Resign with Grace, Return with Fire Chapter 31
I turned to Mom and asked, “What do you mean by that, Mom? Has Sandra been bothering you before Ariana and I came to see you?”
Mom nodded. “She’s been coming over with gifts this whole time, trying to get me to put in a good word so you two can get back together. But every time, I kicked her out. Who would’ve known that she’d refuse to give up? Here she is again!”
I knew there had to be a reason Sandra had been so quiet lately. It turned out that after realizing she couldn’t sway me, she’d started harassing Mom instead.
While I was still processing all this, Sandra charged toward us and reached for the emerald bracelet. “This is mine! Mrs. Sloan, you clearly said that I was the only one you’d acknowledge as your daughter-in-law!”
Mom had wanted to give Sandra the bracelet before, but Sandra had found it tacky and returned it. Now, even if she wanted it, it would never be hers anymore.
Mom pushed Sandra aside and quickly put the bracelet on for Ariana. “From now on, Ari is the only one I’ll acknowledge as my daughter-in-law. You hurt my son, and I won’t forgive you for that. Get out. I don’t want to see you!”
Sandra’s eyes reddened. She opened her mouth to protest, but Mom grabbed a broom and chased her out of the
house.
Three months later, Ariana and I got married.
That day, Sandra showed up, too.
Ariana and I took our vows on the stage. We exchanged rings and shared a sweet kiss. Off stage, everyone offered their blessings, except Sandra, whose eyes were swollen from crying.
Her lips moved silently, and I read what she said from the way she formed the words. “Fred, I’m sorry. And… I wish you happiness.”
In that moment, she finally understood that there was no future for her. She left, alone and defeated.
That night, the news broke that Sandra had killed Lester. Word was that after leaving the wedding, she’d blamed everything that had gone wrong in her life on him. In a fit of rage, she’d run him down with her car, driving back and forth over him to ensure that the job was done.
Seeing no way forward, she’d floored the gas, shot off a cliff, and landed in a shattered mess on the rocks below. There hadn’t even been a body to bury.
When news of their deaths reached us, Ariana and I were on our honeymoon. I lamented the way things had turned out before pushing them out of my mind.
Five years later, I started my own business and set up a company. I moved Mom to the city, and Ariana gave birth to fraternal twins-a boy and a girl.
The five of us made a happy and whole family.
Life was short. All I wanted to do was live each day as it came.
