‘Hannah,’ he began, with a theatrical flourish that would make anyone believe we were the stars of a romantic movie. ‘I know we’ve only just rekindled our friendship, but would you do me the honor of wearing this garter?’

A wave of laughter and cheers swept through the room. I played along, lifting the hem of my dress slightly so he could slide the garter onto my leg. The act was playful, innocent, but it held a deeper significance than anyone realized – it was a reclaiming of dignity and a moment of solidarity between two strangers united against a common foe: Lydia’s pettiness.

As William stood, offering me his hand to join him in another dance, I noticed a change in the atmosphere. The singles’ table, the pointed comments, the staged scenarios – they didn’t seem to matter anymore. In that moment, with William by my side, I felt seen, not as Lydia’s older, single sister, but as someone deserving of respect and camaraderie.

The band struck up a lively tune, and William twirled me around the dance floor with exuberance. Laughter bubbled up from within me, genuine and freeing. I caught a glimpse of Lydia standing at the edge of the crowd, her face a mask of disbelief and thinly veiled irritation. She had wanted to make me the subject of ridicule, but instead, I had become an unexpected highlight of the evening.

As the night wore on, I found myself sitting with William at Table 12, our chairs angled towards each other, sharing stories and laughter. The singles’ table had been transformed from a seat of shame to a place where something new and unexpected had blossomed.

‘Thank you,’ I said to William, my voice sincere. ‘You didn’t have to do any of this.’

‘I know,’ he replied, his eyes warm and kind. ‘But I’m glad I did. Turns out, crashing weddings can lead to pleasant surprises.’

As the clock ticked towards midnight, I realized that what began as a humiliating experience had turned into one of the most memorable nights of my life. I might have arrived at the wedding feeling like a reject, but thanks to William, I left feeling like a heroine in my own story. My sister’s attempt to humiliate me had backfired spectacularly, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she would think twice before underestimating me again.