Page 12 of Sebastian.

I take a deep, quivering breath. What I’m about to ask requires me to put my pride aside, and be vulnerable, even though Seb has given me no reason to feel safe with him right now.

“Can't you at least…join me for the ceremony?” I implore, my hand reaching out to touch his, seeking solace in his presence. “Please, Seb, you know how much it would mean to me. I can’t bear the thought of being there alone. Andries is your son too. This is our first child to get married.” I don’t try to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.

Sebastian's face remains stoic, his features etched with cold detachment. He pulls his hand away from mine, severing the connection. “I'm afraid I can't do that.”

His rejection crashes over me like a tidal wave, engulfing me in a whirlwind of despair. I feel my heart shatter into a million pieces, the ache spreading through every fiber of my being. How did we come to this? How did our love become so fractured, so irreparable?

Tears well up in my eyes as I gather the remnants of my shattered pride. “I'll never forgive you if you leave now,” I whisper, fraught with a mix of anger and sorrow.

He shakes his head once. Sebastian's resolve remains unyielding. “Andries forgave me, and one day, I pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive me too.”

Shaken beyond measure, I open my mouth to tell him to stop, but no words come out. My husband turns his back to me, his departure leaving an emptiness that reverberates through me like the rolling of thunder. As he walks away, disappearing into the grand hallway of the estate, I’m left standing here, the weight of his absence so incredibly heavy. The echoes of his rejection lingers, adding to the chasm I know has now opened between us.

4

Julia

I take a deep breath,trying to steady my racing heart and quell the storm of emotions raging inside me. Sebastian’s behavior has left me reeling, torn between anger and heartbreak. I had hoped that his arrival meant a chance to mend the fractures in our family, to put aside our longstanding grudges and grievances, if only for the sake of Andries's wedding day. I don’t think I was asking much, especially from a man that I’ve loved for so long, but now…everything is up in the air. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know that there is a pit in my stomach so deep that it feels endless.

Pride has always been Sebastian's shield, and he wields it now with unwavering determination. He refuses to budge, to let go of all the complicated emotions surrounding Karl and just try to be here for all of us––his real family…his wife and children. The people who really matter in his life. Seb is treating this like a victory, but I don’t know how in the hell he can think he’s wonanything. Because of him, we’re all losing. And he’s so damned smug about all of it, that I wonder if he’s hurting at all, even a little bit.

I miss him. I hate him. It’s so complicated.

A gentle knock on the doorframe draws my attention, and I quickly compose myself, not wanting to show any vulnerability to whoever needs my attention now. Could it possibly Sebastian? Did he change his mind and come back to apologize?

I pivot to face the doorway once more, and have to keep a blank expression to hide the disappointment I feel when it’s Elise standing there with her hands clasped together in front of her. “Come in, dear.”

She enters, concern etched across her face as she takes in the turmoil that I struggle to conceal. I don’t know what it is about this moment, but I’m briefly taken aback by what a beautiful, strong woman she’s become. For a brief period of time, there was a streak of bitter resentment in my sweet Elise that colored her actions––no doubt put there by her father––but that’s all gone now, and she’s really come into her own.

In her eyes is nothing but love for me––and worry––and it’s so hard not to confide every single thing I’m feeling to her. I can’t burden her with my heartache, not on this day, when her brother's happiness should be our main concern. But since it's clearly not at the forefront of Seb's thoughts, I'll bear those emotions for both of us.

“Did I just see a ghost, or was that Dad in the hallway?” Elise asks, the warm golden light of the room glistening in her hair.

“No, it wasn't a ghost,” I reply with a strained smile. "Although I think I’d have preferred a phantom at this point. Your father did come here, but only so he could make it abundantly clear that he won't be attending the wedding.”

Elise's eyes widen in disbelief, mirroring my own emotions. “What the hell? He came all the way here just to rub that in your face? I'm so sorry, Mom. Should I talk to him? Maybe I can convince him to change his mind.”

Her offer is touching, but I shake my head, my pride refusing to allow me to seek help. “No, darling, it's alright. He's made his decision, and we must respect it.”

She snorts. “Ha. Accept it, maybe. But I’m not going to respect his stupid, selfish decision.”

I sigh, glancing towards the empty doorway once more, finally having to acknowledge that my husband isn’t going to come back and escort me to our oldest child’s wedding. It’s a moment I’ll never get back, ever, but that doesn’t mean I need to make anyone else suffer for it. Especially not my children. “Let’s go, dear. We’re running late as it is.”

I’m thankful Elise doesn’t push to know more, and simply links her arm with mine as we head towards the ceremony. I summon all the strength I can muster. My heart may be shattered, but I won't let anyone see my pain. I must ensure that Andries’s wedding goes smoothly, that appearances are kept intact. If anyone asks me about Sebastian's absence, I’ll have to stay calm, composed, and give them a plausible answer. I’ll have to find something—anything—as long as it’s not the ugly truth.

With a deep breath, I put on a brave face, hoping that my facade is convincing enough. The weight of my emotions bears down on me, threatening to overwhelm, but I must soldier on. Today is about love and unity, about celebrating the union of two souls, and I won't let anything tarnish this precious moment. Not my own opinions about Roxanne Feng, not the fact that I’ve been living at my mother’s house in my childhood bedroom while my adult son prepares to get married, and certainly not the fact that my husband has abandoned not only me, but our entire family, just because of his stupid, self centered pride…and of course, his secret half-brother.

God, my heart is racing! I can’t completely push Seb out of my thoughts, but the reality of the moment is starting to override everything else. My baby, my Andries, is getting married, and right this very second I’m on my way to him so I can escort him down the aisle. With my head held high, I focus on just breathing, my mother’s home passing by in a blur as Elise and I stride towards the front stairs where Andries will be waiting.

There he is. Tall, dressed in his impeccably tailored suit and his hair combed back, Andries looks so much like his father from behind that it makes my pulse stutter. Then he turns, and the sight of his profile brings him back to the present––my sweet baby boy’s younger memories flashing before my eyes.

Stepping out onto the porch with Elise by my side, I’m almost vibrating with nervous anticipation. The sight below is breathtaking––the gardens, a verdant oasis, are adorned with fairy lights and cascading flowers, set the perfect stage for Andries’s wedding. The white silk that flutters gently in the breeze, hanging in place of walls, softens the light of the sun, giving the entire ceremony an ethereal glow.

Looking at Andries makes me want to cry already, so, needing a breath, my gaze sweeps over the gathering guests. Everyone is stunning. The glint of jewelry as people turn and gesture to friends and family, and the happy peals of laughter steady me. No one would know that this wedding almost didn’t happen, or that the entire thing was fraught with so much uncertainty. It looks…perfect. My mother and her team really pulled this off. It’s just what I have always envisioned for Andries—simple and elegant.

Among the crowd, familiar faces like Gabi, Yara, and Maud stand out. My sisters, in the second row on Andries’s side, have their heads bowed together and are speaking in hushed voices, while Gabi is loud enough that I can hear her entire conversation from up here on the porch.

My mother, in the front row, exudes an air of regal poise, but I know her well enough to see the genuine emotion in her expression. She’s cold when necessary, but she is happy for her grandson. Alex, sitting behind Mom, wears a distant expression that leaves me guessing at his thoughts, while Petra sits with her back ramrod straight next to him––probably uncomfortable being here among all of us. Too bad for her. She knew what she was getting into marrying Alex.

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