
A confused murmur rippled through the rows as people began leaning over each other’s shoulders for a better look. Her hands trembled as she opened the second envelope.
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“Payment receipt – One fence removed – $800.”
When she got to the third envelope, her fingers were shaking so badly that she tore it open crookedly.
“Payment receipt for outstanding amount – Six rose bushes, uprooted – US$1,200.”
The whole room buzzed like an angry beehive. The guests whispered amongst themselves and craned their necks to see what was going on. Sporadic applause and nervous laughter broke the awkward silence.
“What is that supposed to be?!” Kara finally blurted out.
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I stepped forward slowly, keeping my smile on and my voice so calm that the entire room could understand every single word.
“This is your bill,” I said clearly. “For everything you destroyed in my garden. Every flower, every fence post, and every rose that meant something to me.”
Then I delivered the final blow, letting each word hit like a hammer blow.
“And before you think this is a joke: I filed a lawsuit at the district court yesterday morning. The judge ruled immediately because I had photos, receipts, and witness statements. These aren’t just pieces of paper. They are copies of the official court order. You and your family are legally obligated to pay every single cent.”
A murmur, whispers, and nervous laughter filled the room. Even Kara’s newlywed husband stared at her wide-eyed.
Colin stormed towards me, his face red with anger. “What the hell are you doing?! You’re embarrassing her!”
I looked at the man I had once intended to marry and felt nothing but absolute certainty. Slowly, I pulled the engagement ring from my finger.
I pressed the ring firmly into his palm.
“No, Colin,” I said. “You humiliated me by laughing while your sister destroyed my house, the roses I planted for my mother, and everything I built myself. You showed me who you really are. And I won’t marry a man who won’t even defend me in my own garden.”
The audience actually applauded.
Kara screamed, “You’re ruining my wedding!”, but nobody rushed to her aid.
I turned around and walked out into the cool night air, leaving behind the man who had let me down and the family who had never respected me.
See continuation on the next page
There were complete sets of fine china, envelopes full of cash and gift certificates, monogrammed kitchenware, and crystal vases. All the typical wedding gifts that every couple expects.
Discover more
Gift baskets
Gift
gifts
present
gift
And then it was finally my turn to present my special contribution.
I slowly stood up from my chair, smoothed down my dress, and walked purposefully towards the gift table. All heads in the room turned as I wheeled over a huge box wrapped in shimmering satin and tied with a sparkling silver ribbon that glittered in the light.
The thing was almost as tall as the gift table itself.
Immediately a whisper began, which spread through the room like wildfire.
“Oh my God, look at the size of that thing!”
Discover more
Gift baskets
Gift
present
gift
gifts
“That must have cost her a small fortune!”
“I wonder if these are pieces of furniture or perhaps works of art?”
Even the wedding photographer eagerly began taking photos, convinced he was capturing the highlight of the entire evening.
Kara’s face lit up with greedy delight when she saw how enormous my present was. Her eyes widened, her glossy lips parted in surprise, and she actually clapped her hands like an excited little girl on Christmas morning.
“Oh, Dani!” she shrieked dramatically, so loudly that almost the whole room could hear. “You really didn’t have to take this on!”
Discover more
Gift
gifts
present
gift
Gift baskets
I maintained a gentle and innocent facial expression.
“It’s something very special that I chose especially for you,” I said clearly, making sure my words could be heard at the neighboring tables. “I really wanted you to open it here before everyone else, so that everyone could see it.”
Excited gasps and murmurs went through the crowd as Kara tore open the wrapping paper with her perfectly manicured fingernails.
With her perfectly manicured fingers, she reached into the box and pulled out a neat stack of cream-colored envelopes tied with a gold ribbon. She held them out to the crowd and let out a high-pitched, nervous laugh.
Discover more
present
Gift baskets
gift
gifts
Gift
“What are these? Letters?” she asked, waving the envelopes around as if it were all a joke.
The guests leaned forward in their chairs, whispering and pulling out their cell phones to film. With trembling fingers, she tore open the first envelope. The gold lettering glittered in the light of the reception lamps.
“Payment receipt – A destroyed flower bed – $500.”
Her smile froze completely.
A confused murmur rippled through the rows as people began leaning over each other’s shoulders for a better look. Her hands trembled as she opened the second envelope.
Discover more
gift
Gift baskets
present
Gift
gifts
“Payment receipt – One fence removed – $800.”
When she got to the third envelope, her fingers were shaking so badly that she tore it open crookedly.
“Payment receipt for outstanding amount – Six rose bushes, uprooted – US$1,200.”
The whole room buzzed like an angry beehive. The guests whispered amongst themselves and craned their necks to see what was going on. Sporadic applause and nervous laughter broke the awkward silence.
“What is that supposed to be?!” Kara finally blurted out.
Discover more
gift
Gift
present
gifts
Gift baskets
I stepped forward slowly, keeping my smile on and my voice so calm that the entire room could understand every single word.
