{"id":3496,"date":"2025-07-03T13:43:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T12:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/?p=3496"},"modified":"2025-07-03T13:43:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T12:43:16","slug":"at-79-my-moms-marriage-was-perfect-until-she-imposed-a-shocking-rule-for-who-would-catch-the-bouquet-story-of-the-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/?p=3496","title":{"rendered":"At 79, My Mom\u2019s Marriage Was Perfect Until She Imposed a Shocking Rule for Who Would Catch the Bouquet \u2014 Story of the Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I thought my mother\u2019s 70th-year-old wedding would be a simple and pleasant affair until she grabbed the microphone and announced a shocking rule for whoever caught her bouquet. I stepped back to avoid it, but it landed\u2026 right in my hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood in the kitchen, watching my mother flit around the table, rearranging place cards, adjusting napkins, and muttering about color combinations as if the fate of the universe depended on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was radiant, glowing. Meanwhile, I was still trying to understand how this could have happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n

\u201cMom, are you serious? You\u2019re seventy-nine and you\u2019re getting married?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

She looked up, completely uninhibited and sporting a mischievous smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, don\u2019t look so sad, darling. It\u2019s not the end of the world. It\u2019s the beginning of a whole new life!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked exactly as she had in her twenties, with that same twinkle in her eyes, that same carefree enthusiasm that made any discussion with her absolutely pointless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, why? You live just fine on your own!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n

\u201cAnd who said I wanted to live alone?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

My mother had always done exactly what she wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that after the disaster of your marriage, you stopped believing in love, but that\u2019s not the case for me. Harold is perfect for me. He makes me laugh. And I feel alive again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sighed as I looked at her. She had an iron will, was fearless, and was desperately stubborn. Once she makes a decision, it\u2019s impossible to change her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSo, is the wedding already planned?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe guests are invited, the dress is chosen, the menu is finalized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThis is crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s life, sweetheart,\u201d she said, smiling slyly. \u201cAnd you should start living your life again instead of hiding behind your cynicism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I clenched my jaw. My mother had an infuriating way of bringing up my divorce at the worst possible times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought back to the day my husband left. That day, I came home expecting nothing unusual, only to find suitcases lined up by the door. He then announced he was in love with someone younger. Someone fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that, love seemed like nothing more than a priceless scam, a fairy tale sold to naive women who didn\u2019t realize that the prince would eventually get bored and find someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I spent years rebuilding myself, brick by brick, convincing myself that I was better off. That I didn\u2019t need love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d my mother\u2019s voice brought me back to reality, \u201cI have something fun planned for my favorite girls at the wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cGirls?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou, my dear, and my adorable granddaughters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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She smiled at me. There was a glint in her eyes that I didn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrust me,\u201d she said, waving her hand. \u201cYou\u2019ll love it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I doubt it very much!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the wedding day, on the way to the grand estate where the ceremony was taking place, life decided to remind me that I had no control over anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My tire got a flat in the middle of nowhere. No gas station. No cars passing. Just me, a nonexistent phone signal, and my own bad luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got out of the car, muttered a few curse words, and was about to call roadside assistance when a brand new pickup truck pulled up next to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDo you have a problem, madam?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I rolled my eyes before I even turned around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man standing next to the truck was tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, and wore a smile that immediately irritated me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy tire is flat,\u201d I said sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOh, it\u2019s easy to fix. Give me five minutes and you can go again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAre you a mechanic?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, but you\u2019re not going to ask for my credentials while I\u2019m fixing your tire, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I glared at him. \u201cListen, sir\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cListen, Nick, I\u2019m not in the mood for jokes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLooks like you could use some jokes,\u201d he smiled, kneeling down by my car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I let out a long sigh and turned away, only to hear the car door creak open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you serious, Nick?\u201d said a high-pitched, annoyed female voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I turned around to see a tall, blonde woman, visibly annoyed, leaning out from the passenger seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cJust a minute, Julie,\u201d he said over his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She glanced at me, her expression instantly changing from irritated to downright hostile. Then, with a stifled sigh, she sat back down in the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pursed my lips. A typical man. With his typical love story. What the hell did I care? I just wanted to go to the wedding and get the day over with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wedding was extravagant. My mother looked thrilled. Harold was thrilled. The guests were laughing, dancing, and having a blast. That\u2019s when my mother approached the microphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cLadies and gentlemen, it\u2019s time to throw the bouquet!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The crowd cheered. My nieces moved closer, already preparing to fight for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd whoever catches it will receive my expensive sapphire ring!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another murmur of excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut there\u2019s one condition,\u201d she continued, holding up a finger. \u201cThe winner will have to go out with someone of my choice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, no,\u201d I mumbled, taking a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mother then turned around, and just before throwing the bouquet, I swear she winked at me. She adjusted her position, aimed\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And threw it. Directly. At. Me. I couldn\u2019t move in time. The bouquet landed directly in my hands. Silence. Then\u2026 applause exploded around me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood there frozen as my mother beamed. \u201cCongratulations!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust kidding,\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA deal is a deal, darling,\u201d she smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n

\u201cWho\u2026 is my date exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Her smile widened. \u201cNick, my dear, come up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I turned my head. That same damn Nick was striding forward, looking way too amused. He raised an eyebrow at me. \u201cWell, well. Looks like fate wants us to have dinner together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind him, Julie let out a loud cry of indignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I turned to my mother. \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She placed a hand on my arm and whispered, \u201cPlease, sweetheart. Just this once. Do it for me. As a wedding present.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I could refuse, she waved to Nick and disappeared into the dancing crowd. Nick smiled and leaned toward me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cSo, when is our big date?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get this over with. I will, but only so I don\u2019t ruin my mother\u2019s wedding. Just one date. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cPerfect. Name the time and place, and I\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSaturday. 7 p.m. That Italian restaurant downtown. Vincenzo\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChic,\u201d he said jokingly. \u201cI\u2019m honored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I have to pretend nothing happened for the rest of the evening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Nick out of the corner of my eye. He had already turned around and was heading straight for Julie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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She was furious, but Nick smiled at her, said something quietly enough that I couldn\u2019t hear it, and then, to my dismay, took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had seen enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t even wait for the wedding cake. Without another word, I grabbed my purse and left, heading straight for home with only one thought running through my head\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does my mother do this to me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night of the date arrived. I was sitting in a quiet cafe, drumming my fingers against the table. I\u2019d arrived ten minutes early because I wanted to get it over with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then, right on time, Nick walked in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dressed in a crisp shirt and dark jeans, he looked\u2026 boringly neat. He spotted me immediately and smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWow,\u201d he said, sliding into the seat opposite me. \u201cYou actually came. I half expected you to leave me a little note and disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelieve me, I\u2019ve thought about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, let\u2019s do this right. How was your day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I studied him. \u201cDo you mean before or after I regretted agreeing to the date?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nick let out a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, see? That\u2019s exactly why I like you. You\u2019re brutally honest. It\u2019s refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sighed, taking a sip of my coffee. \u201cLook, I agreed because of my mom. One date. No expectations. No illusions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI understand. No illusions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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For a few moments, it wasn\u2019t so bad. The conversation was light, he cracked some wedding jokes, and managed to make me smile more than once. I hated to admit it, but he was\u2026 charming. In a maddening way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then his phone rang. He barely glanced at the screen before hitting \u201cdecline.\u201d A minute later, it rang again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time he sighed, checked the caller ID, and muttered, \u201cGive me a second.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stood up and walked a few meters away to answer. I didn\u2019t mean to eavesdrop, but\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cHey, Julie, it\u2019s okay\u2026 yeah, I know. Just\u2026 calm down, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A pause. Then another sigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019ll be there soon. Don\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hung up, ran a hand through his hair, and returned to the table, looking more tense than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry about that,\u201d he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. \u201cI have to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSomething important?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, just\u2026 something I need to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me guess,\u201d I said flatly. \u201cJulie?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He stood up, throwing some bills on the table. \u201cLook, I\u2019m sorry. I know this is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. Let\u2019s just say we\u2019re done. No need to put it off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cCome on, are you going to leave me like this?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I gave him a dry smile. \u201cNick, if you\u2019re going to run off with another woman in the middle of our first date, at least try to be subtle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He opened his mouth to argue, but retracted. Instead, he sighed and shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll explain later.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Then, with one last glance, he turned and walked out. I stared at my untouched coffee for a long moment before looking at my reflection in the dark liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick. Julie. Of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew my mother\u2019s attempt at a matchmaking scheme would be a disaster, but even I didn\u2019t expect her to set me up with a womanizer. A man who couldn\u2019t even go on a single date without leaving me for someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It didn\u2019t matter. It wasn\u2019t my problem anymore. Or so I thought, having no idea I\u2019d see him again sooner than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flowers started arriving the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, I thought it was a mistake. A gigantic bouquet of red roses sat on my desk. The card bore a message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re not allergic. Nick.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I moaned out loud, throwing the flowers into the trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, it was him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA secret admirer?\u201d one of my colleagues teased me when the next bouquet was delivered the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMore like a persistent mistake,\u201d I muttered, tossing another bouquet into the break room for anyone to take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I had managed to ignore Nick for a whole week when my mother called me, her voice still cheerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cDinner, darling. At my place. Tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo excuses. I barely got to see you after the wedding. You left so early. Even before the cake! You owe me dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOkay,\u201d I relented. \u201cI\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I should have known she was up to something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as I stepped onto my mother\u2019s patio, the smell of grilling overwhelmed me. For a brief moment, I relaxed. Okay. Just a family dinner. Nothing suspicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I saw Nick. Standing by the grill. Flipping burgers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And then\u2026 as if the universe wasn\u2019t already cruel enough, Julie walked in, right behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My blood started boiling instantly. It was incredible. Before I could storm off, my mother grabbed my arm and smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cOh, darling! You did it!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom. What is he doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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She feigned innocence. \u201cOh, did I forget to tell you? I invited Nick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cFor what ?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause, darling, I think you both got off on the wrong foot. And I wanted to give you two another chance to get to know each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, no. I\u2019ve gotten to know him very well. Trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAh, well, then you won\u2019t mind staying for dinner,\u201d she said kindly, practically pushing me towards the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I could argue, Nick turned around and spotted me. \u201cWell, look who finally decided to stop avoiding me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I clenched my jaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie, who had remained silent until now, finally laughed. \u201cCan we eat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My mother clapped her hands together. \u201cSure! But first, Nick has something to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick let out a dramatic sigh, putting down the spatula. \u201cI need to introduce you to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I know Julie,\u201d I said coldly. \u201cI saw her a lot at the wedding, hanging on your arm while you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick cut me off. \u201cIt\u2019s not like that. It\u2019s not what you think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He turned to Julie and placed a hand on her shoulder. \u201cThat\u2019s my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n

\u201c\u2026What ?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Julie huffed, rolling her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, yes. I know I look too old to be his child, but believe me, I had to live with him for eighteen very long years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. Nick scratched the back of his neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, so\u2026 My wife died when Julie was six. Since then, it\u2019s just the two of us. Well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He glanced at his daughter. \u201cSomeone doesn\u2019t like sharing me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re boring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s genetic, kiddo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo you weren\u2019t\u2026\u201d I gestured vaguely. \u201cYou weren\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDating?\u201d Nick finished for me, laughing. \u201cOf course not. That would be weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie made a sound of disgust. \u201cDisgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then she let out a dramatic sigh and slid into the seat opposite me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, you\u2019re not as bad as I thought,\u201d she admitted. \u201cAnd honestly, my dad has to move on already. Whatever it is. If you can tolerate it, you should go on another date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I glanced at Nick, who was looking at me smugly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSee? Even my daughter thinks I\u2019m a good choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surprisingly, I smiled. Just a little. \u201cMaybe. But first, dinner. I\u2019m starving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the best thing you\u2019ve said all night.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The conversation then flowed smoothly. We talked, laughed, and somehow, against all odds, the tension melted away. I was finally ready to open my heart to a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"For<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us what you think of this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you liked this story, read this one: I thought my husband would support me no matter what. But the night I caught him with my best friend, my world came crashing down. I ran into the storm, blinded by my tears, not seeing the sharp turn ahead .<\/strong> Read the full story here .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story is inspired by the daily lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to real names or places is purely coincidental. All images are used for illustrative purposes only. Share your story with us; it might change someone\u2019s life. If you would like to share your story, email us at info@amomama.com .<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I thought my mother\u2019s 70th-year-old wedding would be a simple and pleasant affair until she grabbed the microphone and announced a shocking rule for whoever […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3496"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3498,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3496\/revisions\/3498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/time.amazingstory.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}