“Emily, we need to talk,” Dad began gently, leading her to the living room. She frowned, sensing the gravity in his tone. “Is this about the way you rushed off yesterday?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Dad nodded, and I watched as he carefully laid out what he had learned. Emily’s expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, and then to a deep, unfathomable sadness. “No, this can’t be true,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

I moved to sit beside her, taking her hand. “We’re here for you, no matter what,” I assured her, feeling the weight of her pain as if it were my own.

The revelation had shattered the perfect image of her wedding day, but we knew that facing the truth was the only way forward. Whatever the future held, we would face it together, as a family. And that, perhaps, was the one perfect thing that no secret could ever destroy.