All Chapters of The night that ruined my marriage : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

I wait.Phone in hand. Staring at the screen. Willing it to ring with good news.Five minutes feel like five hours.Finally, Lucien calls."I have her. She's safe. I'm with Elias and the police. We're coming home.""Did you see Julian?""No. He was gone by the time I got here. But Sera, the school went into soft lockdown. They have protocols for this. They protected her.""Until we got there, you mean. Until we figured out he was watching.""I know. But she's safe. That's what matters.""Is it? Because he knows where she goes to school. He knows her schedule. He photographed her at recess. How is any of that safe?""We'll figure it out. I'm bringing her home. We'll talk then."They arrive twenty minutes later. Police escort. Elias's car. Ivy confused but unharmed."Why did Daddy pick me up early?" she asks. "Did something happen?""We just wanted you home," I say. "That's all.""But we had art class. I was making a volcano.""You can finish it tomorrow.""Can I? Or are you going to pi

The police station smells like coffee and stress.We’ve been here for three hours. Statements. Evidence. Paperwork. The machinery of justice grinding slowly forward.Marcus arrives with updates. “Julian’s in surgery. Stable. The bullet went through his shoulder. Clean. He’ll recover fully.”“And then?”“And then he’s arraigned. Bail hearing. But given the stalking, the threats, the weapon, the attempted assault? He’s not getting bail. He’ll be held until trial.”“How long until trial?”“Four to six months. Maybe longer. But Sera, with the video evidence, the confession, the weapon? This is open and shut. He’s going away for a long time.”“How long?”“Stalking, harassment, weapons charges, assault with a deadly weapon? Ten to fifteen years minimum. Maybe more.”Ten to fifteen years. A decade and a half of my life where Julian is locked away. Unable to hurt me. Unable to threaten anyone.It should feel like victory. It feels like exhaustion.“Can I go home now?”“Just a few more signatu

Three weeks pass in a blur of work and wedding planning and therapy.The shelter designs take shape. Rooms with locks on the inside, not the outside. Windows positioned for light and visibility. Safe spaces designed by someone who understands what safe means.Ivy picks out flower girl dresses. Debates between lavender and pink. Settles on both. "I'll wear lavender for the ceremony and pink for the party. Obviously."Obviously.Lucien and I look at venues. Small places. Gardens. Intimate spaces for fifty people max.We find a botanical garden. Glass conservatory. Plants everywhere. Light streaming through."This one," I say. "This is it.""You're sure?""Completely. It's beautiful. It's us. It's new beginnings literally surrounded by growth."We book it for three months from today. Make the deposit. Start planning our actual wedding.And through it all, there's the preliminary hearing. Scheduled for today. Tuesday. 2 PM.Marcus meets us at the courthouse. "This is just procedural. Judg

The panic attack hits during a team meeting.We're discussing the shelter project. Load-bearing walls. Fire exits. Standard architectural conversation.Then James says, "We need to ensure every window has safety glass. Shatterproof. Can't have anyone breaking in."Breaking in.Suddenly I'm back in the apartment. Glass shattering. Julian's note attached to a brick.My chest tightens. Can't breathe. Can't focus. Can't—"Seraphina?" Sophie's voice. Distant. "You okay?"I stand. Mumble something about bathroom. Flee the conference room.In the bathroom, I lock the stall. Sit on the toilet. Try to breathe.In through the nose. Out through the mouth. The technique Dr. Chen taught me.It's not working.My phone buzzes. Lucien. Like he has a sixth sense.Thinking about you. Love you.I can't respond. Can't form words. Can't stop shaking.Someone enters the bathroom. "Sera? It's Sophie. Can I come in?""I'm fine.""You're not. And that's okay. But I'm not leaving you alone in here."I unlock t

Six weeks until the wedding.Maribel drags me to the final dress fitting. Ivy insists on coming. "I need to make sure it's perfect. That's my job as flower girl."The boutique is quiet. Saturday morning. Just us and the seamstress.I step into the fitting room. The dress hangs there. Ivory silk. Simple. Beautiful. Mine.I put it on. The seamstress adjusts. Pins. Tucks. Makes tiny alterations.Then I step out. Look in the three-way mirror.I look like myself. Just elevated. Just happy.Maribel starts crying. "Oh my god. You're getting married. You're actually getting married.""Don't cry. You'll make me cry.""Too late. I'm already crying."Ivy studies me seriously. "You look like a princess. But also like you. Like a you-princess.""A you-princess. I like that.""And Daddy's going to cry when he sees you. He cries at everything now. Last week he cried during a dog food commercial."We laugh. She's not wrong. Lucien has gotten sentimental planning the wedding.The seamstress makes fina