Page 113 of When Forever Falls Apart

I won’t allow him to be the villain, even if I was the one to ignore all his attempts to reach out to me since I told him we were done. Once, he came to the bookstore, but I immediately told him to leave, still angered by the damage he caused.

Forgiving him would be setting us both free.

“I’d love that, Dad.”

He glances briefly at my necklace and his eyes soften upon the sight of it. Almost as if it tells a story only he and Mom know. I reach down to touch the pendant, realizing the simple piece of jewelry holds so many memories.

“I’m sorry, Madelina. There’s so much I wish I could—”

“Dad, it’s okay,” I interrupt softly. “We have time later to talk about the past, but for now, I just want all the people I love surrounding me. This day wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t here.”

“My beautiful Madelina,” he murmurs with a nostalgic gaze. “Let’s get you married, shall we?”

I feel my father’s steady grip on my arm, a comforting anchor as I take each careful step toward the pier where my forever stands, so handsome and calm, a smile gracing his lips as his eyes never leave mine.

Before the sun is due to set, twenty familiar faces, just our immediate family and closest friends, wait in anticipation for the nuptials.

As we stand together, exchanging our handwritten vows, we bare our souls with a vulnerability neither of us has experienced before.

Each vow is a promise of devotion, commitment, and, most importantly, to bring out the best in one another. We slide the white gold bands onto each other’s fingers, the ring a symbol of our never-ending, eternal love.

Then, finally, our sweet breaths of “I do” linger before Elliot lifts my face to his, and kisses me like it’s our very first kiss.

The rush of excitement spreads through me, and with a grin permanently fixed on my face, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

“Mrs. Woods,” Elliot murmurs, the words rolling off his tongue like music.

“Yes, Mr. Woods?” I tease, playfully rubbing my nose against his, as a flood of laughter bubbles beneath the surface.

“How did I get so lucky to marry such a beautiful woman?”

I pull back, only slightly, with an impish grin. “How did I get so lucky to marry such a beautiful man?”

“Hmmm…” He shifts his gaze toward the people watching us, and soon the air around us is filled with cheers and applause. A sharp whistle catches my attention, which of course has to be Aston.

Elliot places his lips on mine again, a kiss that can still make me weak in the knees.

Aston and Eva are the first to embrace us, and true to her nature, Eva’s tears smear her makeup. Her panda eyes, a hilarious sight, only make me laugh more as each person takes their turn to hug us tightly, showering us with blessings for our future.

Yet, amid all the congratulatory embracing, my gaze drifts to my father, who stands apart, watching from a distance.

“You did it!” Billie is quick to hug me tight.

“Your turn next?”

Billie shakes her head with a chuckle. “Cinnamon Springs is all out of hot men. I may have to expand my dating life beyond this small town.”

“You never know who may be visiting…” I tease, but my gaze once again shifts toward my father. “Hey, I’ll be back in a sec.” I gently excuse myself, lifting my dress as I make my way toward where he stands. When I finally reach him, I’m met with a gleam in his eye, a mixture of pride and something unspoken.

Before I can find my voice, the envelope he holds gains my attention.

“This is for you and Elliot,” he mentions softly, extending the envelope toward me.

I glance over it with a heaviness in my chest. “You’re not going to stay?”

Despite the disappointment, I know deep down things will be awkward. Not everything in the past has been resolved, and many conversations still need to be addressed.

“I think it’s best if I don’t,” he replies, his voice tinged with regret. “The most challenging part of life is learning when to admit defeat.”