I’m Isabel, 23. Last month, my dad, Jonathan, remarried.

His fiancée, Patricia, and I were never very close.

She was polite around my dad but distant when we were alone.

A month before the wedding,

Patricia emailed me saying she and my dad would cover travel costs for all guests.

She even sent me what looked like a real plane ticket and asked me not to contact the airline,

claiming it could mess up the “group rate.” It seemed odd, but I didn’t question it.

On the day of the wedding, I went to the airport, only to be told my ticket didn’t exist.

It wasn’t in the system at all. I was shocked and embarrassed.

Buying a new last-minute ticket was way too expensive,

so I couldn’t make it to the wedding.

Then, just before the ceremony,

Patricia texted me, making it clear she had done this on purpose to keep me away.

forwarded all the proof to my dad — the fake ticket,

the incident report, and our texts.

During the ceremony, he saw my message, stopped everything, and confronted Patricia.

Realizing what she’d done, he called off the wedding immediately and left with his side of the family.

They went to a nearby restaurant and FaceTimed me so I could be part of the gathering.

Later, my dad told me he planned to annul the marriage since the official registration had just been completed the day before.

He was heartbroken but relieved to know the truth before it was too late.

Instead of a honeymoon, we planned a father-daughter trip to make new memories.

Patricia tried to reach out once, but I never responded.

My dad and I grew even closer, and at a family dinner soon after,

he raised a glass and said,

“To Isabel, for speaking up, and to a future where we trust our instincts.

”Sometimes the truth hurts, but it also sets you free.