Chapter 18 - The Vows We Keep
The wedding took place on a pristine, secluded beach in Hawaii.
There were no screaming matches, no passive-aggressive comments, and no demands for property.
The sound of the ocean waves provided the perfect, peaceful soundtrack.
I wore a simple, elegant silk dress that moved beautifully in the island breeze.
My legal team, my close friends, and Uncle Robert were the only guests in attendance.
When I looked out at the small crowd, I didn't see anyone who wanted to use me.
I only saw people who genuinely celebrated my happiness.
We exchanged our vows under an arch woven with bright tropical flowers.
When we kissed, the crowd erupted into genuine, joyful applause.
We spent the reception dancing barefoot in the warm, golden sand.
There were no champagne towers and no mothers cornering me for massive favors.
It was the exact opposite of Leo’s disastrous, toxic wedding reception years ago.
I thought about that night briefly, remembering the sting of the slap on my cheek.
That slap had been the absolute best thing to ever happen to me.
It had woken me up from a lifelong nightmare of servitude and guilt.
I raised my glass of champagne to the sky, silently thanking the universe for the clarity.
May you like
I was finally free, entirely untethered from the anchors that had tried to drown me.
The night ended with fireworks lighting up the massive, starry sky.
