The eve of my wedding unveiled a shocking betrayal: my $8,700 wedding gown had been deliberately ruined by my sister-in-law, Beth. The revelation unfolded dramatically amid the wedding festivities, with a secret recording that exposed Beth’s hidden agenda and nearly derailed the day.

Staring at my reflection, my stomach twisted with nerves. The gown I had picked out with such care now hung defiled on my bedroom door, a stark departure from its pristine condition in the bridal shop.

“Grace, how’s your dress looking?” Jack’s voice floated up from downstairs.

“Just getting into it!” I responded, trying to steady my shaking hands.

Weeks earlier, Beth had volunteered to adjust my dress for free, citing her sewing expertise. Despite a nagging feeling that something was off, financial constraints led me to accept her offer.

“I can’t believe Beth is doing this for you,” my mom had remarked, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

“Yeah, it’s incredibly kind,” I had agreed, though doubt shadowed my gratitude.

As I zipped up the dress, the fit felt all wrong. The bodice was distorted, seams frayed, and the exquisite lace carelessly snipped. My dream transformed into a nightmare.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, tears threatening.

“Grace, what’s wrong?” Jack’s concerned voice came from downstairs.

“The dress—it’s ruined,” I managed, voice quavering.

“What do you mean? I’ll come up and look,” he offered, heading towards the stairs.

“No, Jack, it’s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding!”

“Are you sure it’s as bad as you think?” he persisted, pausing at the door.

“It’s destroyed. How could she do this?” My voice broke as despair took hold.

“Are you sure it wasn’t an accident?” he asked softly.