I Gave Up My Dream Wedding to Reclaim My Identity as an Orphan
Confronting the Silence
“You think I don’t belong?” I challenged Derek as soon as we stepped outside, my heart thrumming with a mix of anger and vulnerability. The air was thick with warmth from the late afternoon sun, but all I felt was cold. “I never asked to be an orphan.”
Derek’s gaze drifted to the pavement, the shadow of his indecision hanging heavy between us. “Vivian, that’s not—”
“Not what?” I cut him off, my voice rising. “You’re just going to pretend that wasn’t the most humiliating moment of my life?”
He swallowed hard, then finally looked at me. “I’m sorry, I thought we could talk about it later.”
I laughed, a bitter sound that echoed off the brick walls surrounding us. “Talk? You mean avoid it until it goes away?” I took a step back, every inch of me screaming to run. “You don’t get it, do you?”
“I do!” he insisted, stepping toward me. “I just—”
“You just don’t want to face your mother!” I shot back. “You don’t want her to know that you’re in love with an orphan.”
“That’s not fair,” he said, his brow furrowing in frustration. “I care about you, Vivian, I really do. My family—”
“Your family?” I interrupted, grief spilling from the corners of my heart. “They never accepted me. You said it yourself—my background is a problem.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, reaching for my arm, his touch warm and grounding. “Let’s just take a breath. We’ll figure this out.”
I shook my head, fighting back tears. “You don’t have to figure it out, Derek. You just have to decide whether to stand by me.”
There was a long pause, his silence sending a shiver through me. The world around us faded, leaving just the two of us—two people on opposite sides of a chasm I never wanted to cross. “Can we talk about it tonight?” he finally said, his voice low, but it did little to calm the storm inside me.
“Fine,” I replied, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “But don’t think this is over.”
A Dinner to Impress
The dining room was lavish, filled with the scent of rosemary and garlic. I sat stiffly at the table, my fingers wrapped tightly around the edge. Every eye was on me, and I felt like a mismatched ornament on a Christmas tree.
“How’s work been, dear?” Constance asked, her tone sugary sweet yet laced with disregard. “Still trying to make partner?”
“Yes, very much,” I replied, forcing a smile that felt too tight. The chandelier glimmered, but the light couldn’t penetrate the heavy atmosphere. I heard Derek shift in his seat, his discomfort palpable.
“Must be tough juggling that and wedding planning,” Constance continued, a coy smile teasing her lips. “But I suppose not everyone can have a family to help with the details.”
My cheeks burned as laughter erupted from the table, Derek’s gaze darting between me and his mother, unsure how to navigate this minefield. “Mom, please,” he said, but it fell on deaf ears.
“So, what does your family think about the wedding?” Constance pressed, her eyes sharp as daggers. The laughter faded, leaving an uncomfortable silence.
“I don’t have a family,” I snapped, every ounce of frustration boiling over. “I told you. I’ve never had one.”
The table froze, all eyes wide with shock. Derek's expression crumpled, a mix of shock and disappointment etched across his handsome face. “Vivian...” he started, but I cut him off.
“What? Did you think I’d blend in like some perfect little bride?” I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. “I won’t be belittled because I was orphaned!”
“Vivian, wait—” Derek said, his voice strained, but I was already moving, the heat of indignation driving me toward the door.
As I burst out into the cool night air, I caught a fragment of desperate conversation behind me.
“You know you can’t marry her; she will never fit in.”