The mayor tried to ruin me at the altar—until the pastor spoke a single name that brought the entire ceremony to a halt

proud of you.”

A hot tear slipped down my good cheek. I tightened my grip on the patch, the embroidered edges pressing into my palm, anchoring me.

“Do you need a medic?” Valerie Caldwell asked, stepping beside me, her tone softening as she looked at my injuries. “I can have an ambulance brought around to the back entrance.”

“No,” I said, taking a slow,continue reading …