Chapter 6 - The Vows and The Vengeance
The rest of the ceremony was beautiful.
When it was time for the vows, Ethan looked deep into my eyes.
"Sarah, I have loved you since the day I met you," Ethan said, his voice steady.
"You are the strongest, bravest woman I know."
He gently touched the silver captain's bars on my shoulders.
"You fight for everyone else," he continued. "Today, I vow to spend the rest of my life fighting for you."
Tears streamed down my face.
It wasn't the wedding I had planned.
It wasn't the dress I had dreamed of.
But it was real, and it was mine.
"Ethan," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "You gave me a safe place to land."
"I promise to always protect our peace, and to never let anyone diminish the life we are building together."
We exchanged rings, the cool metal slipping perfectly onto my finger.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the minister declared. "You may kiss the bride."
Ethan pulled me in, and the kiss was filled with so much love and relief that the crowd erupted into cheers.
We turned to face our guests.
Ethan's side of the aisle was on their feet, clapping wildly.
My side of the aisle was awkward and hesitant, glancing nervously at my scowling father.
As Ethan and I walked back down the aisle together, I looked at Frank.
He refused to meet my eyes.
Tyler was frantically typing on his phone, looking terrified.
My mother was still staring straight ahead, her hands folded in her lap.
We walked out into the bright afternoon sun, finally free.
"Are you okay?" Ethan asked as we got into the waiting car.
"I am now," I smiled.
May you like
But I knew the battle wasn't over.
The reception was just beginning, and my father never surrendered without a fight.
