A year ago, I met Richard at a charity event hosted by my family. He was different from the men my parents tried to set me up with—genuine, funny, and a graphic designer. We got engaged within a year. My family was hesitant at first, but eventually, they all grew fond of him.
A month before the wedding, I saw Richard kissing another woman at a café. I confronted him, and he denied it, but I ended the engagement, keeping the truth about his betrayal to myself. My family was confused, but I chose silence.
Weeks later, I spotted Richard and my sister Jessica together, with Jessica handing him a large sum of money. Jessica explained that Richard had stage-three lymphoma, which I didn’t believe. I revealed the truth: Richard had cheated on me. Jessica was shocked, and we called my dad, who admitted he had been helping Richard financially.
Later, we learned Richard had been conning us all. He was caught in a car accident with the money, and police were involved. As I processed the betrayal, I realized I’d dodged a bullet. With my family by my side, I felt ready to move on and make better memories.