Chapter 8 - The Ocean Breeze
The fallout was spectacular.
Within an hour, the guests were informed that the wedding was canceled due to "unforeseen circumstances."
Whispers echoed through the resort.
David's family packed their bags immediately and left for the airport.
My family had no choice but to face the humiliation.
Because they had no money, they couldn't even afford to stay the rest of the week at the resort.
They had to check out early.
I watched from my balcony as they loaded their cheap luggage into a taxi.
Vanessa was wearing sweatpants, her face puffy and red.
She didn't look like a golden child anymore.
They didn't wave goodbye. And I didn't care.
I didn't check out.
My suite was paid in full for the next seven days.
For the first time in twenty-eight years, my phone was completely silent.
No one asking me for money.
No one demanding I fix their mistakes.
No one telling me I wasn't good enough.
Later that afternoon, I went down to the beach.
The ceremony arch was gone. The chairs were cleared away.
The beach was just a beach again. Natural, quiet, and peaceful.
I sat on the sand, wearing my jeans and white T-shirt.
I opened a book I had been wanting to read for months.
I listened to the waves crashing against the shore.
I had lost $15,000 in non-refundable deposits.
But as I took a deep breath of the salty Hawaiian air, I smiled.
May you like
It was the best money I had ever spent.
It bought me my freedom.
