When a strange woman grabbed my hand and warned me not to go through with my wedding, I brushed it off. But when I found out she was a paid actress, I had to know: who would go to such lengths to stop me from marrying the man I loved?
I was never the superstitious type. I’m Penelope, just your average woman juggling work, wedding plans, and spending time with my best friend, Esther. Life had been a blur of excitement lately. Cameron, my fiancé, was everything I could ever ask for — thoughtful, funny, and supportive.
A grayscale photo of a loving couple | Source: Pexels
Our wedding was just a couple of months away, and Esther, as usual, was by my side through all the chaos, helping me pick out flower arrangements, dresses, and everything in between.
It was a normal Saturday afternoon when the strange encounter happened. Esther and I had just left our favorite boutique, where we’d spent hours browsing through racks of dresses and debating which honeymoon destinations were overrated.
She was still trying to convince me that Fiji wasn’t all it was cracked up to be as we strolled through the supermarket, picking up a few groceries for the week.
A shopping cart in a grocery store aisle | Source: Unsplash
We were halfway down the cereal aisle when I felt someone standing a little too close behind me.
Turning around, I was face-to-face with an old woman: her dark hair messy, her piercing eyes locked onto mine. Before I could react, she grabbed my hand, her grip firm, almost desperate.
“I feel four scars,” she said, her voice low and gravelly. “All on your legs. An animal… a wolf?”
An old woman with dark messy hair and piercing eyes is standing in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
I froze, my heart nearly stopping. My legs — she was right. I had those scars, deep and jagged from when a wolf attacked me on a family camping trip when I was five. I hadn’t told many people about that. How could she possibly know?
Esther, who had been distracted by a message on her phone, turned just in time to see the woman holding my hand. “Hey! Let go of her!” she snapped, stepping closer, ready to intervene.
A woman looking angrily at someone while standing in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
But the woman didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes stayed locked on mine. “I see your upcoming wedding,” she murmured, her grip tightening. “Don’t do it. Trouble awaits you.”
My breath caught in my throat. I felt like I was rooted to the spot, unable to move. How did she know about my wedding? What kind of “trouble” was she talking about?
A woman looks surprised and worried while standing in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
Before I could ask her any of these questions, Esther pulled my hand free from the woman’s grip with one sharp tug. “Are you out of your mind?” Esther hissed at the woman. “Get lost, witch!”
The woman blinked, as if waking from a trance, then slinked away without another word. I stared after her, my heart still pounding.
“Penelope, are you okay?” Esther asked, her voice softening now that the stranger was gone. “She was probably just some crazy lady. Don’t let it get to you.”
A woman looks concerned while standing in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
I tried to laugh it off. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” I said, though deep down, I wasn’t so sure. For the next two weeks, her words haunted me. “Don’t do it. Trouble awaits you.” They replayed in my mind like a broken record, and no matter how many times I told myself it was nonsense, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
A woman looks worried and thoughtful | Source: Midjourney
Then yesterday, while having lunch with my mom at a small café, I saw her again — at least, I thought I did. Across the street, a woman was hurrying into a shop, but this time, her hair was blonde, her eyes light. She looked completely different, but there was something about her, something familiar.
Without thinking, I jumped up from my chair and rushed outside. “Hey! You!” I called, catching up to her just as she was about to enter the shop.
A woman with blonde hair standing in a flower shop | Source: Midjourney
The woman turned, startled. “Let me go!” she shrieked as I grabbed her wrist.
“Who are you?” I demanded, tightening my grip.
“I… I’m an actress,” she stammered. “I was paid to scare you into canceling your wedding.”
My heart dropped. “Paid? By who?”
She hesitated, then reluctantly pulled out her phone. My blood ran cold when she showed me the photo on her screen.
I could barely feel my legs as I stared at the picture on her phone screen.
An extremely shocked woman staring at a phone screen | Source: Midjourney
It was Cameron. The man I was supposed to marry in a few months. The man I trusted, loved, and thought I would spend my life with.
“He… he paid you?” My voice cracked as I asked, still trying to process the betrayal.
The actress shifted nervously, glancing around as if afraid someone might see us. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. I was just doing my job. Please let me go.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “Why? Why did he do this?”
An angry and upset woman | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know,” she admitted, rubbing her wrist where I had grabbed her. “He just said he couldn’t go through with the wedding, but didn’t know how to tell you.”
I felt a burning rage rise in me, but it wasn’t the fiery kind that made me want to scream. No, this was cold. Ice cold. He couldn’t call off the wedding himself, so he hired someone to manipulate me into doing it? The sheer cowardice was almost laughable. Almost.
A closeup of a man paying money to a woman | Source: Pexels
I exhaled slowly, forcing a calm that I didn’t feel. “Thank you for being honest,” I muttered, turning away from her. I didn’t wait for a response. My feet carried me down the street in a daze. My mind raced, thoughts of Cameron, the wedding, everything spinning out of control.
By the time I got home, I had already made up my mind. Two could play this game.
That evening, I set the table for dinner as if nothing had happened. I cooked his favorite — roasted chicken with rosemary potatoes — and made sure everything looked perfect.
A photo showing roasted chicken served with rosemary potatoes for dinner | Source: Midjourney
The scent filled the apartment, warm and comforting, masking the cold storm brewing inside me.
When Cameron walked in, his usual cheerful demeanor seemed a bit off. Maybe it was guilt gnawing at him. Good. He deserved it.
“Hey, babe!” he greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, oblivious to what was coming. “Something smells great.”
“Just your favorite,” I replied, forcing a smile as I placed the plates on the table. “I thought we could have a nice night in.”
A woman forces a smile while looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
He sat down, and for a moment, we ate in silence. I waited, watching him between bites, waiting for the perfect moment. My heart raced, but outwardly, I stayed calm. When the time felt right, I casually began the conversation I had been planning all day.
“So,” I started, my tone light and easy, “you won’t believe what happened to me today.”
He looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What happened?”
A man looks surprised while sitting at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney
“I was at the supermarket with Esther,” I said, setting my fork down and meeting his gaze. “And this woman just came up to me, grabbed my hand out of nowhere.”
Cameron froze, his fork hovering mid-air. “What?” he asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. “What did she want?”
I shrugged, pretending it was no big deal. “Oh, she started talking about these scars I have on my legs. It was weird — she knew about them, even though I’ve never met her in my life.”
A closeup of a person’s body with a scar | Source: Pexels
His eyes widened slightly. “That’s strange,” he said, his voice a little too tight. “What else did she say?”
“Oh, you know,” I continued, keeping my voice light, “she mentioned our wedding. Said some interesting things about it.”
Cameron’s grip tightened on his fork. “Really? What… what exactly did she say?”
I smiled sweetly, watching him squirm. “She said you’d be a super successful man and that we’d have a very happy marriage.”
That’s when he choked. Right on cue.
A stunned man sitting at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney
He coughed, gasping for breath as I sat back, watching with an almost detached amusement. His face turned pale, his eyes wide with panic as he tried to recover.
“Sweetie, are you okay?” I asked, doing my best to sound concerned, though inside, I was relishing every second of his discomfort.
“Y-yeah,” he sputtered, wiping his mouth. “Just… unexpected.”
I leaned in slightly, dropping the playful tone. “Unexpected? What’s unexpected, Cam? The part about us having a happy marriage? Or the fact that you’re such a coward, you couldn’t even break off the engagement yourself?”
An angry and upset woman at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney
His face went white as a sheet. “W-what? What are you talking about, Pen?”
I didn’t let him off the hook. “I ran into your actress today. The one you hired to freak me out and get rid of me!”
For a moment, Cameron just sat there, stunned, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He had no words: no explanation, no excuses. He was caught, and we both knew it.
“How… how did you—” he stammered, but I cut him off.
An extremely shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t you dare deny it! I know everything” I kept my voice low and steady. “You really thought I wouldn’t figure it out, huh?”
His hands trembled slightly as he set his fork down, staring at the table. “Pen, I—”
“Don’t,” I interrupted, standing up slowly. “Don’t even try to explain. I’m done being fooled by you.”
He finally looked up at me, his face a blend of guilt and desperation. “I didn’t know how to tell you, Pen. I thought it would be easier this way.”
A man looks guilty and desperate | Source: Midjourney
I laughed — actually laughed at the absurdity of it. “Easier? You thought hiring some stranger to spout nonsense about our wedding would be easier than just talking to me? We’ve been together for years, Cam! And this is how you handle it?”
He didn’t respond. He couldn’t.
I leaned in close, just enough to see the shame in his eyes. “I guess I’ll be the one to call off the wedding then,” I whispered.
A woman looking at someone at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney
With that, I turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving him sitting there, stunned and speechless. As I closed the door behind me, the weight that had been crushing me for weeks finally lifted. The future I had envisioned with Cameron crumbled, but in its place, a new path opened — one where I no longer had to pretend.
Game over, Cameron. Game over.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
Did you find this story exciting? Wait till you read this next one: I was just moments away from saying ‘I do’ when the church doors burst open, and my father shrieked that the WEDDING WAS OFF. What he said next shattered my heart in the blink of an eye.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
US Open Buzz: Viewers Say Taylor Swift, 34, Looks ‘Pregnant’ after Seeing Her Belly in a Bodice Dress
Pregnancy rumors were stoked after Taylor Swift was spotted at the US Open with her boyfriend.
On September 8, at the US Open, Travis Kelce, 34, and Taylor Swift, 34, looked fantastic. Rather than their obvious displays of love and joy, Taylor’s body type in the event dress went viral.
Taylor dressed in a bright costume to see the Men’s Singles Final between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Taylor Fritz of the United States. The “Sora Linen Dress” of the Reformation was checkered in red and white.
The tiny straps on this $248 dress, which can be worn on or off the shoulders, and the snug bodice complete the design. Taylor accessorized her dress with brown heels, light jewelry, and black sunglasses.
But Travis sported a light beige Gucci bucket hat, a matching cardigan with red and green Gucci stripes, and a white golf shirt. Brown loafers and white shorts completed his ensemble.
Video of Travis and Taylor was made public, and they were seen in pictures at the wedding with Brittany and Patrick Mahomes.
A video of Travis and Taylor walking hand in hand into the tournament and exploring was uploaded on X by US Open Tennis. “In the age of tennis.” The account posted a video along with the caption, “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce arrive at the US Open.”
A video of the duo singing The Darkness’ “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” was also uploaded by the US Open. Singing from their viewing box, Taylor and Travis were having the best of their lives. “@taylorswift and @killatrav believe in love,” reads the US Open caption.
In a Latinus video, Taylor danced to a tune while Travis held onto her and bobbed his head.
In a different scenario from the same video, Brittany and Patrick were standing next to the singer and player who gave Travis a cheek kiss.
Internet users recognized Taylor’s belly after noticing images of Travis and Taylor during a tennis event. There were rumors that the “Lover” artist was expecting.
One Instagram user commented, “She looks pregnant,” while another questioned, “Is she pregnant?” Another person commented, “That GIRL is pregnant, lol.” Does Taylor Swift have a baby? A user on X commented, “She’s thin but has a slight belly.”
“When is Taylor Swift going to enthusiastically announce that Travis Kelce is pregnant with their child?” quipped a passerby. Some were ecstatic to see Taylor content, regardless of her pregnancy.
“Okay belly, either she’s full or pregnant either way I’m happy for her,” remarked one fan. Another admirer exclaimed, “Taylor looks so happy!” The sentiment was mirrored by someone else who said, “Okay, they’re officially too cute!” It’s too much joy to watch Taylor Swift fall in love.
Although Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have not addressed the pregnancy rumors, followers still make assumptions and comments.
Days before she and Travis made their US Open debut, Taylor faced criticism for her outfit as well.
On September 5, Taylor supported Travis by dressing controversially during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens game. She wore a scarlet pair of Giuseppe Zanotti boots, a Louis Vuitton purse, and a stunning Medusa ’95 Versace denim corset top when she arrived at Arrowhead Stadium.
Online images of Taylor at the game provoked heated debate. Using a pregnant emoji, one fan proposed getting pregnant. She’s growing hefty, they said.
One more said, “So tacky!” Will there be no fashion consultant for her? “One would think that with all her money, she could have had her stylist choose a better outfit,” remarked another.
Some found the negativity objectionable. One admirer remarked, “Such a cute outfit.” “Can’t believe some people say she “put on too much weight,”” exclaimed one supporter of her. She looks more human than a stick figure.
“Definitely find her more attractive with some extra meat on her bones,” was one comment made by fans in response to Taylor’s makeover. Never was fond of twig bod. The last praise was just, “She’s beautiful.”
Taylor seemed to have had a good time. She sat in Travis’ opulent suite with his parents, Ed and Donna Kelce, after they had entered the stadium.
Clearly at ease with one another, she and Ed engaged in lively conversation and laughter throughout the exciting NFL game.
In a subsequent video, Taylor stood and applauded, encouraging her partner from the sidelines.
In another Instagram picture, Taylor seemed totally absorbed in the game and was shouting loudly.
She celebrates in pictures with Travis’s father, displaying emotion. They fervently enjoyed the game and were Travis’s supporters.
Following the Chiefs’ victory over the Ravens, Travis and Taylor departed Arrowhead Stadium together.
As they walked hand in hand, the couple appeared content and in love. Taylor and Travis are in a public relationship, so their outings frequently go viral. For a variety of reasons, their date night photos became viral in July.
Perceptive observers conversed about the images’ physical attributes. Many have conjectured that Taylor, like her friend Brittany, might be expecting.
Taylor and Travis, a prominent Hollywood couple, were spotted out in London with pals. Their loved ones shared sweet pair images on July 16, which led some on social media to make assumptions about the couple.
According to Summitt Hogue and Brittany’s Instagram pictures, the “Blank Space” artist and tightrope runner from Kansas City is having fun with pals in Europe.
Summitt’s wife, Miranda Hogue, and Brittany’s husband, Patrick, the quarterback for Kansas City, also joined them.
The thrill of their trip was captured on Summitt’s Instagram carousel, which featured everything from trekking in nature reserves and on beaches with his wife and adorable daughters to taking a helicopter ride with Patrick.
In the fifth picture, Summit shared a lovely group shot that included Miranda, Brittany, Travis, Patrick, and Taylor. As the well-known pair moved in front of the other two pairs, Travis wrapped Taylor’s right arm around her shoulders and placed his hand beneath her breasts.
That evening, the vocalist of “Bad Blood” donned a light-blue dress by Vivienne Westwood. $1,010 is the price of the “Sunday gathered cotton midi dress.”
Taylor accessorized her Vivienne Westwood ensemble with a purple purse in the form of a heart. For $721.35 (€660), Taylor offers its “Josephine Heart Crossbody” in croc-embossed leather online. Her heels were block yellow.
Additional European travel adventures can be seen in Brittany’s carousel article. Brittany shared pictures of herself, her husband Patrick, and their adorable babies, Taylor and Travis.
In one stunning picture, Brittany and Taylor shared an embrace as their beaus posed behind them. Summitt was dressed the same way as Taylor.
Travis looked put together in a baseball cap and beige co-ord. Another picture included Taylor kissing Brittany’s head and the two of them hugging.
“What a time #Europe,” is how Summitt titled his photo, and Brittany responded, “London & Amsterdam, a time was had.” Regarding Travis and Taylor showing up in Brittany and Summitt’s Instagram pictures, some sent comments.
People on social media expressed unease about Travis touching his partner with his hand. “Swifties take a closer look at this guy,” a user wrote on Instagram. Whoa.
“Looks like she was trying to move his hand to her waist,” another person remarked. I think it’s hideous and disgusting.
Some people were critical of Taylor’s outfit. One witness questioned, “Why does Taylor’s wardrobe always look like something my grandmother would wear?” Another said, “Taylor needs to fire her stylist.”
Others looked at the couple photo where Travis put one hand on Brittany’s lower abdomen. Travis rubs his lower tummy and gestures to himself. What is meant by that? inquired on social media. “Travy get [Tay] preggers we need little besties for life,” remarked another.
A fan said, “Listen, you and Taylor are so cute!!!” in reference to pregnancy. I adore it, dear! Name my kid Goldie and give her to me. “Brittany & Taylor are both pregnant,” said another.
Although Brittany, a close friend of Taylor’s, has revealed that she will soon become a mother of three, Travis and Taylor have not confirmed their pregnancy.
Leave a Reply