But not the Lauren anyone remembered.
She wore a deep emerald gown that fit her like it had been made for her alone. Her hair fell effortlessly around a warm, calm smile. She walked with the poise of a woman who had rebuilt herself from the ground up.
But that wasn’t what stole everyone’s breath.
A little girl stepped out beside her.
Soft blonde curls.
Hazel eyes.
Four years old at most.
Holding Lauren’s hand like she’d never let go.
Evan’s expression collapsed.
He blinked hard.
The child looked unmistakably familiar.
No.
Impossible.
Whispers filled the room before Lauren even reached the entrance.
A Truth He Never Looked For
Evan approached, forcing a confident smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Lauren,” he said, voice tight. “Didn’t expect you to actually come.”
She returned a polite smile. “It’s a beautiful place. Congratulations.”
His gaze flicked downward.
“To… to whom does she belong?”
Lauren knelt beside the child. “Sweetheart, can you say hello?”
The little girl lifted her eyes. “Hi. My name’s Emma.”
Evan’s stomach twisted.
“Is she…?”
Lauren stood, meeting his gaze without wavering.
“Yes, Evan. She’s your daughter.”
He felt the air leave his lungs. “You’re making this up to cause trouble.”
“No,” Lauren said calmly. “I found out I was expecting a few weeks after the divorce. I called twice. You didn’t answer. I took that as my answer.”
“That proves nothing.”
“I wasn’t going to chase someone who didn’t want us in his world,” she said quietly. “So I raised her on my own.”
The orchestra faded into silence.
The wedding that was supposed to crown his new life suddenly felt hollow.
Just then, Brooke approached, eyes sharp with confusion.
“What’s going on?”
Lauren turned to her gently. “I’m sorry for interrupting your special day. I only came to give back something Evan left behind—a part of his past he never bothered to look for.”
Brooke stared at Emma, then at Evan. “You hid this?”
“I… didn’t know,” he whispered.
Emma tugged Lauren’s gown. “Mommy, can we go home?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Lauren looked at Evan one last time. “You asked for closure. Now you have it.”
And she walked out.
Proberen te repareren wat nooit door haar is gebroken
De bruiloft hinkte voort zonder zijn glans.
