On the other end of the line, genuine astonishment. What happened? Are you sick? John, we broke up, Ashley replied briefly. There was stunned silence.
Brittany, can you come over? Ashley asked quietly. I need your help. I’m on my way, Brittany replied without question.
I’ll be there in 20 minutes. While waiting for her friend, Ashley started mentally making a list of organizational tasks, cancel the restaurant reservation, inform the photographer, send messages to the guests. Incredibly, making those lists calmed her down a little.
When Brittany arrived, she immediately hugged Ashley. Oh my God, what happened? She asked, stepping into the apartment and looking around as if expecting to see signs of a disaster. Ashley led her friend to the living room, sat her on the couch, and told her everything about John’s strange behavior, his ultimatum, and the breakup.
Brittany listened without interrupting, only occasionally shaking her head in disbelief. You know, Brittany finally said, you always had doubts about his mother. You used to joke that she was testing whether you were worthy of her little boy.
Yeah, Ashley said with a sad smile. But it turned out she was testing how financially advantageous I was. And apparently, John was completely under her influence.
Honestly, I always thought he was too obedient, Brittany remarked. Like a mama’s boy who never contradicts anyone. I noticed that, Ashley admitted.
But I thought he just really respected his mother and cared for her. I thought that was a good quality. If a man treats his mother well, he will treat his wife well too.
Theory doesn’t always work in practice, Brittany noted philosophically. Especially with such controlling people. He’s always so quiet, so inconspicuous.
Yeah, Gregory almost never expresses his own opinion. He always agrees with his wife. Maybe that’s the point.
John grew up in a family where the mother commands and the father obeys. And now he thinks that’s normal. Only in your case, something went wrong, Brittany smirked.
You weren’t ready to obey. Thank God, Ashley said firmly. Imagine if I had agreed, transferred the apartment to him, and spent my whole life living under my mother-in-law’s rules.
Brittany shrugged. I don’t even want to imagine what a nightmare. You did absolutely the right thing, my friend, Ashley nodded.
Although, of course, the timing was perfect. A day before the wedding, I think it was deliberate. They hoped that in such a situation, I wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Too much was at stake. Money, reputation, guests’ expectations. But you turned out to be stronger than they thought, Brittany smiled.
And you know what? I’m proud of you. Not every woman could find the strength to cancel her dream wedding for the sake of principle. Thank you, Ashley gave a faint smile in response.
Although now it feels like it wasn’t even my dream wedding. I just thought John was the right person, but it turned out I didn’t know him at all. They were silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.
Then Brittany stood up decisively. Okay, now let’s get down to business. What needs to be done first? Ashley showed her the lists.
We need to call everyone, inform them about the cancellation, and cancel the bookings, the restaurant, the photographer, the emcee. Let’s divide the tasks, Brittany suggested. I’ll handle the organizational stuff, call the restaurant, notify all the vendors, and you focus on family and close friends.
They should hear the news from you personally. Thank you, Ashley said gratefully. I don’t know how I would have managed all this alone.
That’s what friends are for, Brittany replied simply. By the way, have you called your parents yet? No, Ashley shook her head. I wanted to tell you first.
I’ll call mom now. She took out her phone and dialed her mother’s number, feeling her heart race with anxiety. How could she explain to her parents that the wedding they had been preparing for was suddenly canceled? Hello? Sweetie? Her mother’s cheerful voice made Ashley’s heart tighten.
How’s the mood before the big day? Ashley took a deep breath. I need to tell you something, there won’t be a wedding. John and I have broken up.
There was stunned silence on the other end. Mom, are you there? Yes, yes, I’m here. Her mother’s voice sounded confused.
Ashley, what happened? You were such a perfect couple. It’s a long story, Ashley said. To put it briefly, John demanded that I transfer the apartment to him or there would be no wedding.
What? Her mother exclaimed. That can’t be. He always seemed so decent.
I thought so too, Ashley said bitterly, with a wry smile. But this morning he made that demand, citing a family tradition that a man must own all the property in the family. Oh my, her mother was clearly shocked.
And what did you do? Of course, I refused, Ashley said firmly. I’m not going to give up an apartment I bought with my own hard work just because some archaic tradition says a woman must have no rights. You did the right thing, her mother said unexpectedly firmly.
If I were in your place, I’d have done the same. And what about him? Ashley asked. What did he say? Her mother exclaimed.
That there wouldn’t be a wedding. He packed his things and left. Lord, her mother sighed heavily.
Your father and I thought he was such a good guy, that he loved you and it turns out all this time he had his eyes on your apartment. I don’t know. Was it like that from the start? Ashley said honestly.
Maybe his mother set this up. She called him yesterday and he came up with this demand this morning. Oh, that Dolores, her mother’s voice was full of indignation.
I always felt something was off about her. She’s way too controlling. And she was always looking at you, evaluating you somehow.
Don’t worry, sweetie, her mother said. Your father and I will support you. I’ll call him now, explain everything, and then we’ll come to you, okay? Mom, please don’t come today.
I need time to process everything. And besides, Brittany and I have so many things to cancel. Of course, darling, her mother agreed immediately.
Whatever you say. But if you need anything, call us right away. Your father and I will be there.
Thank you, mom. Ashley felt tears welling up in her eyes. I’ll call in the evening.
All right. After talking to her mother, Ashley felt a little better. The support of family and loved ones gave her strength to cope with the situation.
The next few hours she and Brittany spent on phone calls, canceling orders, and forming guests, explaining the situation. To their surprise, almost everyone was understanding. The restaurant agreed to refund half of the deposit, the photographer recalculated the advance for a future shoot, and the host, upon hearing the reason for the cancellation, refused any compensation at all, saying Ashley had acted wisely and bravely.
By evening, the main tasks were done, and Ashley, physically and emotionally exhausted, collapsed onto the couch next to Brittany. I can’t believe we got everything done, she exhaled. Thank you so much, Brittany smiled.
You know, I think you were really lucky. Lucky? Ashley was surprised. How so? Lucky that you found out John’s true nature before the wedding, not after.
Imagine if you had married him and then he made this demand. Or worse, forced you to sell the apartment for the supposed good of the family, and the money would go to some business run by his mother. Ashley thought about it.
Indeed, that would have been much worse. Now she lost time, money, and a relationship, but she preserved her freedom of choice and independence. You’re right, she said.
I should finally be grateful to fate that everything came to light now, at this moment. At that moment, her phone rang. The name Dolores appeared on the screen.
Ashley showed the screen to Brittany, who rolled her eyes and shook her head. Don’t answer, her friend advised. She won’t say anything good, but after a brief hesitation, Ashley answered.
She wanted to put an end to this story. Hello, she said calmly. So, satisfied? Dolores’s voice dripped with venom.
You’ve destroyed a family that hadn’t even had a chance to form. I’m not destroying anything, Ashley replied just as calmly. I simply refuse to give up my apartment.