The room fell silent. Patricia’s face went pale as she realized the figurines were a reflection of her behavior. “What is this supposed to mean?” she demanded, voice shaking.
Feigning innocence, I replied, “You’ve made it clear you and Ethan are the real stars today, so I thought the cake topper should reflect that.”
Laughter filled the room. Patricia’s humiliation was evident. Ethan turned to me, stunned. “Julia, what are you doing?” he whispered.
I looked him in the eye. “Exactly what needs to be done,” I said, then turned and walked out, leaving the reception—and Patricia—speechless.
The next morning, I canceled the marriage license. Ethan begged me to reconsider, but I knew if he couldn’t stand up to his mother, our future would always be overshadowed by her.
Some might see walking away as a loss, but to me, it was a victory—a declaration that I deserved more than to live in someone else’s shadow. While Patricia basked in attention, I walked away free.