I never imagined they were planning something.
The wedding day arrived on a perfect spring afternoon.
The ceremony was stunning.
Jessica looked beautiful.
The ballroom sparkled beneath crystal chandeliers.
Nearly two hundred guests filled the room.
For the first time in years, I allowed myself to believe everything might go smoothly.
Then my father stood up.
He tapped a spoon against a champagne glass.
The room fell silent.
My mother rose beside him with a bright smile.
The smile should have warned me.
Instead, I smiled back.
“Before dinner begins,” she announced, “we have one final gift.”
Guests exchanged curious glances.
Jessica looked excited.
