“Let’s go outside.”
We slipped out of the ballroom onto a terrace that overlooked the gardens. The evening air was cool and welcome after the warmth of the crowded reception. Fairy lights twinkled in the trees, creating a magical atmosphere that felt at odds with the turmoil inside me.
“I shouldn’t have come,”
I said, leaning against the terrace railing.
“I knew it would be like this, but some part of me hoped it would be different. That maybe Victoria would remember we’re sisters. That maybe she’d want me here for real and not just to check a box on her obligation list.”
Julian stood beside me, his shoulder touching mine.
“Family can be the most complicated relationship we have. We’re bound to them by blood, but that doesn’t guarantee love or respect or even basic consideration.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“My father and I haven’t spoken in three years. He had very specific plans for my life, and when I chose a different path, he made it clear I was no longer the son he wanted. So yes, I understand what it feels like to be the disappointment.”
I turned to look at him, seeing new layers in his expression.
“I’m sorry. That must have been painful.”
“It was. It is. But I learned something important from it. The people who are supposed to love us unconditionally are still people, with their own limitations and prejudices and failures. Sometimes the family we choose matters more than the family we’re born into.”
“Is that what tonight is? You choosing to be kind to a stranger?”
“Maybe it started that way. But you’re not a stranger anymore, Elizabeth. And this isn’t just kindness.”
There was something in his voice, something that made my heart beat faster. Before I could respond, the terrace doors opened and a group of guests spilled out, laughing and talking. The moment broke, and Julian stepped back slightly.
“We should probably go back inside. I think they’re about to cut the cake.”
The cake-cutting ceremony was everything I expected. More photos, more speeches, more perfect moments carefully choreographed for maximum impact. Victoria fed Gregory a small bite with delicate precision, and he returned the gesture with equal care. No smashed cake in faces, nothing undignified, perfect control as always. As servers distributed slices of the wedding cake, I noticed my mother making her way through the crowd, stopping to chat with various guests. She was in her element, basking in the reflected glory of her daughter’s successful wedding. When her gaze finally landed on me, surprise flickered across her features, followed quickly by disapproval. She approached our table with measured steps, her smile tightening as she drew closer.
“Elizabeth, I didn’t expect to see you sitting here. This table was reserved for Gregory’s business associates.”
“There was a seating mix-up,”
Julian said smoothly before I could respond.
“I’m Julian, one of Gregory’s renewable-energy consultants. Elizabeth and I are here together.”
My mother’s gaze swept over Julian, taking in his expensive suit and confident demeanor. I could see her recalculating, reassessing my presence based on the caliber of my companion.
“I see. Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Julian. I’m Eleanor, Victoria’s mother.”
She emphasized the words as if to remind me of my place in the hierarchy.
“I wasn’t aware Elizabeth was seeing anyone.”
“We’ve been keeping things quiet,”
Julian replied, his hand finding mine on the table.
“Elizabeth is quite private about her personal life.”
“Yes, she is.”
Eleanor’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Elizabeth, dear, I hope you’re enjoying the wedding. Victoria worked so hard to make everything perfect.”
“It’s beautiful,”
I said, forcing the words out.
“She must be very happy.”
“She is. Gregory is exactly the kind of man I always hoped she’d marry. Successful, established, from a good family. It’s everything a mother could want for her daughter.”
The unspoken comparison hung in the air between us. Unlike you, who works in a bakery and lives alone and has nothing to show for your life. Julian’s grip on my hand tightened slightly, a silent show of support.
“Elizabeth was just telling me about her work as a pastry chef. It sounds incredibly demanding. Not everyone has the talent or discipline to succeed in that field.”
Eleanor’s expression flickered with annoyance at having her implied criticism deflected.
“Yes. Well, we all have our different paths. I should get back to the other guests. Do try to enjoy yourself, Elizabeth.”
She swept away, leaving a trail of expensive perfume and maternal disappointment in her wake.
“That was unpleasant,”
Julian observed once she was out of earshot.
“That was my mother on a good day. You should see her when she’s really trying to make a point.”
“I’m starting to understand why you were sitting behind that pillar.”
The evening wore on. The band played. People danced. Drinks flowed freely. Victoria and Gregory made their rounds, thanking guests for coming and accepting congratulations. I watched them work the room with practiced efficiency, noting how they spent more time with some guests than others, how they carefully maintained the hierarchy of importance. They reached our table eventually, Gregory leading with a politician’s smile. Up close, I could see he was handsome in a conventional way, with the kind of features that photographed well but lacked character. His handshake was firm but perfunctory when Julian introduced himself. Then Victoria’s eyes landed on me, and something complex passed across her face. Surprise, definitely. Discomfort, perhaps. She had probably forgotten I was even here, tucked away in my assigned corner where I couldn’t interfere with her perfect day.
“Elizabeth, you look lovely,”
she said, her voice carrying that careful politeness people use with acquaintances they don’t quite remember.
“Thank you. The wedding is beautiful, Victoria. Congratulations.”
“I’m so glad you could make it. And I see you’ve met some of Gregory’s colleagues.”
Her gaze slid to Julian with curiosity.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
“Julian. I work with Gregory on sustainability initiatives for Bennett Health Solutions, and I have the pleasure of being Elizabeth’s date this evening.”
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