The ceremony officially began, and the lights settled on the stage. Elliott stood at the center in a perfectly pressed suit, his voice steady and composed.

He thanked his parents first. They sat in the middle of the main table, smiling and nodding as the applause filled the room.

Then he turned to the Carver family. "I also want to give special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Carver. They've looked after me like family all these years."

The cameras cut to the main table immediately. Claire's parents were seated in the most prominent spot, their smiles warm and polished. Claire lowered her head slightly, her eyes glistening.

Someone in the audience called out, "Are they the bride's family or the groom's?"

Elliott didn't correct it. He even smiled a little.

Over by the kitchen doors, Dad heard the comment and his fingers tightened on his knees. A server pushed a cart past behind him, and he hurried to scoot his chair forward so he wouldn't be in the way.

The legs scraped against the floor with a sharp screech, and a few people turned to look. Dad dropped his head instantly, like he'd done something wrong.

The emcee kept going with a smile. "It sounds like Mr. Chambers and the Carver family go way back."

He paused for effect. "There's also a very important longtime friend who's been by Mr. Chambers' side for many years."

The spotlight swept to Claire, and Elliott looked at her, his voice softening. "Thank you, Claire. Thank you for always being there."

The applause rose again.

I stood in the staging area, my fingers slowly curling tighter. The makeup artist adjusted my veil and reminded me quietly, "The camera's going to push in on you. Try to smile."

I didn't smile. I looked past the crowd toward Dad instead.

He was clapping too, barely. He managed two light taps before he realized nobody was looking at him, and his hands drifted back down to his knees. The red flower meant for the bride's father was crumpled in his palm.

Owen stood behind the last row of the family section, his eyes rimmed red. He was supposed to be on stage right now as a groomsman, but that spot now belonged to Theo, who stood there wearing Owen's boutonniere and smiling into the cameras.

The emcee turned to the next page of the script. "And now, let's welcome the bride to the stage. Today, Ms. Sadie Reed will step into a new chapter of her life, surrounded by all of her most important family and friends."

Important family and friends? The irony wasn't lost on me.

My father was sitting by the kitchen doors. My brother had been pushed to the back of the crowd. The hope chest Dad brought for me was sitting in the storage area next to a pile of junk, its clasp already broken.

And the people Elliott called family were seated at the main table, bathed in light, wrapped in applause, even thanked by name.

I walked down the aisle, one step at a time. Elliott held his hand out to me, his eyes equal parts warning and certainty, as if to say, "Don't make a scene. You've come this far. You're not going to back out now."

I reached him and didn't take his hand.

Elliott dropped his voice. "Sadie, just play along. Whatever it is, we can talk after the ceremony."

I didn't answer. I turned and looked out at the audience instead.

Dad was trying to sit up straight, like he wanted to look a little less out of place. But the kitchen doors were right behind him, and servers kept passing back and forth.

At one point, a bit of broth splashed onto his pant leg, and he reached down instinctively to wipe it, then stopped halfway, afraid someone might notice.

Elliott followed my gaze, and his brow creased slightly. He leaned in. "Your dad's sitting right there. He's fine."

That was the final cut.

I looked at him, and it was suddenly, perfectly clear. Elliott wasn't unaware that Dad had been humiliated. He simply didn't think it mattered.

The emcee held the microphone out to me with a smile. "The bride is welcome to say a few words."

Catherine was watching me from below. Claire was watching me with tears in her eyes. And Dad was watching me too, with no resentment in his expression at all, only panic.

He was afraid I'd do something rash and that it would cost me later. That once again, he'd end up being the reason his daughter's life got harder.

I raised my hand, and everyone assumed I was reaching for the microphone. But first, I pulled off my veil. The white tulle slipped from my hair and gathered in my fist, and the entire room went silent.

Elliott's face changed. "Sadie."

I took the microphone. My voice was quiet, but it carried across every corner of the ballroom.

"Everyone, I'm sorry. The wedding's off."