After ending the call, he looked devastated.
“She won’t forgive me,” he whispered.
“Maybe not immediately,” I said. “But you can’t keep sacrificing your future because you’re afraid of upsetting her.”
Then he asked whether I still wanted to marry him.
I loved Arthur, but I knew our problems would not disappear simply because we exchanged vows. I agreed to marry him on one condition: rebuilding trust would require honesty, accountability, and real change.
Our wedding took place that afternoon. Patricia’s chair remained empty, and I noticed Arthur glance toward it before the ceremony. I squeezed his hand, reminding him that we were beginning a new chapter together.
When we exchanged our vows, both our voices trembled.
Later, after our guests had left, Arthur made us two cups of coffee. When he placed mine on the table, we both hesitated before sharing a sad laugh.
“I don’t think I’ll ever look at coffee the same way again,” he said.
