for the shock… and for that little girl.I could have walked away. I could’ve screamed, cried, ended it all right there. But then Olivia looked at me. She wasn’t just Ethan’s past. She was an innocent child, dropped into chaos with no understanding. Her eyes weren’t judging or afraid—just curious. Hopeful. I stepped forward. Ethan braced for the worst. Instead, I knelt down, smiled softly, and said, “Hi,

Olivia. I’m Teresa. Would you like to walk down the aisle with me?” She hesitated, then slowly reached out her tiny hand and placed it in mine. Tears welled in Ethan’s eyes. The crowd gasped again—this time in disbelief. I looked up at him, heart full, voice steady. “Let’s get married.” The music began again. And the three of us—unexpected, imperfect, but together—walked down the aisle toward a new beginning.