Jessica simply shrugged. “Come on, Gina. It’s just practical.”
Looking around, I saw the stunned expressions of guests and the event coordinator, Bella. Even Jessica’s fiancé, Ben, looked uncomfortable.
“Jess, you told me Gina was okay with this,” Ben said, shaking his head.
I took a deep breath, feeling a wave of calm determination settle over me. If Jessica wanted a wedding, she would have to handle it on her own terms.
“Bella,” I said, my voice steady, “please arrange for my sister’s ceremony to happen before mine. And make sure she handles all the expenses.”
Jessica’s confident smile faltered.
“I won’t be sharing anything—your guests, music, officiant, and even the photographers. You’ll be covering all of it.”
Jessica looked around for support, but no one, not even Ben, came to her defense.
“Mom?” she asked weakly.
Our mother crossed her arms. “You planned this without telling anyone. You handle it.”
Ben sighed, finally reaching his limit. “This isn’t what I signed up for,” he said, shaking his head.
At that moment, Jessica realized she was on her own. Her frustration was clear, but I refused to let it ruin my day.
“Ready for your dress?” Bella asked gently.
I smiled. “Absolutely.”
The rest of the day was everything I had dreamed of. Leo and I celebrated surrounded by love, laughter, and the people who truly cared about us.
Later that evening, as I removed my wedding shoes, I heard a knock at the door—sharp and insistent.
I opened it to find Jessica, standing in casual clothes, her face filled with emotion. For the first time, she looked vulnerable.
“Gina,” she whispered. “Can I come in?”
I hesitated but stepped aside. “Five minutes.”
She hugged herself tightly, her voice unsteady. “Ben left. He said he didn’t understand why I did what I did.”
For the first time, Jessica admitted she wasn’t okay. But for the first time, I didn’t feel the need to fix things for her.
“Yeah, Jess,” I said gently. “It was a lot to take in.”
Her expression softened. “Can we start over?”
I shook my head. “I spent years hoping things would change. But I’m done waiting for that.”
She sighed, nodding slowly.
As she turned to leave, I spoke once more. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
She paused, then walked away.
Closing the door behind her, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. For the first time, I felt free. And I knew I would never let anyone take that away again.