Chapter 78

• The weeks leading up to the wedding were a whirlwind of preparations, emotions, and growing anticipation. My belly had grown noticeably, and with it, so had the excitement surrounding the arrival of our child. Leo and I spent most of our days planning for both the wedding and the baby, juggling appointments with the doctor and visits to wedding planners. Clara, who had initially been distant, had grown closer to me, much to my relief. She seemed to have accepted me, and our bond had strengthened in ways I hadn’t expected.
• One afternoon, just a few days before the wedding, Clara and I were sitting together in the living room, going over the final details for the ceremony.
• “I can’t believe the big day is almost here,” Clara said, her eyes bright with excitement. “It feels like just yesterday you and Leo were… well, everything was different.”