Five years after losing my wife, I attended my best friend’s wedding with my daughter. When the bride’s veil was lifted, everything shattered—she was my ex-wife, Natalie, who I’d been told was dead. My daughter asked why I was crying as Natalie locked eyes with me.
I hadn’t planned on attending the wedding, but Mark, my friend, insisted. It was at a fancy party where I met Natalie by chance. We clicked immediately, and six months later, we were married, despite her wealthy family disowning her.
However, after our daughter Emma was born, things changed. Natalie resented our humble life, and eventually, she left, signing away her parental rights. I was devastated. Months later, I learned Natalie had faked her death, and when I saw her at the wedding, I was stunned.
She explained that she wanted to start over, but I was furious. Her family had lied to me, and I had mourned her for years. The wedding was called off, and Natalie disappeared with her family.
Two weeks later, Stefan and I talked. He hadn’t known about her past, and I finally felt at peace. I had my daughter and a successful career. I wasn’t broken anymore—I was free.