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calm. Not a single flicker of pain or anger stirred within me–just a quiet, resigned acceptance. My cousin‘ s messages, however, were dripping with rage. Her words practically leapt off the screen.
“Fionna, why don’t you come back here for a while? I really can’t take this anymore. After Darrel showed up two days ago, he hasn‘ t left that girl‘ s side. If this isn’t cheating, I don‘ t know what is!”
“Today, I finally caught them outside together. That girl–she’s wrapped around him like she owns him. He’s carrying her, holding her, treating her like she’s made of glass. It’s disgusting, honestly. How can he be so shameless?”
I sighed deeply, feeling a sense of weariness
settle over me I glanced at my reflection in
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settle over me. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and realized my expression had grown grim, the strain showing in my eyes.
“Steph,” I typed back. “I’m in the middle of my wedding photos right now. I probably won’t be coming back. We‘ re all moving on with our lives, so don’t waste your energy being upset for me.‘
She replied with a long sigh. “Fionna… I don’t get it. But fine, if that’s your
decision. I’ll be there soon to support you. This wedding was arranged quickly, but I‘ 11 be there.‘
Just as I put my phone down, Mom stormed into the room, her face flushed with anger, her voice sharp. “So, this is the man you gave your heart to, is it? All these years you didn’t have your family nearby and he
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thinks he can just walk all over you? After everything you‘ ve done for him, he’s got the nerve to cheat?” Her voice grew more forceful as she went on, clenching her fists. “Once this wedding is over, I’m going to find him myself and give him a piece of my mind!”
Seeing her like this, I managed a small smile and wrapped my arms around her shoulders to calm her. “Mom, it’s okay. I’ve had a good life so far and I haven’t been mistreated. Besides, this is just… the universe’s way of bringing me back to you.”
For a moment, I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes, but I turned away, not wanting Mom to see. Before Natalie came into the picture, there had been happiness–so much that I’d
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thought I could spend my life with him. But happiness, as I d learned, was often just a fleeting illusion.
Suddenly, I noticed a tall, graceful figure approaching us–the man I was about to marry. His name was Jayde and though he wasn‘ t exactly what I’d imagined, he was polished, confident and genuine. Mom had made a wise choice. The wedding photos went smoothly and we moved in sync, his easy charm bringing a smile to my face as we posed together.
Later that evening, exhaustion washed over me and I barely made it to my bed before sleep claimed me. But my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Message after message, missed call after missed call, all from Darrel. I
ignored it, letting the phone fall silent as I
drifted off
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sleep claimed me. But my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Message after message, missed call after missed call, all from Darrel. I ignored it, letting the phone fall silent as I drifted off.
That was, until the loud rumble of a car engine outside tore me from my sleep. I sat up, my heart pounding. Fearing he‘ d disturb the neighbors, I slipped downstairs, half- dreading the scene that awaited me.
There he stood, disheveled and wild–eyed, his chest heaving as he locked his gaze on me. His hands gripped my shoulders with an intensity that bordered on desperation, his eyes blazing with anger.
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“Fionna, he spat, each word dripping with accusation. “What the hell did you do today? Who was that man in the wedding photos?”
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під напus пррей my snошието with an intensity that bordered on desperation, his eyes blazing with anger.
“Fionna,” he spat, each word dripping with accusation. “What the hell did you do today? Who was that man in the wedding photos?”
I tried to shrug him off, but he held tighter, his nails biting into my skin. He continued, his voice a raw, desperate growl. “Do you have any idea how long I waited for you to come back? I gave you so many chances! But there’s a limit to my patience, Fionna. Don’t you dare push me.”
