The Wedding Party

Part 98: A Survivor

Helena's voice cracked with emotion, the weight of loss and betrayal heavy on her heart. "You destroyed everything I loved, Preston."

"Helena," he replied, his voice strained, "you still have me."

"I don't want you!" she screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The fury in Preston's eyes ignited at her words, but before he could react, Braeden appeared from behind and tackled him off the edge of the cliff.

"NO!" Helena gasped, rushing down the rocky incline to where they had fallen. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stumbled upon a sight all too familiar – the location from sixteen years ago when she and Preston had shared a childhood moment.

Braeden lay unconscious, a small smile playing on his lips as if even in his state, he knew Helena was safe. He stirred slightly, noticing Preston behind Helena. Her eyes locked onto the discarded boarding knife, her hand shaking as she picked it up and plunged it into Preston's stomach.

Preston's breath hitched, the pain and shock evident in his eyes. As his life began to slip away, he whispered, "Helena... I did this for us. Our parents lied to us all these years. We're siblings from an affair our mother had... I just wanted us to be the family I always dreamed of."

A bitter mix of fury, grief, and confusion settled in Helena's stomach. She couldn't find the words to respond, but she didn't need to – Preston's body went limp, his last breath leaving him.

---

Some time later, Helena and Braeden sat side by side on a coast guard boat, the island disappearing behind them as they headed back to Halifax. The wind whipped through Helena's hair, the salty sea breeze a bittersweet reminder of what they'd left behind.

"Helena," Braeden said, his voice gentle, "I'm so sorry for everything that happened."

"None of this was your fault, Braeden," she replied, looking into his eyes – eyes filled with a warmth and love that made her heart ache.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an ethereal glow across the water, Helena leaned in and pressed her lips against Braeden's. It was a kiss filled with hope and the promise of healing – a new beginning forged from the ashes of the past.