ON THE MORNING OF MY WEDDING, I FOUND A BABY ON MY DOORSTEP WITH A NOTE
The soft chime of the doorbell startled me.
7 a.m.? Who would be here this early? Maybe my maid of honor, Tessa, with last-minute wedding jitters.
Still adjusting my veil, I hurried to the door.
But when I swung it open, my world tilted.
A baby.
A tiny, pink-bundled infant sat in a car seat on my doorstep, cooing softly.
My hands shook as I spotted a note pinned to the blanket.
“The baby is Nate’s now. Ask him yourself.”
Nate. My fiancé.
I gripped the doorframe as nausea rolled through me. This had to be a mistake. A sick joke.
Tessa appeared behind me, gasping. “Oh my God… Who would do this?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My mind raced.
Call Nate? No. No, I needed to see his reaction in person.
So, I did the only thing that made sense.
I took the baby to the chapel.
The Moment Everything Changed
The guests were already seated. The soft hum of music filled the air. Flowers lined the aisle. My perfect day, unfolding exactly as I had dreamed.
And then, I walked in.
Holding the baby.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Heads turned. Whispers spread like wildfire.
At the altar, Nate stood beaming—until his eyes met mine.
And the baby in my arms.
His smile vanished. His face drained of color.
Step by step, I walked down the aisle, locking eyes with him.
By the time I reached him, the entire chapel was dead silent.
Tessa handed me the note. I held it up between us. “Explain this.”
Nate swallowed hard. His throat bobbed. His hands clenched into fists.
Then, barely above a whisper, he muttered, “Claire… it’s not what you think.”
Not what I think?
I turned the note around so he could see the words written in sharp, deliberate strokes.
“The baby is Nate’s now. Ask him yourself.”
I gave him a chance. I waited.
And then I watched him break.
His lips parted, but no sound came out.
Tears welled in his eyes. His jaw tightened.
He knew.
And at that moment, so did I.
The Truth Comes Out
“Whose baby is this?” I asked, my voice eerily calm.
He took a shuddering breath. “Claire… I—”
From the second row, a woman stood up.
Dark curls Sharp cheekbones. A face I recognized from Nate’s past.
Vanessa.
His ex.
My stomach turned.
She stepped forward, chin high, voice clear:
“She’s his.”
A gasp rippled through the room.
I felt like I was falling.
Tessa grabbed my arm, steadying me.
But I wasn’t done.
I lifted the baby, cradling her closer.
“You knew about this?” I asked Nate.
His silence was my answer.
The betrayal burned hot in my chest.
I let out a shaky breath and turned to the guests.
“Well,” I said, my voice steady, “this wedding is officially canceled.”
Gasps. A shocked murmur.
I turned back to Nate and shoved the note into his hands.
“Since she’s yours now, you can explain this to her when she grows up.”
Then, still holding his baby, I walked away.