That evening, I stopped by the rehearsal dinner venue to deliver a scrapbook I had poured my heart into for weeks. It was a history of Daniel’s life, from his first steps to his law school acceptance. I wanted his future wife, Jessica, to see just how much love had shaped the man she was about to marry

Jessica met me at the door, stunning as always. Perfect hair, perfect smile. But that night, her eyes were colder than I’d ever seen them.

“Jessica,” I said, holding out the scrapbook. “I made this for you two.”

She didn’t even glance at it. Instead, she leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper no one else could hear. “After tomorrow,” she said, her lips curling into the faintest smirk, “you’re not part of this family anymore.”

The words hit me like a fist to the stomach. I blinked, certain I had misheard. “Excuse me?”