BRIDE BETRAYED
The marria crasher Two years on, my heart was broken. And someone knew why...
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WORDS: KARA O’NEILL, CHANTELLE REES. PHOTOS: MEDAVIA
Nikki Carter, 26, Immingham
pening my eyes, excitement rushed through me as I stretched out in bed. Today’s the day! It was September 2017 and I was marrying the man of my dreams. I was becoming Mrs Lewis Smith, a moment I’d dreamt of since we got together six years ago. I thought back to when we’d met. Friends at first, but then our connection blossomed into something more. Charming and thoughtful, Lewis, 29, was great with my son from a previous relationship, Elliot, then just 1. So when I fell pregnant unexpectedly in December 2012, I was thrilled. And on Christmas Day, Lewis had a surprise of his own. ‘Nikki, will you marry me?’ he’d asked, opening up a box to show me a beautiful ring. ‘Yes, of course!’ I cried, kissing him. The next nine months were a whirlwind. When our son Brody
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was born in September 2013, Lewis was every inch the doting daddy. With two boys to look after, we didn’t rush to book our wedding. ‘As long as I get to marry you, I don’t mind waiting,’ I’d grinned. Planning a small ceremony, we didn’t want a fuss. Our guest list was a handful of our closest friends and family. And here I was, almost
five years since Lewis popped the question, about to the knot. Walking into the office, hours later, white gown, my ey with happy tears a loved ones grinning at me. My kids, family, friends. And our old neighbours Jess, then 21, and Jamie, 24, had come along, too. It’d been lovely living t door to Jess. Me and my was always three boys re for a cuppa a chat. ut truthfully, was lucky they de the guest t. See, Lewis d hit it off th Jamie, t didn’t like ss much. She’s here gain?’ he’d umble if he ame in and she as at ours. I’d always tick up for her. Even though we’d both moved house now, we stayed n touch. So, it made perfect sense for Jess and
My friend Jess
Jamie to share our big day. ‘Congratulations!’ Jess cheered, giving me a big hug after the ceremony. As we all posed for pictures together, I was on cloud nine. The perfect day. A month later, I fell pregnant again. Wesley was born in July 2018, and our family felt complete. But it wasn’t long after the birth that Lewis started to change. In October 2018, he lost his job as a mechanic. And while he tried to find another, he didn’t have much success. Money became tight, tension grew between us. We got trapped in a miserable cycle. We’d snap at each other at the tiniest thing, Lewis would walk out and stay at his mum’s for the night, come home the next day, begging forgiveness. With a new baby to care for and hectic lives, I just assumed we were going
