I hired an actor to play my “groom” at a fake wedding to get back at my cheating ex. But as we stood at the altar, exchanging vows and a kiss, I never imagined how it would change my life.

I got the idea while scrolling through photos of Charlie and his new girlfriend. “Screw this,” I muttered and called my cousin Tess. She introduced me to Ryan, an actor. “You want me to pretend to be your fiancé at a fake wedding?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. “I’m in,” he said with a grin.

The weeks leading up to the wedding were a blur of planning. On the day of, Ryan whispered, “Ready to get fake married?” The ceremony felt real, and our kiss left me with unexpected feelings. That night, I posted the wedding photos on social media. Charlie’s angry message only brought temporary satisfaction.

After the wedding, Ryan and I became close. Our fake relationship turned into something real. However, Charlie started spreading rumors, and Ryan needed time to think. Three days later, he returned, saying, “Our relationship became the most real thing in my life.”

Planning our real wedding was joyful. On the big day, Charlie crashed the ceremony, accusing me of lying. “It’s true our relationship had an unusual start,” Ryan told the guests, “but it became genuine.”

Reflecting on the journey, I realize that sometimes the craziest plans lead to the best outcomes. I wouldn’t recommend staging a fake wedding, but I can’t regret the choices that led me to Ryan and true love.