At my sister’s wedding, she insulted me during her toast: «My sister, a single mom, undesired by all.» The crowd chuckled. My mom chimed in, «A worn-out item!» Then the groom, Daniel, rose and seized the mic. The room went silent…

She didn’t ask to be put in that position, but she did it. She showed up today. She sat in the back.

She smiled. She brought her son to witness your big day, and you turned that into a joke? I had never seen Vivienne look small until that moment. Callum turned again to the room.

Alara didn’t stand here to defend herself. She didn’t ask for sympathy. She’s never needed a stage, but I won’t stay silent, because if I’m about to marry into a family that sees cruelty as humor and shame as tradition, then I need to reconsider what kind of man I want to be.

A gasp rippled through the guests. A woman at the next table whispered, is this real? Someone dropped a fork. Luca looked up at me with wide eyes.

I didn’t know what to do. I’d come here expecting to survive the evening. I didn’t expect to be defended.

Not like this, not in front of everyone. Callum looked down at my son and gave him the softest nod. Your mom’s the strongest person in this room.

Don’t forget that. He turned back to the crowd one last time. I think I’ve seen enough.

And with that, he set the microphone down, walked past Vivienne without another glance, and headed straight out the door. I stood there, frozen, holding Luca’s hand. The music didn’t start.

The crowd didn’t move. It was as if someone had drained all the air out of the room. The fairy tale had shattered.

But for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t the one left broken. The moment Callum walked out of the reception hall, it was like someone had flipped a switch. No one clapped.

No one cheered. The only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioning and the clink of a single spoon hitting a glass. The crowd was frozen.

Eyes darting between me, Vivienne, and the door Callum had just disappeared through. Vivienne stood at the head table like she’d just been slapped. Her perfect posture cracked.

Her shoulders sagged under the weight of what had just happened. She looked around, but the faces staring back at her weren’t smiling anymore. Some looked shocked.

Some looked embarrassed. A few looked angry. Not at Callum, but at her.

Judith was the first to speak. She stood abruptly, her chair screeching back across the polished floor. What an ungrateful boy, she snapped.

He embarrassed you in front of everyone. Typical. Just like your sister.

Selfish. But her voice didn’t carry like it usually did. The power she held over the room had vanished.

Her words fell flat. I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to…