Chapter 7 - The Wedding We Almost Lost
The ceremony began again.
Owen looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
I smiled.
But when I reached him, I turned toward Mia.
She stood in the front row.
Her eyes were red.
I held out my hand.
“Come here.”
She looked confused.
“What?”
“Come here.”
She walked toward me.
I whispered,
“Mom wanted us together.”
Mia cried.
The guests applauded.
Owen smiled.
Pastor Daniel began the ceremony.
When it came time for the vows, Owen took my hands.
“Lila, I don't promise you a perfect life.”
I smiled.
“I don't want one.”
“I promise you an honest one.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“I promise to choose you when things are easy and when they're impossible.”
He looked toward Mia.
“And I promise to love the family you came from, even when that family is complicated.”
Everyone laughed softly.
Then I spoke.
“Owen, you once asked me what kind of wedding I wanted.”
He smiled.
“You said you wanted something simple.”
“I was wrong.”
He laughed.
“I want this.”
I looked around.
“My sister.”
“My family.”
“My mother's empty chair.”
I took a breath.
“And the truth.”
The room became quiet.
“Because love isn't perfect when there are no secrets.”
“Love is perfect when we stop hiding from the truth.”
We exchanged rings.
We kissed.
And for the first time since Mom died, I felt like she was there.
Later that night, Mia approached me.
She had changed out of the white dress.
She wore a simple blue gown.
“Better?” she asked.
“Much.”
She smiled.
“I kept the white dress.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to remember how stupid I was.”
I laughed.
“That's one way to use it.”
She hugged me.
Then she whispered,
“I love you.”
I hugged her tighter.
“I love you too.”
She pulled away.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Did you really buy that dress for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I smiled.
“Because Mom told me something years ago.”
“What?”
“Sometimes the best way to stop someone from stealing your light is to give them some of your own.”
Mia cried.
That was the moment I knew we were finally free.
But there was still one thing we hadn't dealt with.
May you like
The company.
And Richard had left behind a legal battle that could threaten everything Mom had built.
