When Kevin’s girlfriend dumps him over his poverty, he is destroyed and remembers his late father’s last words. He vows to prove his true worth and appears at his ex-girlfriend’s wedding as her fiancé’s boss.
Kevin was walking home with his file in his hand. He was visibly upset. A recruiter he interviewed an hour ago told him: “We are sorry, but the position is already filled.”
“I thought I would make it. I promised Linda I would return with the job,” he grumbled. At 25, an orphaned Kevin had struggled enough. But it seemed his miseries would never end.
Kevin stopped by the flower shop despite his woe and bought Linda’s favorite roses. “She won’t get mad at me after seeing these!” he comforted himself, but a heartbreaking blow awaited him at the apartment he shared with his girlfriend of five years…
“What happened at the interview? How much are they offering you?” Linda was curious. “As soon as you get your first salary, we have to shop for some nice furniture. These look rotten and old.”
Kevin didn’t know how to open up about his unsuccessful interview. Finally, he mustered the courage to face his girlfriend. He extended the bouquet and told her: “Honey, I’m sorry, and I promise to keep trying. But this time, the position has been already filled.”
Linda immediately threw a fit and argued. “I always knew you were a good-for-nothing loser. I am not ready to stay here anymore and live a poor life like you. Suit yourself…I’m leaving.”
Never trade your love for money. It keeps switching hands.
Kevin begged and cried, but his girlfriend accused him of wasting her time. She stormed out with her bag. She blocked his contact and went her way, leaving Kevin behind with nothing more than heartbreak and tears.
A month later, Kevin grumbled to a close buddy about how horrible his life was. “Your ex-girlfriend is dating a rich guy, dude. She was not worth your love…I told ya!” his friend said, rubbing salt into his wounded heart.
Kevin was so hurt that he immediately went to his late father’s grave to vent his frustrations. His dad, Alex, had passed away when Kevin was 18. He was Kevin’s inspiration in many ways, and on his deathbed, he told him: “Son, never lose hope no matter how many pitfalls await you. Always get up with confidence and fight back. Your success will show your worth. All you have to do is just prove it.”
“Dad, I am sorry for letting you down. I promise to fight back. I’ll no longer cry over my past or for people that don’t deserve my attention. I’ll work hard and prove what I’m capable of.” Kevin was determined and dedicated his time to establish his life.
Thirteen years passed, and one day, Kevin was in his office discussing a new deal with his contractors when Kurt walked in. “Excuse me, sir,” he said, opening the glass door.
“Yes, Kurt…Please come in.”
Kurt handed Kevin a wedding invitation. “Sir, it will be an honor if you attend my wedding. I’ll look forward to it!”
Kevin congratulated his employee and promised he would attend. He never checked the invitation thoroughly and vaguely reviewed the wedding venue. It was organized at a resort nearby.
Kevin arrived on the day of the wedding. It was a beautiful venue, and some guests who recognized him flocked to curry favor with him for their next contract with his building company.
“Sir!” Kurt greeted Kevin. “Meet my fiancée, Linda,” he introduced. Kevin was stunned to see his ex-girlfriend was Kurt’s bride. Linda and Kevin stared at each other, shocked beyond belief.
“Do you know each other?!” Kurt chimed in. Kevin and Linda denied it. Amid the occasion, Kevin was asked to address the newlyweds and congratulate them. He took the mic and started talking, revealing how he managed to climb to the peak of his fortune.
“What makes a family strong is how you support each other until the end,” he began as Linda slowly turned pale. She was nervous that Kevin would reveal their past in public.
“You cannot call yourself a family unless you believe in and help each other during hard times. The name and fame people know me for today is because of my wife, Shirley. I owe my life to her!”
Linda was stunned to know Kevin was happily married and had three children. But that was not all.
“I was let down by someone I loved and worshipped. Then I found Shirley. She fell in love with me when I was just an ordinary clerk. I was fired thrice! But she believed in me and motivated me. I switched seven jobs in seven years, she earned more than me, and there was a time when we lived in an old motel with rusty faucet water. Life was full of bitter surprises until one day my family business became a huge success. I married the woman who truly loved me, and this is where I am today!”
Linda could not hide the humiliation pouring out of her eyes as tears. She pretended she was okay.
“If it weren’t for Shirley, I would have been stranded where I was betrayed. Thank you, darling! I love you! And I wish you a happy married life, Kurt and Linda. I pray Linda becomes your true support in all your ups and downs in life, no matter what!”
Kevin finished the speech and flaunted a mocking smile at Linda, who still could not get over how successful and wealthy he was. It added fuel to the fire after she knew her husband Kurt worked under her ex-boyfriend, who she dumped over status. Even if Linda wanted, she could not do anything other than accept the bitter truth and live with it for the rest of her life.
What can we learn from this story?
- Do not walk out on your loved ones during difficulties. Linda broke up with Kevin over his poverty. She failed to understand that a family thrives on belief and love, not money or status.
- Never trade your love for money. It keeps switching hands. Linda dumped Kevin for a rich man, knowing little that Kevin would be her new boyfriend’s boss in the future.