Even as I was deciding what to wear, I didn’t want to stand out. I wanted to blend in with the crowd, look pretty enough for the occasion but not draw attention.
The venue was stunning: soft golden light and elegant décor. It was perfect. Amber’s stamp was on it. She had put her whole heart and soul into her wedding.
Guests crowded around, listening to soft romantic music, champagne in hand, making their way to their seats.
And for a moment, I convinced myself that it was all some horrible misunderstanding.
Until I walked into the main hall where the guests were already taking their seats.
And guess what? The entire hall fell into silence.
People looked at me, some whispering, others casting sympathetic glances. It was as if they had just witnessed a tragedy.
My stomach twisted with such force that I thought I was going to fall.
Keep breathing, Ivy, I thought to myself.
But honestly, what the hell was going on?
And then I saw her.
Amber was standing at the entrance to the room, in a gorgeous white dress, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.
And then I saw him.
Standing at the altar was my father in an elegant black dinner jacket, embracing Amber.
The same father who abandoned me when I was ten years old. The same father I hadn’t seen since.
Suddenly, the world went black. And I felt the floor beneath me disappear completely. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Amber knew.
She’d known all along. That’s why I wasn’t invited.
She’d kept it from me.
I felt like sinking underground and disappearing.
Then my father spoke.
His voice was deeper than I remembered, but the moment he said my name, I was ten years old again, standing at the window, waiting for the man who never came back.
But I wasn’t that little girl anymore.
And I wasn’t going to let them pretend it was okay.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward, my heels clacking on the polished floor.
The guests froze in place, their gazes darting between me, Amber, and my father.
Amber.
The girl who was my best friend, my confidante, my sister in everything but blood, was keeping this from me.
I turned to my father. His face was unreadable.
I searched for something, remorse, shame, anything, but all I saw was indecision.
Like he wasn’t sure if he should even acknowledge me.
I left him no choice.
‘You.’ My voice was steady, but a hurricane raged inside.
‘Are you going to stand there like nothing happened?’
His Adam’s apple bounced as he swallowed and his fingers clenched convulsively at his sides.
‘I… Ivy…’
Amber rushed forward and stepped between us, her eyes pleading.
‘Look, I was going to tell you…’
‘When, Amber?’ snapped back at me. ‘Before or after the honeymoon? Or maybe when you were pregnant with my half-brother?’
She wrinkled her nose.
‘I didn’t know how…’
‘Like what?’ My voice cracked. ‘Tell me you’re marrying my father? To the man who abandoned me when I was ten years old?’
Sighs rolled through the crowd, but I barely heard them.
‘Why now? After all these years, why Amber? Why her?’
My father sighed slowly, rubbing his temples as if this was just an uncomfortable confrontation and not the payback he deserved.
‘I know I owe you an explanation.’
I snorted derisively.
‘You owe me more than that.’
He exhaled, finally looking me in the eye.
‘I left because I had to, Ivy, not because I wanted to.’
I laughed out loud. It came out hollow and bitter.
‘You let me think you were dead or something. You let me believe I wasn’t worth saying goodbye to.’
Amber cried, wiping her eyes as if she was the one who had lost something.
I turned to her, my voice harsh.
‘What about you? When exactly did you decide it was a good idea to marry my missing father?’
She looked away, guilt darkening her face.
‘Well, congratulations, I guess,’ I said. ‘You’re officially family now. I hope it was worth it.’
I turned on my heels and headed for the exit.
‘Ivy, please. I don’t want to lose you again, honey.’
I stopped but didn’t turn around. My voice was cold and detached when I spoke.
‘Please, Phillip,’ I said. ‘You lost me years ago. You just didn’t care enough to look for me.’
And with those words, I walked out of my best friend’s wedding. From my father’s wedding.
And finally, I walked out of both of their lives.
That night, I sat in my car parked outside my house.
My head was still spinning, and I couldn’t get the image of Amber and my dad out of my head. Some part of me wanted to know more… Like how they met and got together. But I didn’t care. I was in too much pain.
Amber texted me.
Ivy, I’m so sorry. Please talk to me.
I stared at the message, my hands shaking.
Then slowly deleted it.
Outside, the streetlight flickered.
For the first time in years, I felt like I’d finally stopped waiting by the window.
What’s the point of waiting for this man? And wait for Amber to realise how wrong she was?
No, thank you. I’m done.
What would you do?