LOGINAbby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
“Dammit,” I mutter under my breath, reaching for a fresh piece of salmon. I’m about to season it when I overhear voices filtering from the dining room. “Well, you should have seen the look on her face, trying so hard to impress everyone with her little cooking skills. As if we’ve forgotten that ou
Truthfully, I can’t be angry with Gerald. He’s worked with Karl’s adoptive family for decades, literally watched Karl grow up once he was taken in here. He’s steadfastly loyal, and clearly angry with me. But his anger is founded on mistruths. The sooner that Karl makes his official announcement, t
Abby I’m seated on a lounge chair in the back lawn, soaking in the sun and the chirping of birds as a soothing backdrop. The air smells of freshly cut grass, and I’m surrounded by the vibrant colors of the garden—reds, yellows, and blues.. It’s peaceful, almost idyllic, but my mind is elsewhere.
“Karl,” Gianna says once they’re gone, snapping me out of my reverie. “I think you should come to dinner tonight. We need to discuss a few more things.” I look up at her. There’s something off about her tone, something I can’t quite place. Maybe because of that, I wind up making a snap decision. “







