Chapter 7 As I packed boxes for our new home, my phone rang. "Ms. Jordan, this is about your booked wedding photoshoot. We need to lock in dates." "Actually, scratch that. Cancel the whole thing." The coordinator was stunned, but I ended the call without any explanation. In my past life, I'd orchestrated every aspect of my wedding alone, from venues to vows. Steven had dodged commitments with flimsy alibis, leaving me to shoulder it all. Now Levi darted around, coordinating details with infectious energy. The contrast hit home. True love shone in actions, not empty words. A notification pinged with Andrea's latest social media update, interrupting my thoughts. The image captured her nestled intimately with my parents. Steven hovered nearby like a devoted guardian, and they exuded familial bliss. Behind them loomed the sleek outline of a cruise ship. [Nothing beats a complete family vibe.] Joyce's snarky comment appeared below. [You and Steven sure look like the picture-perfect fam.]. But a quick refresh showed it had been deleted. Joyce texted me: [Andrea is a coward, wiping my comment like that. Smart move ditching that mess.] Then, she shifted gears. [So, how is life in the love nest with Levi?] My cheeks heated as I met Levi's amused glance, warmth spreading to my ears. That night, I bolted awake. Levi enveloped me instantly, his brow furrowed with concern. "Nightmare?" He gently dabbed the sweat from my forehead. "You were mumbling in your sleep, 'Don't abandon me. Don't shove me.' What's haunting you?" I calmed down, realizing Andrea's post had resurrected my past traumas. In the dream, my parents dumped me at boarding school, the endless dark corridors amplifying my terror. I pleaded to go home with them, only to be rebuffed coldly. 1/3 Chapter 7 Then the scene morphed to the icy ocean, water choking me as I screamed silently for rescue. Trembling, I clung to Levi, unleashing a torrent of tears. He rocked me soothingly, his steady presence a lifeline. The heat from his chest grounded me in the present. At last, the shadows of my past were receding into the night. +25 Bonus I shared our wedding invites online. Shortly after, an unfamiliar number flashed on my screen. Hesitant, I answered the call, only to be met with Brent's thunderous tirade. "I've coddled you too long, and you're running wild. You're getting married, and we found out online?" Fiona coaxed him before taking the phone. "Don't be upset, sweetie. Your dad is just frantic trying to reach you. We've had our rough patches, but blood's thicker than water. Come home, and let's hash it. I've bought your favorite cherries. They're very sweet." Her wheedling grated, but the mention of cherries snapped me alert. They were Andrea's obsession, not mine. "I'll pass," I said coolly. "I've never been a fan of cherries." Year after year, the fruit bowls at home had bypassed me entirely. I caught Levi's quizzical look, and puzzle pieces clicked. "I flashed the marriage certificate at Andrea's show," I continued. "You dismissed it as fake. Anyway, I've built a family with someone who truly values me." Fiona choked, silence stretching. Brent's weary sigh echoed faintly. Perhaps, after decades, a kernel of remorse had sprouted, but I ended the call before they could rally. Levi slid behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder as he mumbled, "Did I stick my nose where it didn't belong? I figured mending fences with your folks would let you walk down the aisle without baggage. So, I visited them." Without his nudge, they'd have remained oblivious to their inflicted scars, but apologies couldn't mend what was shattered. I spun into his arms. He'd likely been rattled by my nightmare revelations. My family had only deepened my wounds. He was the only one seeking to heal them. "Don't sweat it," I quipped. "I'm not bolting." 2/3 Chapter 7 He took it seriously, holding me tightly. "I scoured the earth for you. I'm not losing you now." Smiling, I returned the embrace. "Don't worry. I'm here for the long haul."