The Final Words I Gave Warren
I turned and walked away from the altar.
Behind me, Warren called my name.
“Adeline, I did love you.”
I stopped.
For one fragile second, part of me wanted to ask if any of it had been real. Wanted him to name one memory untouched by his plan.
But some questions just give dishonest people another chance to reshape the truth.
I faced him.
“You loved what my company could repair.”
His eyes filled with fear.
“Please don’t end it like this.”
I looked at the man I’d almost married and felt the noise inside me finally go quiet.
“I didn’t end this, Warren. I only heard what you said when you thought I was gone.”
Then I walked out of the chapel in my wedding dress.
Past the flowers, the cameras, the guests who’d arrived expecting a romantic ceremony and instead got the truth.
By noon, the wedding was officially canceled.
By evening, questions were spreading through every financial circle tied to the Halstead name.
Within days, several transactions were under review, business partners were pulling out, and the polished doors Celeste had once opened so easily started closing around her.
