Standing at the altar in front of family and friends, the weight of my daughter’s words bore heavily on my heart. I glanced over at Claire, who stood smiling, radiant in her wedding gown, seemingly unaware of the turmoil happening just a few feet away. The contrast between Lily’s distress and Claire’s serene demeanor was unsettling.

As the ceremony commenced, my mind drifted back to the past two years. Losing my wife had been the hardest chapter of my life, a whirlwind of sorrow and confusion. Lily and I had clung to each other through the darkest moments, finding solace in shared memories and quiet afternoons filled with her laughter. Claire’s arrival into our lives had been a beacon of hope, or so I thought. She seemed kind, understanding, and eager to help us heal. But now, doubt clouded those certainties.