The string quartet played softly as Marga,Ch, cas
At sixty years old, Margaret had stopped believing she’d ever find it. When her husband Daniel Collins died in a car
But then, two years ago, she met Edwa,
So, when Edward proposed last spring on the beach where they’d shared their first kiss, she said yes through tears of joy. Everyone supported them—everyone except one man.
Michael Collins, Daniel’s younger brother. He hadn’t spoken to Margaret much since the funeral. When she invited him to the wedding out of courtesy, she didn’t expect him to come.
But as she reached the altar, her hand trembling in Edward’s, a familiar voice echoed from the back of the church.
“I object!”
The music stopped. Heads turned. Michael stood there, his face pale, eyes blazing with something between anger and heartbreak.
“You can’t marry him,” he said, stepping into the aisle. “There’s something you don’t know, Margaret. Something about Edward.”
A stunned silence fell over the room. Margaret felt her knees weaken as Edward’s grip tightened around her hand.
“What are you talking about?” she whispered.
Michael took a deep breath. “He’s been lying to you. About everything.”
The murmurs rippled through the guests like wind through dry leaves. Edward’s calm expression hardened. “Michael,” he said evenly, “this isn’t the time.”
“No, it’s exactly the time,” Michael snapped. “You think you can just fool her, stand there acting like you’re some saint? She deserves to know the truth before she ruins her life again.”
Margaret’s heart pounded in her chest. “Michael, if you have something to say, say it.”
Michael looked at her—eyes red, voice trembling. “Edward isn’t who he says he is. He knew Daniel before the accident. He worked for the same firm. He was there that night.”
The air in the chapel seemed to freeze. Margaret’s lips parted, but no words came out.
Edward shook his head, jaw tight. “That’s absurd. I met Daniel once, years before you and I ever spoke.”
Michael laughed bitterly. “You think she’ll believe that? I saw your name on the report. You were the site supervisor on the project Daniel was managing—the one he died driving home from after working sixteen hours straight. You knew him. You pushed him too hard.”
Gasps echoed through the pews.
Margaret turned to Edward, her eyes wide. “Is that true?”
Edward swallowed. “Yes, I knew him—but not like that. Michael’s twisting it. Daniel was my friend. His death was an accident, Margaret. You have to believe me.”
Tears burned in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want to reopen your wounds,” Edward said softly. “When I realized who you were, it terrified me. I loved you already. I didn’t want our connection to be poisoned by the past.”
Michael stepped forward, voice rising. “He’s manipulating you. Daniel used to come home exhausted because Edward refused to approve overtime pay. He was cutting corners to impress the partners. Daniel died driving home half-asleep, and now this man wants to marry his widow.”
The priest tried to intervene, but the room had already descended into chaos.
Margaret turned away, her mind spinning. Edward’s hand reached for hers, but she pulled back as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I need time,” she whispered. “I can’t do this right now.”
She left the chapel, the sound of her heels echoing through the marble floor, leaving a stunned silence behind.
Three days later, Margaret sat on her porch overlooking the quiet harbor. The wedding had been called off—at least for now. Both men had tried to reach her, but she hadn’t answered. Her thoughts were a tangled storm of grief, confusion, and betrayal.
Finally, she called Michael. “Come over,” she said simply.
When he arrived, she handed him coffee and sat opposite him. “You’ve always blamed yourself for Daniel’s death,” she began gently. “Haven’t you?”
Michael looked down. “I should’ve made him take that night off. He was exhausted. But Edward—he pushed him. I saw it.”
Margaret nodded slowly. “I looked into it. I called Daniel’s old firm yesterday. They sent me the records. Edward wasn’t his supervisor. He was actually the one who reported unsafe conditions—he tried to stop Daniel from taking on the extra shifts. It was Daniel’s choice to stay late.”
Michael’s face fell. “That’s not possible…”
“It is,” she said quietly. “I think you needed someone to blame. And Edward was an easy target.”
Tears welled in Michael’s eyes. “I just couldn’t stand seeing you move on—with someone connected to that night. It felt wrong.”
Margaret reached out, her voice trembling but calm. “Daniel wouldn’t have wanted me to be alone forever. And Edward didn’t replace him—he helped me find a way to live again.”
The two sat in silence for a long time. Finally, Michael nodded, tears streaking his face. “I’m sorry, Margaret. I really am.”
Later that evening, Edward arrived after she called him too. He looked nervous, uncertain. “You found out the truth,” he said softly.
“I did,” she replied. “And I also found out you were trying to protect me, even when it hurt you.”
He sighed with relief. “I should’ve told you from the start. I just didn’t want to lose you.”
She smiled faintly. “You almost did. But… love deserves honesty, even when it’s messy.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, she reached for his hand. “I don’t want to wait any longer. Let’s have a small ceremony—no drama, no secrets. Just us.”
Edward squeezed her hand, tears glistening in his eyes. “I’d marry you anywhere, Margaret.”
A week later, they exchanged vows quietly on the same beach where he’d proposed—no guests, no music, just waves and wind.
As Margaret looked out at the ocean, she whispered, “I think Daniel would’ve liked you.”
And for the first time in nine years, her heart felt whole again.
