My mind raced, trying to make sense of the impossible. How could I prove that these photos weren’t real? And, more importantly, how could I convince Max?
Crying uncontrollably, I reached for my phone and dialed Mary’s number. I needed to talk to someone who could help me make sense of this nightmare. When she answered, I could barely form words between sobs.
“Max just left me,” I choked out. “He thinks I cheated on him, Mary! But these photos—they’re not real!
I don’t even know the guy in them! I swear!”
Mary’s voice, on the other end, was calm. Too calm.
“Sarah,” she said slowly, “maybe this is a sign. Maybe you and Max weren’t meant to be. Sometimes, things fall apart for a reason.
You should just let it go.”
Her response made me freeze. There was something wrong in the way she said it, something cold and dismissive. “How can you say that?” I asked, my voice rising in disbelief.
“Max and I were going to get married! These photos are fake! Don’t you get that?
Someone is trying to break us up!”
But Mary didn’t seem moved. She sighed, sounding more annoyed than concerned. “It’s not the end of the world, Sarah.
People move on from things like this. You will too. Just let it go.”
I felt my chest tighten with frustration and confusion.
I needed support, and instead, Mary was brushing me off like my whole world wasn’t falling apart. “You’re not helping!” I yelled, feeling the tears burn down my cheeks. “I love Max!
This is all a misunderstanding! Why aren’t you taking this seriously?”
As is ended the call, something clicked in my mind. As I held the photos in my trembling hands, my eyes caught a small, almost invisible line running through the images—the same faint line I’d seen when Mary had shown me the edited wedding photos just days earlier.
My heart raced, and my mind started to put the pieces together. Could it be? I thought, staring at the pictures in shock.
Could Mary have done this? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Mary.
She had manipulated the photos. I had seen her do it before for her clients, merging separate images into one seamless lie. And now, I knew with terrifying certainty—she was behind this.
She was trying to destroy my relationship. Determined to fix the damage, I jumped into my car and drove straight to Jimmy’s house. I knew if Max wasn’t at home, he’d be here—seeking comfort from his best friend.
As I pulled into the driveway, my heart pounded, fueled by the betrayal and desperation swirling inside me. When I knocked, Jimmy opened the door with a hesitant expression, sensing the tension between us. “I need to see Max,” I said firmly.
Jimmy glanced over his shoulder, clearly conflicted. After a moment, he nodded and let me in. I walked through the house, my pulse quickening as I approached the backyard.
There, I saw them—Max sitting on the patio, his face etched with frustration, and Mary by his side, smiling and laughing as she leaned toward him. She was trying to comfort him, but her presence only ignited my anger further. I stormed toward them, my hand clutching the photos.
“Max!” I called out, my voice sharp with emotion. Both of them turned, surprise flashing across their faces. “These photos are fake!” I declared, thrusting the pictures in front of Max.
“Mary did this. Look at the lines in the pictures!”
Max frowned and took the photos from me, examining them closely. I pointed to the faint line in the images, the same line I had noticed earlier.
“She merged two different photos, Max. This guy isn’t real. Mary wanted to break us up.”
Mary’s face drained of color.
“Sarah, stop!” she said quickly, panic lacing her voice. But I wasn’t backing down. I pulled out the original photo of Max and me, the one where we were together, happy.
“This is the original photo. Mary cropped me out and replaced me with someone else.”
Max’s face tightened with confusion and hurt as he looked at the evidence. Slowly, understanding washed over him.
His eyes moved from the photos to Mary. “You did this?” he whispered, his voice heavy with disbelief. Tears welled up in Mary’s eyes as she crumbled.
“I just… I couldn’t stand seeing you two together. I thought… I thought if I made you break up, I could have a chance.”
Max’s jaw clenched as he stood up and turned away from her. His gaze landed on me, and I saw the pain and regret in his eyes.
“Sarah,” he began, his voice filled with remorse, “I’m so sorry. I should’ve trusted you.”
Tears brimmed in my own eyes as I nodded, my heart softening. “I know,” I whispered.
Without another word, Max knelt down in front of me, pulling out the ring I had seen before. “I love you, Sarah. I was a fool to doubt you.
Will you still marry me?”
A smile broke through my tears as I whispered, “Yes, Max. Yes.”
Mary left, sobbing, and Max and I stood there in each other’s arms, ready to rebuild our love and face the future together. Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends.
It might inspire them and brighten their day. Source: amomama
