By the time I reached the front, half the church was standing in respect.
I looked directly at my father.
His confident smile vanished.
“What is this?” he hissed.
I didn’t flinch.
“What’s embarrassing,” I said clearly enough for everyone to hear, “is a father sneaking into his daughter’s room at two in the morning to destroy her wedding dresses.”
Gasps rippled through the church.
My father’s face turned red.
“You think you’re better than us!” he shouted.
“No,” I replied calmly. “But you tried to make me feel smaller. And you failed.”
The entire room heard every word.
Even members of my own family turned against him. My aunt stood up and publicly condemned his behavior. My mother looked ready to disappear beneath the pew. Tyler suddenly couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.
Then the priest asked if I still wanted to continue.
I looked at Ethan.
He smiled.
“Yes,” I said.
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