Beneath the Surface

Epilogue: Promises in the Sunset

Chapter 50 - Promises in the Sunset

Valerie's Point of View

Three Years later...

I stand in front of the mirror, my wedding dress hugging my body like it was made just for me—which, of course, it was. The delicate fabric shimmer under the soft sunlight filtering through the hotel suite window, and every intricate detail feels like a reflection of everything I've been through. I'm trying to focus on how beautiful the dress looks, how perfect the fit is, but my nerves make it nearly impossible. My stomach twists and churns in knots, a whirlwind of anxiety, and for a fleeting moment, I wonder if I'm about to throw up everything I managed to eat this morning.

Because this is my day. 

Alright, alright—our day. It's Jake's day too. But let's be honest. Jake doesn't really care about the decorations, the flowers, or even the seating arrangements. He left all that to me, saying with his signature lazy smile, "You know what you want, Butterfly, and whatever you want, I want." It's sweet. So incredibly Jake. But it's also maddening, because it means that I've had to shoulder every single decision, every choice, every tiny detail, by myself.

From choosing to hold the ceremony on the beach—because I love the ocean and its calming waves, the sound of the water crashing onto the shore feels like therapy—to deciding on the blush-colored roses and the pristine white lilies that now line the aisle. I wanted everything to be perfect, a celebration of love but also of the journey that brought us here. A journey that wasn't easy. A journey that I wanted to celebrate not just with Jake, but with everyone who stood by me when things felt like they would never get better.

Jake's only real contribution to this whole process has been writing his vows. And even that felt monumental in its own way. Sitting down with him late at night, reading those heartfelt words, made me realize how deeply he cared—not just about me, but about us. How every little thing he said in those vows was a promise, not just of love, but of loyalty, patience, and a commitment to never stop fighting for us.

But I won't lie. I've been a nightmare these past few weeks. A control freak. A tyrant, really. If Jake had tried to weigh in on the flowers or napkin colors, I probably would've snapped at him. Not out of malice, but out of exhaustion. Out of a desperate need for things to just go right. The pressure I put on myself to make everything flawless has left me barely breathing some days. Can you blame him for keeping his distance? I don't think I would've wanted to be near me either. I've been short-tempered, overwhelmed, and at times, so wrapped up in my own head that I forgot to stop and appreciate the fact that Jake was here—every step of the way.

Even when I pushed him away, he stayed. Even when I became unhinged over seating charts and flower arrangements, Jake just smiled, nodded, and silently followed my lead. He didn't complain. Didn't retreat. He let me have my moments of madness because he knew that in some twisted way, it was how I was coping. How I was trying to control the chaos that had been my life—everything that had brought me to this day.

I glance at my reflection again, taking a deep breath. My parents' relationship with me has improved too. It's not perfect, but they've tried. They've apologized for not being there when Mason and I needed them the most, for the times when it felt like we were just two lost kids trying to figure it out on our own. They've made an effort to rebuild our relationship. My mom tells me how proud she is of me every chance she gets. My dad, who I've never seen cry until recently, now wipes away tears without hesitation. These moments remind me that healing is not just about moving forward—it's about repairing the bonds that were frayed by time and hardship. And I'm thankful for that. For them. For us.

Today, standing in my wedding dress, with every choice and every moment that led up to this day, I feel a sense of clarity. A strange but welcome calm settling in my chest. I know there will be challenges. Life isn't a fairy tale, and love doesn't mean perfection. But with Jake by my side, with Mason, Viktoria, my parents, and all the people who've stood by me, I feel ready to face whatever comes next.