Lila’s face flushed with embarrassment, her carefully curated image of the perfect bride crumbling before a sea of judgmental eyes. Ironically, in her pursuit of perfection, she’d become the center of a scene that would soon overshadow her idyllic wedding vision.

I felt a rush of conflicting emotions—vindication mixed with sadness. I never wanted to be the reason for discord, especially not on a day meant to celebrate love and unity. Yet here we were, with me as the unintended catalyst for this public unraveling.

Matthew turned to me, his expression softening. “I’m sorry for how you’ve been treated. You deserve better. You belong here, just as much as anyone else.”