Marcus Bell stood quietly with his hands folded. Beside him was the woman who had cried earlier. Later I learned her name was Alina Torres. Her husband had spent eighteen months behind bars before Ethan uncovered overlooked security footage proving his innocence. Nearby stood Peter Lang, an elderly man whose grandson had nearly been convicted after a mistaken traffic stop. There was also Celeste Grant, a nurse whose brother had been moments away from accepting a plea deal that would have ruined his future.
None of them had come to destroy my wedding.
They had come because Ethan had once stood beside them when no one else would.
My father possessed wealth, influence, and status.
Yet he had never earned this kind of loyalty.
Only fear.
Only dependence.
Only silence.
I turned toward Pastor Mitchell.
“Can we continue?”
His expression softened.
“Only if you are sure.”
“I’m sure.”
I heard Ethan catch his breath.
