Chapter 1: The Offer

It had been 15 years since I started my event planning business, and in that time, I had made a name for myself as the best in the city. I created flawless events, turning dreams into reality for others while quietly suppressing my own. Today, however, my world was about to turn upside down.

I was seated at my desk, finishing up some last-minute details for a corporate gala, when the door to my office opened without a knock. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Sarah, my younger sister, sauntered in like she owned the place, her smile so bright it could light up the whole room.

I didn’t expect her today. In fact, I hadn’t expected to see her at all. But there she was, with that million-dollar smile that had always gotten her everything she wanted, including my ex-fiancé, Jason.

“Hey, sis,” she said, perching herself on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs as if this were her territory. “I need your help.”

I froze for a moment, my hands stilling over my laptop keyboard. My chest tightened as I reminded myself to stay composed. It wasn’t easy to control the anger bubbling inside me whenever I saw her. My own sister. The one who had stolen everything I had once cared about.

I kept my face neutral, just like I had learned to do with difficult clients, but inside, I felt the sting of betrayal all over again.

“You want me to help you?” I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady. “With what?”

Her eyes sparkled, and I knew she was about to ask for something big. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on my desk, her fingers drumming lightly on the wood.

“I want you to plan my wedding,” she said, the words dripping from her lips like honey. “The one I’ve been dreaming about for years.”

My heart skipped a beat. Of course, it had to be this. After everything that had happened, after the heartbreak and the betrayal, she wanted me to plan the wedding between her and Jason—the man I once loved.

The irony was almost laughable, but it wasn’t funny. It made me want to scream. Instead, I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay calm.

“You want me to plan your wedding,” I said, my voice low, “to my ex-fiancé?”

“Who better?” She reached for my hand, and I fought the urge to pull away. “You’re the best event planner in the city. Everyone knows it. And,” she added, her voice faltering ever so slightly, “it would mean so much to Mom and Dad. They’re heartbroken over how things turned out.”

The guilt in her voice almost made me feel bad for her. Almost. I knew better than to fall for her manipulation. This wasn’t about healing. It was about appearances. It was about making sure everything looked perfect for the people who had always protected her—their perfect daughter. The one they’d always favored.

I stood up, creating some distance between us. The view from my office window was breathtaking, showing a panoramic view of the city skyline—everything I had worked for, everything I had built on my own. I didn’t need her or anyone else to define me. Not anymore.

“I don’t think this is appropriate,” I said, my voice firm, but cold.

Her eyes dropped to the floor for a moment, then she looked up at me again, her expression softening. “Please, Laurel. It would mean so much to me.” Her voice broke slightly, as if she was about to cry.

I didn’t buy it. I didn’t even blink. “Let me think about it,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Her face lit up immediately, and I knew she thought she had won. But there was a part of me—deep down—that was already planning my next move.

The look of surprise on her face as I finally told her I’d think about it was almost enough to satisfy me. For once, I wasn’t going to be the responsible one. For once, I was going to play dirty. And I was going to burn everything to the ground.

She stood up, smoothing her designer dress, her movements graceful but calculated. “It’s in three months at The Plaza,” she said. “I’ll be waiting for your call. Thank you, Laurel. I knew you’d do the right thing.”

I didn’t respond as she left. Instead, I sank back into my chair, my hands trembling. Three months. My original venue. My original date. They weren’t even trying to hide it.

The betrayal hurt. But it also gave me an idea. And that idea… that idea was going to be the best wedding planning job I had ever done.

End of Chapter 1

 

Chapter 2: The Game Begins

The hours that followed Sarah’s visit passed in a blur. I could feel the tightness in my chest as I went through the motions of my usual routine, but my mind kept drifting back to her request. To her casual mention of Jason. It made my skin crawl. How could she have the audacity to ask me to help her plan her wedding to him? How could she sit there, smiling, like nothing had happened?

I knew I wasn’t going to let this slide. I couldn’t. If Sarah thought she could waltz into my life and take what had been mine without consequences, she was sorely mistaken.

I reached for my phone, hitting speed dial without thinking.

“Gemma,” I said when she answered, my voice low and urgent. “I need you.”

“Yeah, I figured,” came her dry response. “What’s going on?”

“I have a situation. I need your help.”

I explained the circumstances quickly: Sarah, Jason, the wedding, and my new plan.

When I finished, Gemma was silent for a beat. I could almost hear the wheels turning in her head.

“Are you seriously considering this?” she asked, her voice heavy with disbelief. “Are you sure you want to do this to your sister?”

“I want to do more than that, Gemma. I want to destroy her wedding. I want to take everything she holds dear and burn it to the ground.”

“Whoa. Okay, slow down.” She paused, and I could practically hear her grin forming. “But if you want my help, you know I’m in. Just tell me what you need.”

“I need you to back me up. I need someone who isn’t afraid to help me level the playing field. We’re playing for keeps now.”

 

The next few days were a blur. I met with Sarah at The Plaza, pretending to be the dutiful sister, helping her choose flowers, seating arrangements, and even the color scheme. All while she continued to text Jason under the table, her eyes flickering to her phone every few seconds like she couldn’t bear to be away from him for a moment. I couldn’t stop the small thrill I got from knowing how much it bothered her that I was planning the wedding—the one she was so sure was hers—while I plotted her downfall behind the scenes.

There was something satisfying about watching her unravel. I knew the moment was coming. She was already starting to crack under the pressure, and it was only a matter of time before everything started to fall apart.

 

Two weeks into the planning, everything was going according to schedule. Sarah trusted me completely, and it made the whole thing that much easier.

It was early in the morning when my phone buzzed with an unknown number. I stepped away from Sarah, who was still glued to her phone, and answered.

“Hello?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Laurel?” The voice on the other end was deep, familiar.

“Remington,” I breathed, feeling my pulse quicken. My half-brother. I hadn’t heard from him in years—since that disastrous Christmas dinner five years ago when he had shown up uninvited, sending my father into a panic. It had been one of the many things our family pretended didn’t happen.

“Wasn’t sure you’d call me back,” Remington said. His voice was softer, but there was an edge to it. “Your message was… interesting.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d come through either,” I replied, leaning against the wall of the hotel service corridor, making sure no one was listening. “But it’s getting ugly. They’re using my original wedding date, my venue… even my color scheme. They’re not even trying to hide it.”

He let out a low whistle. “That’s cold. So what do you need from me?”

“Help,” I said, barely able to keep the tremble from my voice. “I want to make them regret every second of this. And I think you’re the perfect person to help me make it happen.”

Remington paused. I could practically hear the wheels turning in his head. “How ugly are we talking here?”

I took a deep breath. “Remember that Christmas dinner? Imagine that, but with 200 guests and a wedding cake.”

He laughed, but it wasn’t a lighthearted sound. It was dark, almost amused. “That’ll get their attention.”

“I need something more,” I said, my voice steady now, fully committed to this path. “I know every secret in this family. Every skeleton in the closet. Including the one no one talks about.”

Remington was silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. “You mean me.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “You’re not just Dad’s dirty little secret anymore. You’re my secret weapon. We’re going to make sure Sarah and Jason’s ‘perfect day’ becomes a nightmare.”

Gemma’s voice cut through my thoughts just as I was about to hang up. “Are you really going through with this?”

I turned to see her standing in the hallway, her arms crossed, a knowing look in her eyes.

“Yes, Gemma. I am.”

She let out a heavy sigh. “This is going to get messy, Laurel. You know that, right?”

“Good,” I said, with a smile that felt foreign even to me. “I’m ready for it.”

 

Later that afternoon, after a meeting with Sarah, I found myself sitting alone in my office, feeling more alive than I had in months. The phone call with Remington had been the first piece of the puzzle, but now it was time to put everything into motion.

The wedding. The revenge. The destruction.

It would be beautiful. I could already see it—the perfect plan, carefully laid out, each piece falling into place. And no one would see it coming.

 

The next day, I had a meeting with Sarah to finalize some last details. Her energy was jittery, distracted, and I could tell she was texting Jason under the table. She didn’t even notice when I casually dropped a suggestion for the seating arrangements.

“So, I was thinking of seating Mom next to that stripper from Dad’s bachelor party,” I said, my voice casual, but with a touch of venom. “You know, just for the drama.”

Sarah glanced up at me, her face pinched with confusion. “What?”

I smiled sweetly, knowing full well that she hadn’t been paying attention to a word I said. “Just making sure you’re listening.”

The next few days were a whirlwind of meetings and phone calls, each one leading me closer to the moment where everything would change. And with every passing day, I could feel Sarah’s grip on the situation slipping.

She didn’t know it yet, but the perfect wedding she thought she was going to have? It was going to be the perfect disaster.

End of Chapter 2

 

Chapter 3: Unraveling Threads

Three weeks had passed since I’d made the decision to sabotage Sarah’s wedding. Each day felt like a ticking clock, a countdown to the grand moment of chaos I was about to orchestrate. My plan was moving ahead, the pieces falling into place, but I could already sense something in Sarah’s demeanor beginning to shift. Her confidence was starting to crack.

It was during one of our routine meetings that the first sign appeared.

Sarah, normally the picture of effortless grace, walked into my office, her eyes red-rimmed, her usual smile nowhere to be seen. I didn’t say anything at first. Instead, I kept my focus on the papers in front of me, pretending to be deeply engrossed in seating arrangements.

“Hey,” she said weakly, collapsing into the chair across from me.

“Hey,” I replied, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.

We hadn’t really spoken since I agreed to help with the wedding plans. She had been too busy with Jason, and I had been busy with my plan to make sure her ‘perfect’ day became a total disaster.

Her eyes flickered to her phone again, then back to me, guilt flashing in her gaze before she quickly masked it with a forced smile.

“I’ve been… thinking about things,” she started, and I could hear the hesitation in her voice.

I raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything, waiting for her to continue.

“Jason’s been acting strange,” she said finally, her voice shaky. “Like, he’s distant, and… I don’t know. He’s been avoiding me. I feel like something’s wrong.” She paused, searching my face for any sign of sympathy.

Inside, I was screaming with satisfaction. This was exactly what I wanted—her unraveling. But I kept my face impassive.

“Maybe he’s just nervous about the wedding,” I offered flatly, trying to sound detached.

She let out a sigh, shaking her head. “No, it’s more than that. He’s been… distant with me, Laurel. He’s been looking at you too much.”

I stopped, my breath catching in my throat. I had been careful, so careful to keep things under control. But Jason’s obsession with me had been a problem from the very beginning.

I didn’t know how to respond. I could feel my pulse quickening, a mixture of anger and guilt swirling inside me. Jason had made his choice. I had walked away. He didn’t get to come back into my life, not now, not when it was too late. And certainly not when he was with my sister.

Sarah’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward. “Did you talk to him about this? About what’s going on?” she asked, almost accusingly.

I felt the air grow thick with tension. “No,” I said flatly. “I haven’t talked to him. I have nothing to talk to him about.”

Sarah leaned back in her chair, biting her lip nervously. “I know this wedding is complicated. But I just… I need to know what’s going on. I can’t… I can’t handle this uncertainty.”

I stood up slowly, moving to the window as I stared out at the city skyline. Everything I had built, everything I had worked for was out there. The business I had fought for, the independence, the freedom from a life that was no longer mine. And now my sister, with her perfect smile and charm, was trying to tear it all down.

“I think you need to talk to Jason,” I said softly, turning back to face her. “Because I’m not the one he’s been distant with. He’s been distant with you, Sarah.”

Her face fell at my words, and I could see the realization hit her. It wasn’t the validation she had hoped for. And for a moment, I saw the mask slip. For the first time, I saw her vulnerability.

 

Later that night, I sat in my apartment, sipping on a glass of wine, trying to settle my racing thoughts. Gemma had already warned me that this wouldn’t go the way I expected. And I knew she was right. There was something about revenge that wasn’t as satisfying as I had imagined it would be. Maybe it was the guilt, maybe it was the ache in my chest when I thought about Jason, but it didn’t feel like I was winning.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table, and I looked down to see an unknown number flashing on the screen.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever came next.

“Hello?”

“Laurel.” His voice was deep, steady—Jason. I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath.

“Jason,” I said, trying to keep the coolness in my tone. “What do you want?”

There was a long pause, and then he spoke again, his voice more hesitant this time.

“I need to talk to you,” he said quietly. “Can we meet? I can’t do this anymore. I need to tell you the truth.”

The truth. The word hung in the air between us. It was so simple, yet so loaded with meaning. What truth? The truth about why he’d abandoned me? The truth about why he was marrying my sister?

“You had your chance to tell me the truth, Jason,” I said, my voice tight with restraint. “And you chose Sarah. You chose her over me.”

“I never stopped loving you, Laurel,” he said urgently, his voice cracking with emotion. “I made a mistake, a huge mistake. I know that. But this wedding… it’s not right. It was never right.”

I stood up from the couch, walking across the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I demanded, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Why now, Jason? You had me, and you let me go. You don’t get to come back after everything.”

He was silent for a moment, and then I heard him speak again, his voice softer. “I’m sorry, Laurel. I’m sorry for everything. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I wasn’t. I should’ve never let you go. But now… I know I can’t marry her. Not after everything that’s happened between us.”

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away. “You don’t get to decide that anymore,” I said, the words sharp. “You made your choice.”

The silence between us felt like an eternity. I was done. There was nothing left to say. He had betrayed me in the worst possible way, and now, he thought he could waltz back into my life and fix everything?

“You made your bed, Jason,” I said, my voice firm. “Now lie in it.”

I ended the call, throwing my phone onto the couch, and sank down beside it. My mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions. But I wasn’t going to fall for this. Not again.

The wedding was still two months away, and I had plenty of time left to make sure Sarah’s ‘perfect day’ would be anything but.

End of Chapter 3

 

Chapter 4: Fractures

The next few days felt like a whirlwind. I couldn’t escape the tension that had settled in my chest since Jason’s phone call. Every time I thought I might have the upper hand, every time I imagined Sarah’s perfect wedding unraveling in front of her, my mind kept circling back to him—Jason. The man who had once been mine, who had promised me a future, only to betray me with my own sister.

But no matter how much I hated him for what he had done, no matter how much it hurt, I couldn’t afford to lose focus. The plan was in motion, and I couldn’t let anything, not even my emotions, get in the way.

Sarah’s crackling confidence had grown more noticeable, as if the walls around her were starting to crack. She showed up to the office late one afternoon, pacing around, her hands wringing together as though she were trying to keep some semblance of control.

I was in the middle of a meeting with a vendor when she barged in. Her face was pale, eyes wide with that familiar glimmer of panic I’d seen in her before.

“Can we talk?” she asked, barely meeting my gaze as she stood at the door.

I glanced at the vendor, excusing myself for a moment. I wasn’t in the mood to entertain Sarah’s sudden emotional breakdowns, but this was part of the plan. I needed to watch her unravel completely.

I walked to the side of my office, away from the vendor, trying to keep my voice steady. “What is it?”

Her eyes flickered, and she folded her arms, taking in a deep breath as if steadying herself before diving into something difficult.

“It’s Jason,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s… he’s been distant. Not just with me. With everything.”

I had expected it, of course. This was part of the unraveling process, and I could see how every doubt she had been pushing to the back of her mind was now taking root.

“What exactly is going on, Sarah?” I asked, my voice cold.

“I don’t know.” She looked at me, her face crumpling in frustration. “I don’t know if I can go through with this anymore, Laurel. I don’t think I can marry him.”

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and I struggled to keep my face neutral. This was everything I wanted. Her realization, her internal conflict, was what would slowly chip away at the perfect façade she had been so proud of.

“Sarah…” I said slowly, keeping my tone gentle. “You don’t need to make any rash decisions. This wedding has been months in the making. It’s your dream.”

Her eyes flickered. “But it wasn’t my dream, was it? It was always your dream. You planned everything—down to the last detail. And now…” She paused, tears filling her eyes. “And now I don’t even know if Jason wants to marry me.”

I stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder, pretending to offer comfort, but really, I was just enjoying the moment. Her doubts were festering, and I couldn’t help but feel a small, bitter sense of satisfaction at the thought that she was finally feeling the weight of the mess she had created.

“I’m sure everything will be fine,” I said softly, offering her a tight smile. “But you need to talk to Jason. This isn’t something you should carry alone.”

Her shoulders slumped as she nodded, not really looking at me anymore. “I will. I have to. I just…” She broke off, shaking her head.

“I’ll help,” I said quickly. “You’re my sister, Sarah. I’m here for you.”

It took every ounce of self-control not to laugh in her face. I had already made my decision. This wedding was going down, and she wasn’t going to see it coming.

 

The next evening, after the latest round of wedding planning, I found myself sitting in my favorite bar, quietly sipping on my third gin and tonic. I needed to think. I needed to ground myself before everything got even more out of control. I glanced down at my phone—one message from Gemma, the usual cryptic text.

Gemma: “How’s the plan going? Have you started taking them down yet?”

I sighed and replied back. “Almost there. Sarah’s cracking. Jason’s lost. Everything’s falling into place.”

Gemma’s reply came almost immediately. “Keep it together. I know this is personal, but you have a plan. Stick to it.”

I put my phone down, taking another sip of my drink. That’s when I noticed him. Jason. He walked in, glancing around the bar, his face caught somewhere between guilt and determination. My pulse quickened.

He spotted me almost immediately, his eyes locking onto mine. I had no intention of talking to him, but before I could turn away, he was already walking toward me. He hesitated for a moment, then slid into the chair opposite me.

“Can we talk?” he asked, his voice low. His presence alone seemed to consume the space between us.

“No,” I said firmly, my tone cutting through the air. I wasn’t going to give him a chance to make excuses, not anymore.

He winced, looking at me with a mixture of regret and longing. “Please. I need to say this.”

I leaned back in my chair, my fingers wrapped tightly around my glass. “You’ve said enough already, Jason. You made your choice.”

He shook his head, desperation creeping into his voice. “No, Laurel, you don’t understand. I never stopped loving you. I was confused. I let Sarah in because I thought I was doing the right thing. But I know now—this marriage with her—it’s a mistake. It’s all wrong.”

I couldn’t believe he was doing this. Right here, in front of me, after everything that had happened, he was still trying to convince me that he hadn’t made a huge mistake.

“You didn’t choose me when it mattered,” I said, my voice steady. “You don’t get to choose me now.”

His face fell as I stood up. I wasn’t going to let him break me again. He had hurt me enough.

“Goodbye, Jason,” I said softly, walking away before he could say anything more.

 

I took a deep breath as I left the bar, the cool night air brushing my face, grounding me. This was what I had wanted. This was what I had been planning for months. The game was almost over, and I was finally starting to feel the weight of my victory.

But the truth? The truth was, I didn’t feel as good as I thought I would.

End of Chapter 4

 

Chapter 5: The Calm Before the Storm

The next week passed in a haze of wedding preparations, though the tension in the air was palpable. I had watched Sarah’s cracks deepen every time she came to my office, each meeting a reminder of how much I was destroying her world piece by piece. It was strangely satisfying, but also exhausting. I’d become someone I didn’t recognize—someone who was more focused on revenge than on rebuilding my own life.

But I knew I couldn’t stop. Not yet.

Sarah had become more withdrawn, her usual brightness now tempered by uncertainty. I could see her questioning herself, questioning Jason, questioning everything. And as much as I tried to maintain a professional façade, even I could feel my own resolve starting to weaken. But there was no turning back now. Not when everything was so close to falling apart.

It was early one morning, two weeks before the wedding, when everything began to shift. I was at my office, reviewing the seating chart for the hundredth time when my phone buzzed. It was an unknown number, and for a moment, I considered letting it go to voicemail. But then I saw the name that popped up beneath the number.

Jason.

I took a deep breath before answering, trying to brace myself for whatever he was about to say.

“Hello?” I asked, my voice tight.

“Hey,” Jason’s voice was quieter than I expected, and there was a hesitation in his tone, as if he wasn’t sure how to approach me. “I need to talk. Can we meet?”

I almost laughed at the audacity of him asking to meet me again. After everything that had happened, after everything he had done, he was still asking to meet? He was still trying to fix something that had been broken beyond repair?

“I’m not sure there’s anything left to talk about,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, even though inside, I was seething.

“Please,” he continued, his voice soft, pleading. “I just… I can’t go through with this wedding. Not without explaining everything to you. I owe you that much.”

The words stung like a slap. He can’t go through with it. He couldn’t marry Sarah—my sister—because of me. The truth of that hit me like a punch to the gut.

“You made your choice, Jason,” I said, finally giving in, the words escaping me in a rush. “You chose her over me, and that was your decision. Not mine.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and when he spoke again, his voice was raw.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen this way. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” he said, his words almost drowned in regret. “But Laurel, please. I need you to hear me out.”

I stood up from my desk, pacing in frustration. I felt like I was suffocating, like I was trapped in a world I couldn’t escape.

“You think this is about you?” I said, my voice rising. “You think that you can just waltz back into my life and fix everything because now you feel bad? You don’t get to do that, Jason. You don’t get to fix this after what you did.”

I slammed my hand down on my desk, and I heard him flinch on the other end of the line. The anger was thick in my chest now, clouding every rational thought.

“I’m sorry,” Jason whispered, his voice barely audible. “I was selfish. I didn’t realize what I was doing until it was too late.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Well, now you know. And you’ve hurt both of us in the process.”

I ended the call without another word. My hands shook as I hung up, the weight of the decision I had made crashing down on me. I thought I was stronger than this. I thought I could handle it all—revenge, betrayal, the aftermath. But in that moment, I realized something I hadn’t fully acknowledged before.

I was just as broken as they were.

 

The days that followed were filled with tension. I went through the motions of planning the wedding, pretending to be the dutiful sister, the professional event planner, the calm and composed woman who had it all under control. But inside, I was unraveling. Every meeting, every call with Sarah, every smile she flashed at me—each one was a reminder of the betrayal.

And it wasn’t just about the wedding anymore. It was about Jason. It was about my family, about my sister, about everything that had been destroyed.

Gemma had noticed. She saw the cracks forming, the strain that I was trying so hard to hide.

“You need to take a step back,” she said one evening, as we sat in her office, sipping wine. “You’re letting this consume you, Laurel.”

I shook my head, the tension in my shoulders too much to ignore. “I don’t have a choice, Gemma. Sarah asked me to plan her wedding. She thinks everything’s fine, that it’s all going according to plan, but it’s not. And it’s never going to be. This wedding is a disaster, and I’m going to make sure it is.”

“Okay, but at what cost?” she asked, leaning forward, her gaze sharp. “Is this really about her wedding, or is it about you getting back at her for what she did?”

Her words hit me like a slap, and I froze.

I hadn’t realized it until she said it, but I had been so focused on destroying Sarah’s happiness that I hadn’t stopped to think about what it was doing to me. I wasn’t just hurting her; I was hurting myself.

Gemma’s voice softened as she placed a hand on mine. “I know this is hard, Laurel. But you have to ask yourself if this revenge is worth losing who you are in the process.”

I stared at her, my mind racing. She was right. Every step I took in this plan was a step further away from who I used to be—the strong, independent woman who had built a career from nothing, who had made herself proud of what she had accomplished.

“I don’t know anymore,” I whispered, the weight of it all settling in. “I thought this would feel better. I thought revenge would make everything right. But it doesn’t.”

 

Later that evening, I received another text. It was from Sarah.

“I need to talk to you. Jason just left me.”

My heart sank, and for the first time in days, I felt a pang of guilt. What had I done? Had I pushed them too far? Was this my fault?

But there was a part of me—deep down—that knew the truth: this was never about Jason. It was about the damage Sarah had caused, and the damage I had caused myself by letting my anger control me.

It was time to face the consequences. Time to finally put an end to the mess I had made.

End of Chapter 5

 

Chapter 6: The Reckoning

I woke up the next morning with an ache in my chest. The decision I had made the day before felt heavier now, like a weight pressing down on my shoulders. Sarah’s text had hit me harder than I wanted to admit. “Jason just left me.”

For the first time in weeks, I felt like I had no control over the situation. The reality of what I had done was settling in, and I couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling that I might have gone too far.

I spent most of the day in my office, trying to push the guilt aside and focus on the wedding details. But it wasn’t the wedding I was planning anymore. It was something much more complicated, something I hadn’t anticipated. I was planning the destruction of my family—and perhaps, the destruction of myself in the process.

Around midday, my phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. I almost didn’t answer, thinking it was just another one of the many vendors calling to confirm details about the wedding. But something in me told me to pick up.

“Hello?” I said, my voice weary.

“Is this Laurel?” The voice on the other end was shaky, familiar, and yet I hadn’t heard it in months.

It was Jason.

I felt my heart stop for a moment. What now? Hadn’t I told him everything I needed to already? But still, I found myself clenching my fists, as if ready for whatever storm he was about to bring.

“Jason,” I said, a bit colder than I intended. “What do you want?”

“I need to see you. Please. It’s important.”

I bit my lip, fighting the urge to hang up. I could feel my frustration bubbling up again. He had chosen Sarah, and now he was here asking for my forgiveness? Asking for me to fix everything?

“Jason, I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about,” I said, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice. “You made your choice. You’re with her now. You don’t get to come back into my life after everything.”

“I know,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “And I can’t undo what I’ve done. I just… I don’t know how to make this right. But I can’t marry her. Not when I know how I feel about you.”

My chest tightened. I should have felt relief, satisfaction. After all, this was the moment I had been waiting for. But all I could feel was a deep, unsettling sadness. Had I really wanted to destroy everything between us?

“Jason, I can’t fix this,” I whispered, the words barely audible. “Not anymore. Not when you chose her over me.”

“I was wrong,” he said urgently, his voice breaking. “I know I hurt you. I hurt both of you. And I can’t go through with this wedding. I can’t marry her knowing that I still love you. I never stopped loving you.”

His confession hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating everything around me. This wasn’t what I wanted. I had been so consumed with revenge, with making Sarah feel the pain I had felt, that I hadn’t stopped to think about what it would mean if Jason came back into my life.

“I’ve already moved on,” I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound composed. “I’m not going back, Jason.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. I could hear him breathing heavily, as if he was trying to collect himself.

“Please,” he begged again, quieter this time. “I’m sorry. I made a huge mistake. But I need to tell you something. Something important.”

I frowned, feeling my pulse quicken. “What is it?”

“I’m not going through with the wedding,” Jason said, almost too quickly. “I’ve called it off. I’m done with this… this mess. I know it’s too late, but I wanted to tell you the truth.”

I let out a shaky breath, unsure of how to respond. A part of me wanted to run to him, to pretend like everything was normal, like we could somehow rewind the clock and go back to the way things were. But another part of me knew that I couldn’t. What had happened was irreversible.

“I’m glad you made the right choice,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s too late for me. I’ve already moved on. I have a life, and it doesn’t involve you anymore.”

I hung up the phone before he could say anything more. My heart was hammering in my chest, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the relief or the pain.

I sank back into my chair, staring out of the window. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city, but it didn’t feel like a victory. Nothing felt like a victory anymore.

 

That evening, I received another text from Sarah.

“I need to see you. Can we talk?”

I hadn’t expected this. I knew she was fragile right now, but to come to me like this, after everything that had happened? It was too much.

But there was a part of me that knew I couldn’t avoid it. She was my sister, and whatever I had planned, whatever I had done, it didn’t change that.

I agreed to meet her at the café we used to visit together before everything fell apart.

When I arrived, Sarah was already sitting at a corner table, her hands nervously twisting together. She looked… broken. Her perfect facade had crumbled, and for the first time, I saw the vulnerability she had been hiding for so long.

“Hey,” I said, sitting down across from her, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible.

“Hey,” she whispered, her voice shaky. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” she said, her voice cracking. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Laurel. Jason just… he left me. He called off the wedding.”

I felt a pang of guilt. It wasn’t the victory I had hoped for, and suddenly, the revenge felt hollow.

“I’m sorry, Sarah,” I said softly, not sure if I meant it. “I never wanted it to end like this.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with pain. “But you did, didn’t you?” she whispered. “You wanted this. You wanted to ruin everything for me.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. She wasn’t wrong, but at the same time, I didn’t feel like I had any other choice.

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” I said finally, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “But I couldn’t stand what you did. I couldn’t stand how easily you took everything from me.”

She nodded slowly, tears streaming down her face. “I was wrong, Laurel. I know that now. I was so caught up in trying to take what you had, I didn’t realize what it would cost me. What it would cost us.”

I reached across the table and took her hand, for the first time in months. “I don’t know how to fix this, but I’m here. I’m your sister. I always will be.”

For the first time, I saw a flicker of the girl I had grown up with. The girl I once loved unconditionally. The girl I had lost along the way.

And maybe, just maybe, this was where the healing could begin.

End of Chapter 6

Chapter 7: Rebuilding

The days after my meeting with Sarah felt like a strange kind of limbo. There was no immediate closure, no neat ending. My heart still ached from everything that had transpired, but something had shifted. I had finally said what needed to be said, to both Jason and Sarah. The facade of perfection was gone, and in its place, raw honesty had taken root.

But even with the truth out in the open, I couldn’t shake the sense of unresolved tension. Jason had walked out of Sarah’s life, but he still lingered in mine. I knew what he had done couldn’t be undone, but a part of me kept wondering whether there was still any space for forgiveness. And if I did forgive him, what would that mean? What would I be left with?

I had been running on adrenaline for so long that I hadn’t really stopped to think about how much of myself I had lost along the way.

The wedding was still two weeks away, and Sarah’s breakdown had left her scattered. The woman who had walked into my office, demanding my help with her “perfect wedding,” was now a shadow of the girl I once knew. But it wasn’t just her world that was falling apart—it was mine too.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror that night, taking in the face of a woman who had been through so much, yet still didn’t feel whole. The weight of my choices hung heavy in the air, suffocating me with the thought of all the damage I had caused.

But I had a decision to make now. I could keep pushing forward with my plan, finishing what I started, destroying everything in my path, or I could try something else. Maybe I didn’t have to keep burning everything down to make things right.

 

The next morning, I received an unexpected message.

Gemma: “I think you need to talk to Remington. It’s been a while since you two caught up.”

I stared at the message for a moment, unsure how to respond. Remington had become a strange sort of ally in all of this. We had talked briefly after the call with Jason, and he had offered his support, but I hadn’t followed up with him. There was a part of me that didn’t want to.

But Gemma’s words lingered in my mind. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to confront the pieces of the past that I had avoided for so long. Remington had been a part of this family for years, but I had never truly acknowledged him. It was time to face that.

I dialed his number, taking a deep breath as it rang.

“Hello?”

“Remington,” I said, my voice steady, though my hands were shaking. “It’s Laurel.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before he spoke. “Laurel. It’s been a while.” His voice was warm, familiar. Despite everything, it felt like a lifeline.

“I know,” I replied, running a hand through my hair. “Listen, I think we need to talk. There’s a lot of… unfinished business between us.”

He was quiet for a moment, and then I heard him take a deep breath. “I agree. I’m actually in town. How about we meet up tomorrow?”

I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, just from hearing him suggest it. Maybe this was the step I needed to start putting things back together.

“Tomorrow sounds good,” I said, already feeling the tension ease from my chest. “Let’s meet at the café on 5th. Around noon?”

“I’ll be there,” he replied, his voice light, but there was something else underneath—something that felt like hope.

 

The next day, I arrived at the café early, sitting at a small table near the window. My mind kept racing, but as soon as I saw Remington walk through the door, I felt the weight of the past few weeks begin to fade away. He was dressed casually, his expression easygoing, but his eyes were sharp, like he was paying attention to every detail around him.

I stood up as he approached, and he pulled me into a hug—one that felt familiar, comforting, yet filled with unspoken words.

“How are you doing?” he asked, sitting down across from me.

“I’ve been better,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve been making a lot of choices lately that I’m not sure I’m proud of.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for me to elaborate. I took a deep breath and dove in.

“I’ve been so focused on revenge, on making Sarah and Jason feel the same pain I did, that I didn’t stop to think about what it was doing to me. Or to anyone else,” I said, my voice quieter now. “I thought if I destroyed everything they built, I’d feel better. But I don’t. I just feel empty.”

Remington’s expression softened. “You can’t keep living for other people’s mistakes, Laurel. You can’t keep punishing yourself—or them—forever. That’s not how you move forward.”

I stared down at my coffee cup, feeling the truth in his words sink in. How many times had I tried to make things right by tearing everything apart? How many times had I thought that revenge would somehow fill the hole in my chest?

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” I said, my voice cracking slightly. “Everything’s a mess. And I’ve lost pieces of myself along the way.”

Remington leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. “You haven’t lost yourself, Laurel. You’re still here. You just need to remember who you are. And I think it’s time for you to start letting go of this plan. Whatever it was you wanted to do with Sarah’s wedding… you don’t need it anymore.”

For the first time in weeks, I felt a glimmer of hope.

“I think you’re right,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I don’t need to destroy everything to make myself feel better.”

Remington smiled, a small, reassuring smile that made something inside me shift. “Good. Now, let’s figure out what’s next. You deserve more than this fight. You deserve peace.”

 

The days that followed were filled with difficult decisions. I had already caused enough damage. It was time to start repairing the pieces I could still hold onto—starting with Sarah.

I sent her a text later that afternoon, telling her we needed to meet.

When we sat across from each other again, the air felt different. There was no tension, no anger, just the space for a conversation that we should have had a long time ago.

“I’m sorry,” I began, my voice steady but full of sincerity. “I’ve been horrible to you. I let my anger get the best of me, and I made choices that I can’t undo. But I want to fix things. I want us to be sisters again.”

She looked at me, her eyes still red from the tears she had shed, but there was a glimmer of hope in them. “I’m sorry too. I never meant for any of this to happen. I just wanted to be the one who got what you had. And in doing that, I lost everything.”

I reached across the table, taking her hand. “We’ve both been broken, Sarah. But maybe this is where we start putting ourselves back together.”

She squeezed my hand, nodding. “I hope so.”

End of Chapter 7

 

Chapter 8: Rebuilding Bridges

The days following my conversation with Sarah felt like I was walking through fog. It wasn’t just about fixing what had been broken between us—it was about fixing what had been broken within me. I had spent so much of my life building walls, protecting myself from the hurt, and yet, all I had managed to do was isolate myself from the people who truly cared.

It had been a week since I had decided to stop the wedding sabotage. I couldn’t deny the satisfaction I had felt when Sarah began to unravel, but that satisfaction was now replaced with an overwhelming sense of guilt. I had hurt my sister, my family, and worst of all, I had hurt myself.

The hardest part, though, was realizing that my plan wasn’t just a means of getting back at Sarah—it was a reflection of how little I had valued myself. I had allowed myself to be consumed by the idea of revenge, thinking it would somehow fill the empty space inside of me. But it hadn’t.

I spent the next few days working, keeping myself busy with smaller projects that didn’t require much thought. I needed to distract myself, to avoid the feelings that were still bubbling under the surface. The wedding was looming on the horizon, but now it wasn’t about the event itself—it was about everything else that had happened in the past few months.

 

It was a quiet Wednesday when my phone buzzed. I picked it up to see a message from Remington.

Remington: “You’re making the right choice. But there’s still more to figure out. Don’t be afraid to face the past, Laurel. You’re stronger than you think.”

I stared at the message for a long moment. Remington’s words weren’t just about Sarah or Jason—they were about me. He had been a part of my life when I wasn’t ready to face the truth. He had been my brother, the one I had shut out because he was inconvenient to the image I wanted to protect.

But the truth was, it wasn’t just Sarah who had taken something from me—it was me who had pushed people away. I had isolated myself from the people who cared, and in doing so, I had lost myself along the way.

 

The weekend came quickly, and I found myself standing in front of the Plaza, the venue that had once symbolized my dream wedding, now looming over me like a reminder of everything I had lost. I had planned this event to the finest detail—just like I had planned my revenge on Sarah.

But now I was standing there, unsure of what to do next. The perfect wedding was no longer mine to plan, no longer mine to control.

I looked around the Plaza’s grand entrance, feeling the weight of everything that had happened. The last few weeks had been a rollercoaster of emotions—grief, anger, guilt, and a strange sense of relief. But the one thing I hadn’t been able to shake was the question: what now?

I walked through the ornate doors, my heels clicking against the marble floor, each step louder than the last. Inside, the venue was stunning. It always had been—graceful and elegant, just like the wedding I had once imagined for myself. But as I stood there, all I could think about was how much had changed.

The moment I stepped into the ballroom, I heard the familiar voice of Sarah calling my name from across the room.

“Laurel!”

I turned, and there she was, looking almost… fragile. Her face was softer than usual, her features more vulnerable than I had ever seen them.

“Can we talk?” she asked, her voice tentative.

I nodded, motioning for her to follow me to a quieter corner.

“Sarah, I’m sorry,” I said as soon as we sat down. “I’ve been so consumed with anger and revenge that I lost sight of what really mattered. I hurt you, and for that, I am sorry.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t interrupt. She just watched me, waiting for me to continue.

“I let everything get in the way of our relationship,” I went on. “I thought destroying your wedding would somehow make me feel better, but all it did was break me even more.”

She sat silently for a moment before speaking, her voice quiet but firm. “You don’t have to apologize, Laurel. You were hurt. And I understand that. But I need you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I was just… selfish. I didn’t think about how my actions would affect you.”

I nodded, feeling a small weight lift from my chest. For the first time in months, the tension between us seemed to melt away. The silence between us felt less heavy.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about everything that’s happened,” Sarah continued, her voice soft. “And I don’t want to lose you, Laurel. I don’t want to lose my sister.”

“I don’t want to lose you either,” I said, my voice quiet. “But I think we both need to heal from everything we’ve been through. It’s not going to happen overnight, but maybe… maybe we can start fresh.”

She smiled, a small but genuine smile that reached her eyes. “I’d like that.”

 

The next few days were a blur of activity as the wedding approached. Sarah and I had agreed to move forward with the ceremony—no sabotage, no games. We both knew that our relationship was still fragile, but we were willing to try.

I spent most of my time finalizing the details for the wedding, but this time, it felt different. I wasn’t doing it out of spite or bitterness. I was doing it because it was Sarah’s day, and for once, I wanted to make sure she had the wedding she dreamed of—without the shadow of my anger hanging over it.

When the big day finally arrived, I stood at the back of the ballroom, watching Sarah walk down the aisle with Jason. There was no anger, no resentment in my heart. Just a quiet understanding that this was the next chapter for both of us.

As the ceremony continued, I allowed myself to reflect on how far I had come. It wasn’t just about the wedding or the revenge—it was about letting go. Letting go of the anger, the bitterness, and the need to control everything.

I had been so focused on what I had lost that I had never truly appreciated what I had.

But today, I was finally starting to see things clearly. I wasn’t the same person I had been when I first walked into this room. I was stronger now, because I had faced the truth. I had allowed myself to forgive, and for the first time in a long time, I felt at peace.

As Sarah and Jason exchanged vows, I smiled to myself. This wasn’t the ending I had planned, but maybe it was the one I needed all along.

End of Chapter 8

Chapter 9: Reconciliation

The wedding was over. The guests had long since left, the venue had been cleared out, and I found myself standing in the quiet aftermath, surrounded by the remnants of a day that had once seemed like the end of my world.

But now, standing in the empty ballroom with only the faint echoes of laughter and music in the air, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm wash over me. The weight of the last few months—of the revenge, the anger, the betrayal—seemed to dissipate in the cool silence. I had helped plan the wedding. I had helped Sarah achieve her dream. And it felt… like I could finally breathe again.

I looked down at my phone, seeing a new message from Gemma.

Gemma: “Well, that went smoother than I expected. How are you holding up?”

I smiled to myself, replying quickly.

Laurel: “Surprisingly well. It’s done, and I think I’m finally at peace with it all.”

The response came back almost instantly.

Gemma: “I’m proud of you. Now, don’t forget to take care of yourself. This wasn’t just about them, you know. You’ve been through a lot too.”

I sat down in one of the empty chairs, my thoughts swirling. Gemma was right. I had been so caught up in what Sarah and Jason had done to me that I had forgotten to focus on myself. I had spent years building walls around my heart, pretending that I didn’t need anyone, that I didn’t care about the love I had lost. But the truth was, I had been lying to myself.

I needed to heal—not just my relationship with Sarah, but my relationship with myself.

 

The next few days were quieter. The wedding had been a success, but now, the only thing left to do was to let go of the bitterness. Sarah and I had talked after the ceremony, a real conversation this time. We had shared our apologies and acknowledged the pain we had caused each other. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And that was enough for now.

Jason had left for a business trip shortly after the wedding, and I hadn’t heard from him since. Part of me wanted to reach out, to offer some sort of closure, but another part of me knew that the time for that had passed. There was nothing left for us to say. He had made his choice, and I had moved on.

It was time to focus on the future.

 

I was sitting at my desk a few days later when I received a message. I almost didn’t check it, assuming it was just another vendor or a business matter. But when I saw the name on the screen, I froze.

It was Remington.

Remington: “I’m heading back to town soon. Can we meet up? There’s something I need to tell you.”

I stared at the screen for a long moment. Remington had always been a mystery to me, but lately, I found myself wanting to understand him better. Maybe it was time to stop pretending that the past didn’t matter. Maybe it was time to face the truth about everything—and about him.

I typed out a quick response.

Laurel: “Sure. How about tomorrow at noon?”

The reply came swiftly.

Remington: “Perfect. I’ll be there.”

 

The next day, I found myself waiting in the same café where I had met Sarah a few weeks ago. It was quiet, but there was a familiar buzz of activity in the air. I had decided to make this meeting count. There was no more pretending that I didn’t care about what had happened to Remington. He was my brother—my half-brother, yes, but still family.

When he walked in, he looked almost the same as he always did—his leather jacket, the slight grin that was always just a little too knowing. He was still the person who had been forgotten by most of the family, the one who had been hidden in the shadows, but there was something different about him now. Something more grounded, more present.

I stood up as he approached, and for the first time in years, I hugged him—not because I had to, but because I wanted to.

“I’m glad you came,” I said as we pulled away.

“Me too,” he replied, his voice softer than usual. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while now. I know things have been… complicated.”

I nodded, gesturing for him to sit. “Let’s talk, then.”

Remington took a seat across from me, his eyes thoughtful. “You’ve been through a lot lately. I know you’re trying to make things right with Sarah, and I know it’s been hard for you. But I want to remind you of something.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s that?”

He leaned forward slightly. “You’re not just the event planner. You’re not just the sister or the person everyone expects to have it all together. You’re allowed to be angry, Laurel. You’re allowed to grieve what you lost—and not just the people who hurt you. You’ve lost yourself along the way.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. I hadn’t thought about it like that. I had spent so much time trying to make everyone else happy, trying to fix everything, that I hadn’t stopped to think about what I needed. What I wanted.

“I don’t know who I am anymore,” I said quietly, my voice shaky. “I spent so long pretending to be okay that I forgot how to feel anything real.”

Remington gave me a sympathetic smile, one that made me feel seen in a way that no one else had. “I get it. Believe me, I do. But you have to let yourself feel. Only then can you start moving forward.”

I sat in silence for a while, letting his words sink in. I had been running from the truth for so long. Running from the hurt, from the anger, from the guilt. But maybe it was time to face it. To stop hiding behind the walls I had built.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly, looking at him. “I should have been there for you. I should have been more of a sister to you.”

Remington reached across the table, placing his hand on mine. “You were there in your own way, Laurel. But now, maybe we can start fresh. Together.”

 

As I left the café that afternoon, I felt a weight lifting from my shoulders. There were still so many things left unresolved in my life, but for the first time in months, I felt like I had the strength to face them. My relationship with Sarah was still fragile, but I was hopeful. And Remington—my brother—wasn’t a secret anymore. He was part of my life, and that meant something.

I wasn’t sure where this journey would take me, but I was done running. It was time to start living for myself.

End of Chapter 9

 

Chapter 10: A New Beginning

It was a few days after meeting with Remington that I began to truly feel the shift inside me. I had taken the first step toward healing by letting go of my obsession with the past and focusing on the future. But the real test was going to be putting those feelings into action. I couldn’t let the patterns of my past control me any longer.

I had spent so much time holding onto anger—toward Sarah, toward Jason, toward myself—that I had forgotten what it meant to just be. To breathe without carrying the weight of the past. But now, with Sarah, Jason, and Remington each in their own way a part of this healing process, I felt like I was moving forward, even if just a little at a time.

 

The phone buzzed on my desk early one morning, pulling me from my thoughts. It was from Gemma.

Gemma: “You good? You’ve been quiet the last couple of days.”

I paused for a moment before responding, not sure how to put everything into words. How could I explain how the last few days had felt like the beginning of something new? I hadn’t felt this kind of clarity in ages.

Laurel: “I think I’m finally getting there. Slowly, but I’m getting there.”

Gemma: “I like that. I’m proud of you. Don’t forget to take time for yourself. You’ve earned it.”

I smiled at the message, feeling a sense of gratitude toward Gemma. She had been there for me through every stage of this journey, even when I didn’t know I needed support.

I had learned to depend on myself, but that didn’t mean I had to do everything alone.

 

It was a few days after this exchange with Gemma when I finally found the courage to visit the family home again. It had been months since I’d stepped foot in the place, and honestly, I had been avoiding it. The memories of the family dinners, the holidays, the arguments—all of it felt too much. But I knew that I had to face it. Not just for the sake of my relationship with Sarah, but for my own peace of mind.

When I walked up to the front door, my hand paused over the knocker, hesitating. For a moment, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. But then I thought about everything I had already done to get here. I wasn’t the same person anymore. I had moved past the anger. Now, I just needed to confront the past.

I knocked.

 

It was Mom who answered, her face lighting up in surprise when she saw me standing on the doorstep.

“Laurel!” she exclaimed, her voice full of warmth. “I didn’t expect to see you today. Come in, come in!”

I hesitated for a second but then stepped inside. The familiar smell of home hit me like a wave—wood, fresh flowers, and the faint scent of the family meals we used to share. It was strange to be here again, but in a way, it felt comforting. Like a memory I could revisit without the weight of the past pulling me down.

“Everything okay?” Mom asked, concern flickering in her eyes.

I smiled, trying to ease her worry. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I just wanted to come by. I’ve been thinking about things a lot lately, and I realized I needed to stop running.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… I’ve been avoiding all of you,” I said, my voice soft but steady. “I’ve been running from the past and the things I couldn’t control. I’ve been so focused on what I lost that I didn’t even think about what I still have. My family. You.”

Her eyes softened. “I know it’s been hard, Laurel. But you’re always welcome here. You know that, right?”

I nodded, feeling the tightness in my chest loosen. “I know. And I’m sorry for staying away for so long.”

She pulled me into a hug, and for the first time in a long while, I didn’t pull away. I let myself feel the comfort of being held, of being accepted. Maybe I hadn’t been able to forgive myself fully, but in this moment, I realized that I didn’t have to do it alone.

 

A few hours later, Sarah showed up, her usual poise replaced by a hint of unease. She stepped into the living room, and when she saw me sitting there, her expression shifted to something softer.

“Are you here to yell at me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I laughed lightly, the sound surprising even me. “No, I’m not here to yell at you, Sarah. I’m here because… because I’m trying to move forward. I’m trying to fix what’s broken, including us.”

She hesitated, then sat down beside me. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve messed up so much, Laurel.”

I took her hand, squeezing it gently. “You haven’t messed up, Sarah. You’ve made mistakes, just like I have. But that doesn’t mean we can’t fix things. We just have to be honest with each other. About everything.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I never wanted to hurt you. I thought I was just trying to make things right, but I was selfish. And now, I feel like everything’s falling apart.”

I shook my head. “We’re not perfect, Sarah. And things might not go back to the way they were, but we can start again. We can try. Together.”

Her expression softened, and she nodded slowly. “I’d like that.”

 

The next few weeks were a slow, steady rebuild. There were still moments of tension, moments when the past crept up and threatened to pull us backward. But for the first time in a long time, I was beginning to believe in the possibility of a new beginning.

One evening, just before dinner, Sarah and I were sitting together in the living room, chatting about trivial things—how her marriage was adjusting, the chaos of wedding planning, the stress of family life. It felt like old times, like things had finally returned to a place of normalcy.

“Do you think we’ll ever truly be okay?” she asked suddenly, her voice soft.

I paused, thinking about it for a moment. “I think we’re already on the path. We just have to keep moving forward. And that’s enough for now.”

 

Months passed, and life began to find its rhythm again. I had made peace with the choices I had made—both the ones I regretted and the ones I was proud of. I no longer felt the need to hold onto the anger that had defined so much of my life.

One day, I was sitting at my desk, finalizing some event details when I heard a knock on the door. I looked up to see Remington standing there, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“You know,” he said, taking a seat across from me, “I think we’re finally getting it right.”

I smiled at him, my heart a little lighter. “I think we are.”

End of Chapter 10