Page 9 of Sebastian.

Everyone is gatheringon the terrace for the cocktail hour before the ceremony begins, and I’ve just managed to compose myself long enough to get changed, as well as fix my hair and makeup. My hands are still shaking, but when I catch a glimpse of myself in a gold-framed mirror, I’m relieved to know that I look the part of the happy mother-of-the-groom.

My eyes scan the room, searching for familiar faces amidst the sea of gorgeously dressed guests. And there, amidst the crowd, I spot Hannah, my teenage daughter, with a bored and uninterested look on her face. To my astonishment she’s wearing a beige, flowing dress that gives the impression she’s two or three years older. Her brown hair is pushed back in an elegant ponytail, with just a few strands falling in front of her lovely face. Her make-up is more pronounced than usual, matching with the dress. She stands alongside Joris and Aleida, her younger siblings, who are eagerly soaking in the splendor of the occasion.

I approach them, a smile gracing my lips, but deep inside, my heart still carries the weight of the confrontation with Sebastian. The tension lingers, like an invisible thread binding my thoughts and emotions. It's difficult to shake off the heaviness, and I can only hope that my children won't sense the turmoil swirling within me.

“Mama!” the two younger children exclaim, and we all exchange hugs and cheek kisses; Aleida gushes over the simple silk sea-foam green dress I’m wearing, and I realize how much I’ve missed them.

“Go find your Oma,” I tell them, shooing them away playfully before turning to my older daughter. “Hannah, my darling.” My voice becomes warm at the sight of her. “I'm so glad you decided to join us today. I was sad when I heard you had stayed back with your father.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t trying to avoid Andries or anything like that. Just keeping an eye on Dad. Plus, weddings aren’t really my thing.”

I reach forward and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, having to reach upwards with how tall she’s grown. “Yet here you are, looking beautiful as ever.”

At first Hannah brushes me off with her usual teenage annoyance, bringing her strand of hair back forward again; though her demeanor changes when she gets a good look at my face. Her eyes meet mine, sharp and perceptive, as if she can see through the facade I've carefully crafted. “Mom, is everything okay?”

I try to muster a reassuring smile, though I know it falls short of genuine. “Everything's fine, sweetheart,” I reply, betraying a hint of unease. “Just a little tired, that's all.”

Hannah's gaze lingers on me, her intuition sharp as ever. She knows when something is amiss, when the veneer of composure cracks. And in this moment, she can see the fragments of my emotions peeking through.

She takes my hand and pulls me away until we find a quiet corner away from the bustling crowd. With a tender touch, she reaches out and takes my hand, her warmth and understanding a balm to my weary soul. Even my aloof, grumpy Hannah cares for me…loves me…so why can’t my husband?

“I can tell something’s bothering you, Mom.” Hannah keeps her voice low and discreet enough for only me to hear. “You don't have to hide it from me.”

Tears well up in my eyes as I gaze at the beautiful soul before me. My daughter, wise beyond her years, with a depth of understanding that belies her youth. I take a deep breath, summoning the courage to share my burden with her.

“Fine. It's your father,” I confess, barely above a whisper. “We had a disagreement earlier, and it's been weighing heavily on me. But I’m sure you’ve picked up on that by now.”

Hannah’s grip tightens around my hand, a reassuring gesture that speaks volumes. “I’m here for you, Mom, okay?”

I’m about to pull her into a hug, even though I know she will hate it, when a tall, broad-shouldered man passes by, giving the two of us a brief wave and a brilliant smile. It takes me a second to recognize Johan, but now that I think about it, I remember Andries mentioning that he’d invited him to the ceremony––He was on his bachelor trip after all. Hannah blushes instantly, her hand falling away from mine, distracted.

Oh, Hannah. Of all men to have a crush on….

A smile breaks through my sorrow. “Go ahead, honey.”

Surprised, she looks back at me. “Huh? What?”

“Johan. Go ahead and mingle. I’ll be fine.”

She blinks a few times. “A-are you sure?”

“Definitely.” I pat her on the cheek. “There’s someone else here I wanted to talk to before the ceremony, anyway.”

Hannah hesitates for only a second before she mutters a quick, “Thanks Mom, love you,” and disappears into the crowd.

I watch her go, amused, before leaving the secluded corner in search of a specific wedding guest. Amidst the lively chatter and the clinking of glasses, I make my way through the crowd, seeking out Gabi, my trusted, bubbly friend, who just so happens to be the prosecutor handling the whole Roxanne cabaret scandal. I’m so happy she accepted my invitation to attend the wedding. It’d be the perfect occasion for her to meet Andries and Roxanne after that unfortunate arrest. When I finally find her, she’s standing near the grand staircase, talking to some acquaintances.

“Gabi!” I exclaim, a genuine grin gracing my lips as I approach her. “I’m so happy you came.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She laughs, kissing me on the cheek as the other people she was speaking to disperse.

It’s truly so nice to see her. It reminds me of happier times in my life. Once we’re alone, I lower my voice to tell her, “I can't thank you enough for everything you've done.”

“Of course, Julia,” she replies, stroking my arm out of affection. “I knew something was off with the case against Roxanne, anyway. We’re making progress on it, and there's a new suspect we're looking into.”

My heart skips a beat at her words. “Who?”

My friend bites her bottom lip, like she doesn’t want to say anything. She looks around the room first, before leaning closer to me. “It’s, eh, Karl Townsend, a top employee at your husband’s company. We think he might actually be the mastermind behind everything. I’m sure you know who I’m talking about.”

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