On what should have been the happiest day of her life,

a bride was left devastated when her fiancé vanished without warning on their wedding day.

Two years after the heartbreak, she received

a sudden message request from him bringing back a flood of painful memories.

The woman, who shared her story on Reddit

, revealed that her fiancé, Derek, disappeared the very morning of their ceremony.

Alone and shattered, she returned to their apartment in her wedding dress,

unsure of what had gone so terribly wrong.

Days later, the truth emerged when Derek’s mother tearfully admitted he had rekindled a relationship with his ex just before the wedding.

The bride’s grief was compounded by this betrayal,

forcing her to seek comfort from strangers online as she tried to understand why the man she loved had walked away.

Months passed before Derek resurfaced to apologize and explain that he had just discovered his ex had hidden his child from him,

and he chose to be with them instead.

With time, therapy, and support from friends, the woman began to rebuild her life.

She eventually moved from Australia to Wales, hoping for a fresh start far from the painful memories.

But just as she began to heal, Derek contacted her again—this time through Instagram claiming he was visiting Cardiff and wanted to talk.

Though she initially ignored the message, curiosity and a desire for closure eventually led her to respond.

Their brief meeting brought long-awaited answers. Derek confessed that his ex had since passed away and confirmed that the child was his.

He handed her an envelope with all the money he had spent on the wedding.

While his apology didn’t erase the past, it allowed the woman to close that chapter of her life for good.

She thanked everyone who had supported her and shared that she finally felt free to move forward, lighter and stronger than before.