Chapter 9
I took a deep breath, steadying myself and looked directly at him. Darrel‘ s gaze was
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of weakness.
“We were never officially in a relationship, Darrel,” I said, my voice steady. “All these years, we never defined anything. So, in wha world do you think you have the right to question who I take wedding photos with or who I choose to marry?”
His face twisted, disbelief flashing in his eyes “Fionna, you expect me to believe that? Afte all this time? You‘ re just trying to push my buttons to get a reaction. I know you better than you think.” He reached out, gripping my arm as if he could pull me back by force alone. “I’m here now. Whatever you wanted, you have it–now come home with me,”
I yanked my arm free, taking a step back, my voice unwavering. “Darrel, we‘ re friends-
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nothing more. I’m getting married. Please, let go of whatever ideas you have. If you don‘ t leave, I’ll call the police for harassment.”
In one swift motion, I pulled out my phone and held it up, showing him the police hotline number on the screen. His face fell and for a moment, he looked almost hurt, but I didn’t hesitate. I turned and sprinted back to my house, locking the door and activating the security system.
Through the window, I watched his figure linger outside, unmoving. Eventually, he seemed to accept that I wouldn’t be coming back out and left, fading into the night. But sleep didn’t come easily. His presence haunted me, weaving in and out of my dreams until dawn.
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When morning finally came, I woke with a heavy ache spreading through my head and rising fever. Memories of Darrel and I, of al the things I’d once dreamed of, drifted through my mind in my fevered haze. I imagined him proposing to me in front of m favorite flower shop, then, in the next breath kneeling and begging me not to marry someone else.
My mom noticed my weakened state and, with her usual gentle care, helped me through the morning. By noon, I felt well enough to sit up and soon, the makeup artist arrived to prepare me for the wedding shoot. My phone rang as the artist worked and
before I could react, she handed it to me with a polite smile.
As I pressed it to my ear, a loud, desperate
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sob crackled on the other end, immediately recognizable.
“Fionna! Please, just hear me out,”
Natalie’s voice wailed, her tone raw and unhinged. “I know I made a terrible
mistake… I should never have wished for something that wasn‘ t mine, I see that now. Darrel fired me… I’ve lost the only job I have that could support my family. My mom’s sick and my brother‘ s in school–I did what I did out of desperation.”
The words tumbled from her in a frantic rush. “He said… he‘ d give me my job back if I could get you to call him. Please, just call him… I swear, I’ll never get in the way again.”
Listening to her plea, I felt nothing but emptiness. There was no sympathy left. She
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had made her choices, just as Darrel had made his. Neither of them had any right to look to me to pick up the pieces.
Without another word, I reached into my purse, pulled out the SIM card and tossed it into the trash. Then, through the mirror, I looked at my reflection, makeup nearly finished and a strange calm washed over me. The woman who’d once loved Darrel with everything she had was gone, replaced by someone who now saw her worth clearly. Today was the beginning of something new.
The makeup artist finished her work and I adjusted my gown before heading downstairs to join the others. But as I walked, I noticed a small crowd gathering around, buzzing with excitement. Curious, I moved closer, ready to face whatever lay ahead, knowing this was
48% 18-24
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emptiness. There was no sympathy left. She had made her choices, just as Darrel had made his. Neither of them had any right to look to me to pick up the pieces.
Without another word, I reached into my purse, pulled out the SIM card and tossed it into the trash. Then, through the mirror, I looked at my reflection, makeup nearly finished and a strange calm washed over me. The woman who‘ d once loved Darrel with everything she had was gone, replaced by someone who now saw her worth clearly. Today was the beginning of something new.
The makeup artist finished her work and I adjusted my gown before heading downstairs to join the others. But as I walked, I noticed a small crowd gathering around, buzzing with excitement. Curious, I moved closer, ready to
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face whatever lay ahead, knowing this was the day I’d truly step into my new life. Chapter 10
When I reached the hall, I stopped in my tracks, stunned. An enormous bed of roses filled the entire space, each petal a vibrant reminder of something I had once been promised. The overwhelming display was for
- me.
My mind instantly drifted back to a promise Darrel had made. He’d told me that if he ever wanted to marry me, he would bring me 10,000 roses. Or, if he ever made a mistake, he’d make up for it with the same extravagant display. It was clear that he hadn’t forgotten a single detail of h
is vows, from beginning to end. He‘ d just chosen not
