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

wide, terrified eyes flicked between me and his mother. He swallowed hard.

He didn’t move.

The betrayal struck deeper than the slap. Cold and final, it settled into my bones.

I was completely alone.

“Get up,” Evelyn ordered, stepping closer, her heel stopping inches from my hand. “Get up, Clara. You are leaving. You will not stand at this altar, you will continue reading …