“I love her.”
“I know.”
“I wanted today to be the beginning of our future.”
“I know.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“I don’t want to believe this.”
“You don’t have to believe me.”
He looked confused.
“You only need to ask yourself one question.”
“What question?”
“If someone truly loved you, would they hide something this important from you?”
He stared at the phone.
Minutes passed.
Finally, he stood.
“I need to talk to her alone.”
“Yes.”
I rose from my chair.
“No matter what happens next, this decision is yours.”
He nodded.
“Thank you.”
He opened the door before stopping.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“If this turns out to be nothing, I’ll apologize to both of you.”
“And if you’re right?”
I managed a faint smile despite the weight in my chest.
“Then today will still hurt.”
He gave a slow nod and walked away.
The hallway seemed strangely quiet as I watched him disappear toward the bridal suite.
Caleb remained beside me.
“You think she’ll admit it?” he whispered.
“I honestly don’t know.”
We waited in silence. Every passing minute felt endless.
Outside, guests continued taking their seats, unaware that the ceremony had come to a standstill before it had even begun.
Ten minutes later, voices echoed faintly through the corridor. Then everything became quiet again.
The bridal suite door opened.
Adrienne stepped into the hallway alone.
His face had changed.
The excitement that had filled it earlier was gone, replaced by a sadness so deep it made him look years older.
He walked toward me without speaking. When he finally stopped, his eyes met mine.
“I asked her if there was anything she wanted to tell me before we got married.”
I held my breath.
“What did she say?”