Chapter 2 — The Wedding Stopped
Chapter 2 — The Wedding Stopped
The ballroom fell into complete silence.
Even the string quartet stopped playing.
My oldest son looked up at me.
"Mommy..."
"Is that him?"
I nodded gently.
"Yes."
"That's your father."
Ryan stared as if he had forgotten how to breathe.
His eyes moved from one child...
To the next...
Then to the little girl holding my hand.
Three identical pairs of familiar eyes.
Three faces carrying pieces of his own.
He whispered,
"No..."
Rebecca stumbled backward.
"Impossible."
Vanessa looked between us.
"Ryan..."
"What is she talking about?"
No one answered.
My youngest son stepped forward.
"Mommy said we should always tell the truth."
He smiled innocently.
"So..."
"Hello."
"I'm Noah."
"My brother is Liam."
"And this is our sister, Sophie."
The guests watched in stunned silence.
Children don't know how to lie politely.
They simply tell the truth.
Ryan slowly walked toward us.
His voice trembled.
"Mariana..."
"Are they..."
I met his eyes.
May you like
"They're yours."
The words shattered what remained of his perfect wedding.
