At my re-wedding party, I laughed heartily when I saw my ex-wife working as a waitress, but 30 minutes later, a cruel truth was revealed, making my whole body tremble.
The luxurious hotel in Makati, Manila was brightly lit that day. I, a man in my 40s, holding the hand of my beautiful young bride, walked in amidst admiring eyes. My wedding party made many people admire: fresh flowers spread out, imported wine, melodious music. I thought I was at the peak of happiness and success.

But then, in the moment I raised my glass to celebrate, my eyes suddenly stopped at the corner of the room. A familiar figure… wearing a simple uniform, hair neatly tied up, holding a tray of drinks. My heart stopped for a second, but then burst into laughter.

It was her – Maria, my ex-wife. The woman who used to sleep with me, who used to cook simple meals for me every day. Now, while I was wearing an expensive barong, standing next to the beautiful new bride, she had to be a waitress at my own party. I felt funny, felt elated.

Friends sitting around also whispered:
– Hey, is that your ex-wife?

– Yes, life is ironic. The successful man, the loser has to be a waiter.

I listened and just laughed, considering it a sweet victory after the divorce.

About 30 minutes later, when the party was more bustling, an elderly guest, with a serious appearance, approached my table. He was Mr. Santos, a businessman from Cebu, an important partner that I had longed to sign a contract with. He smiled, raised his glass to congratulate:
– Congratulations on finding new happiness.

I replied brightly:
– Thank you, today your presence is an honor for me.

But then his eyes suddenly glanced towards the corner of the room, where Maria was busy cleaning. And suddenly, he put his glass down on the table, stood up straight. His voice became solemn:

With your permission, everyone… I want to say a few words.

The sound in the hall suddenly quieted down.

He pointed to the woman in the waitress uniform:

I’m sure few of you here know, but that woman… is…
read the full story here, the benefactor who saved my life in a bus accident in Quezon City three years ago. If she hadn’t jumped into the floodwaters to pull me out, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today.

All the guests gasped in amazement. I was speechless.

He continued, his voice filled with emotion:

Not only that, she was the co-founder of the charity fund I sponsored. After the family broke up, she quietly withdrew, leaving all the glory to her ex-husband, then accepted to do manual labor to support her old mother and young child.

His words were like a thunderbolt that struck my ears. I looked at Maria – my ex-wife. She stood there, her eyes filled with tears, but still bowed her head politely, continuing her work as if nothing had happened.

The guests began to whisper:
– Diyos ko, I didn’t expect a woman with such a heart.

And yet he dared to laugh at her?

I felt my face burning, sweat pouring out. Pride instantly turned into humiliation. What I once thought was victory now turned out to be petty and selfish. The woman I had abandoned, despised, was the one respected by society, and the benefactor of the most important partner in my life.

In that moment, all the joy of the wedding party was extinguished. The laughter around me seemed to fade away. My soul froze when I realized the truth: the happiness I had today did not make me nobler. On the contrary, it was my cruel and arrogant behavior that made me the smallest person in that brightly lit room.

I intended to step closer to her, wanting to say a word of apology, but my legs were heavy. Maria only glanced at me, her eyes calm, then turned away.

At that moment, I understood that I had lost something precious forever – not just a wife, but a woman with a kind heart that I would never meet again in my life.