Being a single mom to five-year-old Lily hasn’t been easy. My ex-husband, Leo, left when she was two—for the woman he’d been cheating with. He moved just a few blocks away but made no effort to see Lily. Not on her birthdays, not for school events—nothing. And every time she asked, “Why doesn’t Daddy love me?” my heart shattered.

So when Leo suddenly called, saying he wanted to reconnect with Lily and asked for a weekend with her, I hesitated but agreed. He promised it was about fatherhood, not us. For Lily’s sake, I let her go. She was so excited, packing her teddy bear and favorite dress. On Saturday, he sent happy photos of their day at the park. I thought maybe—just maybe—he was changing.

But Sunday evening, my sister called in a panic. “Have you seen Instagram?” she asked. I hadn’t. She sent a screenshot. My heart stopped. Leo had gotten married that weekend—without telling me—and used our daughter as the flower girl. There she was in a white dress between him and his bride, Rachel, looking lost.

Furious, I drove straight to the venue. Lily sat alone, hugging her bear. She ran into my arms, whispering, “Can we go home now?” Rachel tried to stop us for a “family photo.” I told her off—my daughter is not a prop. A bridesmaid confirmed Rachel had planned the lie all along.

I walked away without looking back.

Leo won’t see Lily again until he learns what being a father truly means.