At the airport, as they prepared to leave, Mary stood between them, her heart aching. She had always been the strong one, but now, she felt helpless.
Ryan looked at her, his usual easygoing demeanor gone. Instead, there was something raw in his eyes. Sadness. Regret. He had loved her in silence for so long, but she had never seen him as more than a friend. And now, she belonged to someone else.
"You'll be okay, right?" Mary asked, her voice trembling.
Elaine nodded, forcing a smile. "I have to be."
Ryan reached for Mary's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Mary swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding. She knew this was the right thing for Elaine and the baby. But as she watched them walk toward their flight, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing something, too.
A chapter was closing. And a new one—uncertain and full of unknowns—was just beginning.
___
Elaine sat by the window, a glass of wine in her hand, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. How much time had passed since that night? Since she had made the decision to marry Ryan? Since she had left everything behind to build a life from scratch?
Ryan… His heart had never changed. Even after all these years, his love for Mary remained the same. It was unwavering, buried deep but never fading. Elaine had seen it in his eyes every time he looked at Mary. He tried to hide it, but she knew him too well.
And yet, as she thought about her own heart, she realized something surprising.
Looking at Alex today, she had felt… nothing. Not love, not hate. Just emptiness. Whatever feelings she once had, whatever heartbreak she had suffered, they had faded into the past like a distant memory. The humiliation, the betrayal, the pain—she had let it shape her, but she had never let it destroy her.
She had closed her heart long ago. Not because she was weak, but because she had learned. She had become selfish—not in a cruel way, but in a way that protected her. She had learned to respect herself. To never again allow anyone to break her the way Alex had.
Her gaze drifted to the bedroom, where Athena slept peacefully.
If there was one thing she had allowed herself to love without fear, it was her daughter.
Athena was her world, her reason to keep going. And if there was one thing Elaine was certain of, it was that everything she had done, every sacrifice, every struggle—it had all been worth it.
She wasn't the naive girl she once was.
She wasn't a woman desperate for love.
She was a mother, a survivor, and a woman who had built something for herself.
And that was more than enough.
___
The bridal suite was filled with the soft hum of excitement as Mary sat before the vanity, her reflection staring back at her. Her makeup was subtle yet elegant—warm, golden eyeshadow enhancing her deep brown eyes, soft pink blush giving her cheeks a natural glow, and a nude pink lipstick that completed her radiant bridal look. Her hair was styled in an intricate updo, loose strands framing her face, and a delicate diamond hairpiece sat nestled in her dark locks.
The white mermaid gown she wore hugged her curves perfectly before flaring into a dramatic train. Lace and beading shimmered under the lights, making her look like a dream—like a woman stepping into her own fairytale.
Elaine sat on the couch nearby, adjusting the hem of her pastel pink gown, the silky fabric flowing gracefully around her. The soft color complemented her fair complexion and made her striking green eyes stand out even more. Her long hair cascaded in waves over one shoulder, pinned back just enough to reveal delicate earrings.
She was watching Mary intently, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Mary caught the look through the mirror and turned with a teasing smile. "Why are you crying? You're going to ruin my makeup before I even walk down the aisle!"
Elaine let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I just…" She swallowed the lump in her throat. "You're getting your happy ending, Mary. You're marrying the man you love. I hope you always keep smiling like this."
Mary's teasing expression softened. Without a word, she stood and walked over, pulling Elaine into a tight hug.
"Oh, Elaine," she murmured, feeling her best friend's shoulders shake slightly. "You deserve happiness too, you know."
Before Elaine could answer, the door swung open, and Athena ran in, her little steps quick and excited.
She was dressed in an adorable ivory flower girl dress, the tulle skirt bouncing as she moved. A floral wreath of tiny pink and white roses rested on her head, her soft curls framing her angelic face.
Ryan followed close behind, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo. He paused at the doorway, watching quietly as his daughter ran straight to her mother.
"Mama, why are you crying?" Athena asked, her small hands reaching up to cup Elaine's cheeks. "Is someone hurting you?"
Elaine let out a shaky laugh, wiping away a stray tear before kissing her daughter's forehead. "No, baby. Mama is just happy."
Mary watched them with a warm smile, but when she turned toward the door, her gaze met Ryan's.
He took a step forward, his eyes lingering on her, holding an emotion she couldn't quite decipher.
"You look beautiful, Mary," Ryan said, his voice softer than usual.
Mary blinked, caught off guard by the way he was looking at her. There was something in his expression—something deep, something unspoken.
"Thank you, Ryan," she said, brushing her hands over her dress to steady herself.
Ryan exhaled slowly before adding, "If he ever hurts you… leave him." His voice was low, firm. "I'll take care of you."
A small, nervous laugh escaped Mary, but the intensity in his gaze made her throat tighten.
For years, she had brushed off his flirtations, dismissed his playful remarks as nothing serious. But this… this was different.
There was pain. There was love. There was something she had never let herself see before.
Elaine, sensing the shift in the air, gently squeezed Mary's hand. Athena, oblivious to the tension, giggled and tugged on Mary's dress.
"Aunt Mary, are you going to cry too now?"
Mary let out a breathy laugh, blinking away the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
"No, sweetheart," she said, smoothing Athena's curls. "I can't cry. I still have to walk down the aisle."
Elaine smiled, giving Mary one last squeeze before stepping back. "And you're going to be the most beautiful bride, Mary."
Mary took one last look at herself in the mirror, adjusting her veil.
She was ready.
But as she turned back toward Ryan, catching the quiet sadness in his eyes, a single thought echoed in her mind.
Had she spent all these years blind to something that was right in front of her?