**Diary Entry**
The day we walked to the church, hand in hand, should have been the happiest of my life. Instead, a stranger stopped usmy fiancée, Evelyn. He claimed she was carrying his child. Right there, in front of the church, the truth hit me like a slap. She was pregnant with another mans baby. The shock silenced everyone, especially me. Had I known sooner, perhaps things would have been different.
Id recently moved to an unfamiliar city with no desire to return home. The reason? Evelyn. I was born later in my parents lives due to complications with my mothers health. Despite that, their upbringing was strict, though I never doubted their love. They wanted me to grow into a decent man, and in their own way, they succeeded.
I was an average student, struggling with maths but finding satisfaction in chores. Growing up in the countryside, I helped my father with repairs, tended to livestock, and gathered winter feed. I even enjoyed looking after our chickens. Later, my mother taught me to cook and iron, and as I grew older, I took on more responsibilities to give them a break.
After finishing school, university seemed out of reach financially, so I enrolled at a nearby technical college to stay close to home. Weekends were spent helping my parents or occasionally meeting friends.
Then everything changed when I met *her*. Evelyn, a first-year student at a neighbouring college, caught my eyeslender, with long chestnut hair that turned heads wherever she went. At first, I couldnt believe shed agreed to go out with me. But soon, we were inseparable.
Mum noticed the shift firstI came home less, barely slept, stopped seeing friends. Dad joked that a city girl had bewitched me, but Evelyn lived two villages over. I kept our relationship quiet at first, wanting to be sure it was real.
We spent every free moment togetherparties, trips, visits to her dorm. She even surprised me with homemade cakes during lunch breaks, making me feel cherished. I truly believed no one could ever match her.
When I finally told my parents, they immediately started hinting at grandchildren. It was too soonEvelyn had only just finished her first yearbut deep down, I already pictured her walking down the aisle. I thought Id found my other half.
On our first anniversary, I planned a fancy dinner. But Evelyn had her own surpriseshe was pregnant. I was overjoyed, proposing on the spot. She said yes.
The next week, we broke the news to our families. To my relief, they got along brilliantly. My parents adored her, treating her like their own, and her family welcomed me warmly. It felt too good to be true.
We started wedding preparations immediately. Instead of a hotel, we wanted a countryside celebration on my parents land, like theyd had. But our cottage was too small, so we rented a bigger one from relatives. With the baby on the way, every spare moment went into planningdresses, food, decorations. Our parents worked together seamlessly, as if already family.
Then came the nightmare.
Wed planned to marry before the baby arrived. After the registry office, we walked to the church, hand in hand, guests waiting inside. Thats when *he* stopped usa stranger who claimed to be the father of Evelyns child. He threatened legal action, refusing to let another man raise his baby.
At first, I thought he was deranged. But Evelyn didnt deny it. She just stared at the ground, silent. When I pressed her, she burst into tears and confessed. I didnt ask for details. I turned and walked away.
The next week passed in a blur. I left my hometown for London, transferring to a new college, cutting all ties. My parents never speak of it, and Im too afraid to ask.
Later, I met another girlhonest, open, nothing like Evelyn. I ended things with her remotely and now tread carefully in relationships. I never want to feel that heartbreak again.
