On a glorious Saturday morning, Mary was over the moon with joy. Today, the dream of her entire life would come true—she would become the wife of a wonderful man, a true fairy-tale prince who had deigned to choose her, a simple and unremarkable village girl.
In just a couple of hours, a stern lady at the registry office would send her and Michael on a long, shared journey through life, filled only with happiness, fidelity, and love. She could hear her beloved Michael outside in the courtyard, valiantly battling the tricky questions and challenges posed by the maid of honor. The groom successfully completed all the tasks, earning his path to the bride’s heart. Radiating joy, the young couple held hands tightly as they walked across the yard toward the luxurious wedding car, adorned with bright ribbons and countless balloons. But just as they reached the gate, they came face-to-face with a young woman who entered the yard with three children. Mary didn’t know her and glanced questioningly at Michael, who stood darker than a storm cloud, his gaze fixed on the ground. Meanwhile, the woman glared at her groom with hatred until she finally spoke:
— Looks like I made it just in time…
In an instant, she recounted a horrifying story that made Mary’s knees buckle, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious…
…Michael, a 30-year-old heartthrob with jet-black hair, mischievous brown eyes, tall, muscular, and fit, was the dream of many women—a fact he was well aware of and which immensely flattered him. Thanks to the constant attention from the opposite sex, he felt like a true ladies’ man.
Now, sitting on a bus with a small travel bag he held carefully on his lap, he anxiously stared out the window, glancing back as if expecting pursuit.
— No way. You’re far enough now; they won’t find you here, — he reassured himself.
Meanwhile, the plowed black-soil fields flashing by on both sides of the road gave way to scattered buildings, and soon a small town appeared ahead, with rooftops coming into view. There was the store, the post office…
“Well, this is where I’ll get off. Seems like a good place to start a new life,” Michael thought as he stepped off the bus.
But he needed somewhere to stay. Looking around, he spotted an elderly woman sitting at the bus stop. It was Anna Nichols, a local retiree living alone in a large house. Her children had moved away, and her husband had passed years ago.
— Hey, ma’am, could you tell me where a respectable newcomer might rent a room around here, no expense spared? — he asked with a cheerful laugh.
Her house had plenty of empty rooms, and extra money would certainly come in handy, but she was wary of strangers who appeared so suddenly in their quiet town. She eyed the man, dressed as if he were some kind of aristocrat, and said:
— Where are you from, kind sir? And what brings you to our parts?
Pausing for a moment, Michael replied in a sad, trustworthy tone:
— Don’t worry, ma’am. I’m a young, honest guy, wouldn’t hurt a fly. I came here escaping heartbreak. My parents died in a car accident, and I couldn’t bear living in their apartment anymore—every little thing reminded me of the past. I’d wake up in the morning and imagine my mom and dad having breakfast in the kitchen. They were everywhere, haunting me. It became unbearable; I loved them so much. So I sold the apartment and set out wherever my eyes would take me, hoping time and distance would heal my broken soul.
— Oh, my, what a story! So young, yet you’ve already faced such tragedy, poor thing, — Anna replied sympathetically. — Well, alright, come along. I’ll rent you a room. I’m just an old lady, don’t need much from a tenant, but mind you, no funny business. I like my peace and quiet.
— No worries about that, ma’am, I’m as good as gold, — Michael said, making a playful gesture across his throat.
— You seem like a good lad, shame life’s been so hard on you, but no matter. Good on you for not drinking—our girls will like that. We’ve got plenty of fine young women here, but the men, well, that’s another story.
This news instantly lifted Michael’s spirits.
“Looks like I’ve landed in the right spot,” he thought, following the slow, limping old lady.
The room Michael got was small but cozy. The first thing he did was stash his bag securely in the wardrobe, slipping a hefty wad of cash from it into his pocket.
After settling in and resting from the journey, Michael set out to explore his new home.
“My, it’s beautiful here. This is real, untouched nature,” he thought with admiration, strolling along a wide, winding street by the steep banks of a broad river.
In the distance, he could see a forest, and nearby were countless lakes. Most importantly, by the time he reached the town center, he’d already encountered several attractive young women, whom he greeted with enthusiasm. He even managed to get a couple of their phone numbers.
“Tonight, I’ll hit the local club. That’s where I can meet all the local girls,” Michael decided, congratulating himself on his good fortune.
Everything was falling into place so perfectly…
…As evening fell, Mary put on her best outfit and, after primping, admired herself in the mirror. It reflected a petite but strikingly beautiful 25-year-old woman. She was flawless—slender, with long, waist-length hair that cascaded over her perfectly straight back. Her posture was impeccable, thanks to years of ballet lessons her father had driven her to since childhood.
Her phone rang on the table.
— Hey, hi! Nancy, of course I’m ready. I’m heading out now; let’s meet at the dance hall.
Michael surveyed the local club and shook his head doubtfully.
“Is this place for real? Who even comes to this tiny shack?” he thought, stepping into the modest rural venue.
But he’d underestimated it. It was Saturday, and several pretty girls had gathered. Naturally, they couldn’t miss a handsome stranger like Michael. It wasn’t often that a dashing city man showed up in their forgotten little town. A true gentleman, sober as a judge, non-smoking, polite, and refined—their warm, girlish hearts melted instantly, sparking affection for this remarkable man. The girls couldn’t believe their luck; in a place so far off the map, they never expected to meet someone like him. Local guys usually had far different priorities than family and kids, so the women were ready to fight tooth and nail for a chance with Michael.
Mary was at the dance hall that night, too. Of course, she noticed the new figure in their small-town life, and he captured her lonely, passionate heart. It seemed to her that he returned her interest. He danced with her more than anyone else, showered her with compliments, and shared that his parents had died, forcing him, a successful businessman, to sell their apartment and temporarily escape to this backwater to find solace. Time heals, he said, and soon he’d return to the city, where he owned a company and a large apartment. He seemed truthful—Mary herself saw the large sum of cash he used to pay for her ice cream and cocktail.
By early morning, to the envy of the others, he even walked her home. Mary hoped he’d call, but the competition was fierce.
Back in his room, Michael spread out the slips of paper with the girls’ phone numbers—four in total—but he couldn’t decide which to choose. Mary had caught his eye the most, but what was she really like? That was the question. Then a brilliant idea struck him.
He stepped outside to find Anna, who was puttering around in the yard. Seeing Michael, the old lady greeted him and offered to have tea in the gazebo. This was perfect—he wanted to discuss his new acquaintances.
— Well, Kate’s a looker, but she’s a bit too flirty. Nancy’s a great girl; her mom’s a dairy worker at the farm, raising her alone. Vicky lives in the city, works as a nurse. And Mary, she graduated from university—her dad paid for her studies in the capital. But for some reason, she didn’t take to city life and came back home for now. Not that she needs to worry about money—her dad’s the top farmer in the area. Spares no expense for his daughter.
Thanking the kind old lady with a sly smile, Michael returned to his room and dialed Mary’s number. Now he knew exactly who to pick.
Mary was ecstatic when he invited her for an evening walk. She was certain such a pure-hearted man wouldn’t have called any of her rivals, meaning he’d chosen her.
From that day on, the pair was inseparable. Michael surrounded her with incredible care and attention, never missing a moment to whisper sweet words. Mary melted in his tender embraces, realizing she was hopelessly in love. She loved him with an ache in her heart—a sweet pain she willingly surrendered to.
She introduced him to her parents, who were charmed by this gallant, courteous suitor who could provide for their daughter and ensure her a bright future. They were deeply moved by the tragic story of Michael’s parents’ death, sympathizing with his loss.
Soon, George Valentine, her father, suggested the poor man move into their home as an honored guest. Why live with strangers when he’d already proposed to his daughter, and the wedding was set for three months later? They all eagerly awaited the day…
…Jane was finishing the dishes when her phone rang. It was her best friend, Sarah.
— Hey, — Sarah began, her voice tinged with worry and hesitation. — I’ve been debating whether to tell you, knowing how painful it is to revisit the past, but I think you need to know.
— Oh, Lord, what now? I’ve already been through so much, — Jane replied, upset.
— Don’t you get it? Last week, I visited my aunt in that town, and guess who I saw arm-in-arm with a girl? Michael! Can you believe it? He’s marrying her this coming Saturday. The whole town’s talking about this poor, big-shot businessman who lost his parents and came to recover his health. I feel so sorry for that girl—she’s from a wealthy family and has no idea who she’s dealing with.
Jane was stunned by the news. After hanging up, she began to think about what to do. With every passing minute, her resolve to expose the scoundrel and, most importantly, reclaim what was hers grew like a snowball.
She cried all night, recalling a past life that had seemed so happy until a certain moment—one his fiancée would soon discover.
“No, I won’t let you ruin another life. You’ll pay for all the pain you caused me!” she thought fiercely, clenching her frail hands into fists of retribution.
Early Saturday morning, Jane took her three children—thankfully old enough to understand—and headed to the bus station. Three hours later, the bus dropped them off in the very town where everything had fallen so perfectly into place for Michael. Finding the house where the celebration was set to take place was easy. Jane didn’t even need to ask for the address—right by the bus stop, she spotted the wedding procession. Seething with anger, she called her children to follow and marched straight to the gate. Opening it, she came face-to-face with the cheerful bride and groom. With a sardonic smile, Jane said:
— Well, darling, didn’t expect me, did you? But I found you!
Michael wished the ground would swallow him whole. He never imagined that the woman he’d lived with for ten years, who bore him three children, and who worked tirelessly to support his carefree lifestyle—because he was too “refined” to work—would track him down.
Michael loved eating well and dressing sharply. So, when problems arose at the large company where she worked as head of the finance department, and she was fired on suspicion of embezzlement, he quietly packed his things while she sobbed, trying to prove her innocence. He took a large sum of money—all her savings—and left without explanation, save for a mocking note thanking her for the years together and saying he was off to find a better fate. Jane was devastated by his vile betrayal, blaming herself for blindly trusting a freeloader who never worked a day in his life, who only wanted her money, who left all family responsibilities on her frail shoulders while he occasionally played with the kids as she worked, cooked, cleaned, and washed. And now, he’d left her penniless with three children.
Jane was so repulsed by Michael that she hated him as fiercely as she’d once loved him. She didn’t report him to the police for theft or file for child support, thinking, “Let God judge him.” Soon, she found a new job, and her emotional wounds began to heal. But learning that Michael was about to break another heart, she made the only right choice. She shared the whole story with Mary and all the gathered guests.
Upon hearing it, George Valentine, a simple rural man, grabbed the would-be son-in-law by the collar and dragged him to the room where he’d been staying. There, he forced the groveling scoundrel to return every cent he still had. Luckily, nearly all the money was there, as Michael loved living off others. Then, George tossed the villain into a ditch. The entire town laughed at Michael, covered in filth, as he climbed out.
For Mary, it was a crushing blow and a profound disappointment, but time and love with a truly good man healed her. She and Jane became friends, and by then, Jane had a new, happy family. Jane did eventually file for child support, forcing Michael to take a job as a janitor in a city park—the only work he was suited for. Prison was the last place the once-handsome charmer wanted to end up, as his luck had run dry, and no more wealthy, love-struck women fell into his trap.
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