Chapter 9: Wedding Night in Savannah

On our wedding night, Caleb drank heavily. He lifted my veil, cupped my face, and called Lillian’s name the whole night. To say I wasn’t hurt would be a lie. After all, this was my one and only wedding night. I looked at Caleb’s handsome, cold features and burned that face into my memory. I swore I’d never fall for him.

The band played until midnight, champagne flowed, and the guests laughed loud enough to drown out the awkward silences. Upstairs, the air was thick with whiskey and broken dreams. I lay beside him, wide awake, heart aching, and memorized the shape of my loneliness.