Jeff proposed to me six months ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a beautiful evening under a starlit sky, his eyes twinkling with excitement as he slipped the ring onto my finger.

"Phoebe," he said, "let's make this the wedding of our dreams."

Little did I know, that dream would turn into a nightmare.

I always imagined a modest ceremony, something intimate and personal. But Jeff had other ideas.

"It's once in a lifetime, Phoebe," he insisted, his persuasive charm hard to resist. "We deserve a gorgeous wedding, something everyone will remember."

When the time came to discuss finances, Jeff offered a seemingly reasonable solution.

"You handle the wedding expenses, Phoebe. I'm in the process of buying us a house."

It sounded fair to me, so I agreed on a budget of $25,000. We went all out: a lavish venue, and a renowned wedding planner whom I hadn't even met because Jeff wanted to surprise me.

The big day arrived, and I felt like a princess stepping into the grand hotel. Guests were milling around, but there was no sign of Jeff. My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of my groom.

Panic set in. I rushed outside, fumbling with my phone, desperately trying to reach our wedding planner. Finally, she picked up.

"Emily? It's Phoebe. I’m Jeff's fiancée. I'm at the hotel, but I can't find Jeff."

"Jeff Jenkins?" she replied, her tone sharp and confused.

"Yes!" I almost shouted, my voice trembling.

"Is this some kind of joke? The ceremony was yesterday."

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. I felt my knees buckle, my vision blurring. This couldn't be happening.

Suddenly, a man grabbed my arm, his grip firm yet frantic.

"Get your hands off me!" I demanded, turning to face him.

His face mirrored my shock. "I'm sorry, I'm Mike. I was supposed to get married here today too, but my planner said the ceremony was yesterday. I think we've been scammed."

Mike's revelation was like cold water splashed on my face. We both entrusted substantial amounts of money, only to be left stranded and humiliated. As the truth began to unravel, I realized that Jeff's charming persuasion had led us both into a merciless trap.

"Turns out our partners, Amy and Jeff, were lovers. They concocted this plan to fund their own wedding using our money," Mike revealed, disappointment all over his face.

I stared at him, incredulous. "What? You mean they used us to pay for their wedding?"

"Yes," Mike confirmed, his voice filled with fury. "And from what I've gathered, they’ve disappeared to enjoy a lavish honeymoon on our dime."

The betrayal hit me hard, but the shock soon turned into a strong determination.

"We need to find them, Mike. They can't get away with this," I told him.

Fueled by a shared sense of outrage, we pressured the wedding planners, threatening legal action until they finally cracked and confessed where Jeff and Amy had gone for their honeymoon.

"The Maldives," Emily had said, avoiding our eyes. "An exclusive resort."

I looked at Mike, determination set in my eyes. "They think they've outsmarted us, but they're in for a surprise."