“Yes. Just know that I love you,” I say quietly. Just for her. “Whatever happens tomorrow—whatever he does—I need you to remember that.”
Her brow furrows. “Julian, what—”
“Promise me.”
She studies my face. Reads something there that makes her expression soften.
“I promise,” she says. “And Julian?”
“Yes?”
“I love you, too.”
The words settle over me. Proof that even if tomorrow destroys everything, this moment was real.
“Julian.” Marcus’s voice, cutting through. “Damien is leaving the bar. Heading back to his room.”
“Follow him. Make sure he stays there.”
“Already on it.”
The dinner continues around us. Dessert arrives. Conversations wind down. People start making noises about early mornings and beauty sleep.
Through it all, I hold Poppy’s hand and try not to think about what tomorrow will bring.
A wedding. A confrontation. A revelation that might destroy everything.
Or maybe—just maybe—a chance to end this.
One way or another, tomorrow changes everything.
CHAPTER 27
POPPY
I’m so ready to leave when the rehearsal dinner is over. But then I spot my mother standing alone outside with a glass of wine. She’s staring out at the water like it holds answers she’s been searching for. I should leave—every instinct screams at me to keep walking and go back to my room with Julian. Instead, I hesitate, caught between escape and obligation, between old wounds and the impossible hope they might someday heal.
I touch Julian’s arm to stop him. “Can you give me a moment?” My voice sounds strained even to my own ears.
“Of course,” he says with an understanding nod.
What am I doing?
The odds of this going well are definitely stacked against me. Despite all that, I turn and head outside.
“Mom.”
She turns. For a second—just a second—I see something unguarded in her face. Something that looks almost like exhaustion.
“Poppy. I needed a break from the noise.”
“I understand, mom.”
Almost out of gut instinct, I want to immediately abort and retreat inside to Julian’s side, where I feel safe. Instead, I find myself walking to the railing and standing beside her.
We stand in silence for a long moment. The ocean stretches out before us, dark and endless.
“Your father would have loved this view,” she says finally. “He always chased beautiful things. Beautiful ideas. Beautiful promises.” She takes a sip of wine. “Never could hold onto any of them.”
