all the what could've been

CHAPTER XIX

As the ceremony began, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Lucas. His radiant smile had faded, replaced by a look of unease that sent a shiver down my spine. I told myself it was just nerves, but a small part of me hoped it was something more.

Then, I saw her. Andrea, walking down the aisle, looking every bit as beautiful as ever. In that moment, a sense of peace washed over me, reaffirming my decision not to tell Lucas how I truly felt. Seeing him standing there, ready to commit his life to someone he loved, I knew I couldn't disrupt that.

As the ceremony continued, we reached the part where the priest uttered those fateful words:

"If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace."

I felt a surge of panic rising within me, but my decision was fixed. I couldn't risk ruining Lucas's happiness, no matter how much it hurt.

"Stand up, Cali. You have to do it now." Jessica, who was sitting right beside me, whispered urgently,

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest, but before I could protest, she stood up, followed by Jenny and the rest of our friends.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched in shock, but what stunned me the most was Lucas. With a look of fury on his face, he raised his hands and addressed Andrea with a voice filled with anger,

"The wedding is off, and you're going to jail!" he shouted pointing a finger to Andrea,

The air seemed to crackle with tension as chaos erupted around us. I sat frozen in my seat, unable to comprehend what was happening. All around me, voices murmured and people rushed forward, but in that moment, all I could do was stare, my mind shaking with disbelief.

The guests looked around in confusion, murmuring to each other. Andrea's face went from shock to anger in a heartbeat.

"Lucas, what are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

Lucas turned to face the crowd, his expression full of anger.

"Andrea has been manipulating and blackmailing me for years," he announced, his voice clear and steady. "She's been threatening Cali to leave me, or else me and my family's lives will be at risk." He took a deep breath before continuing, "And worse of all, for faking my mom's sickness and for threatening her doctor." He shouted with so much anger.

A collective gasp echoed through the room, and Andrea's face blanched.

"That's a lie!" she cried out, but her voice was shaky, and it was clear that the face she had carefully constructed was starting to crumble.

My mind was in a mix of confusion and shock. People were shouting, and the scene around me felt surreal, like something out of a movie. I turned my head to see Lucas making his way towards me, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart pound in my chest.

When he finally reached me, he grabbed my shoulders gently but firmly, tilting my chin up so that I was forced to meet his eyes. The storm of emotions swirling within me made my breath catch in my throat.

"Why didn't you tell me, Cali?" he asked, his voice a mix of hurt and confusion. "I know everything now. Jess told me." He confessed.

My mind puzzled, struggling to comprehend his words.

"Jess had told him? My deepest secret, the real reason I had left When?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I searched for the right words, but nothing came out. The weight of years of unspoken feelings pressed down on me, and all I could do was stare back at him, feeling utterly exposed.

"I... I couldn't," I finally whispered, my voice breaking. "I didn't want to put you or your family in danger. I thought leaving was the best thing for you." I said, my voice broke.

Lucas's grip on my shoulders tightened, and he shook his head, a mixture of frustration and sorrow in his eyes.

"Cali, don't you understand? You were never a burden or a danger tome. Losing you was the hardest thing I've ever faced. I loved you, and I still do." He said, almost shouting, but his voice remained soft and gentle.

His words shattered the walls I had built around my heart, and a sob escaped my lips.

"I thought you were happier without me," I managed to say between tears. "I thought... I thought you had moved on with Andrea." I confessed, letting my feelings out.

Lucas cupped my face in his hands, his touch gentle and reassuring.

"Andrea was a friend who helped me through a dark time, but she was never you. I realized too late that my heart has always belonged to you. What I mean is, I knew from the moment I laid my eyes on you when we were fourteen that I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, but I was too late to face my fear and confess to you. And now, knowing the truth, I can't let you go again." He said, his voice filled with so much love that I didn't know any person could do, but he did.

The noise of the crowd faded into the background as we stood there, lost in each other's gaze. The years of pain, regret, and unspoken love seemed to melt away, leaving only the two of us, finally facing the truth we had both been too afraid to acknowledge.

Around us, the room was a whirlwind of emotions. People were talking in hushed tones, trying to piece together what had just happened. Jessica approached, her eyes wide with relief and worry.

"I had to tell him, Cali," she said softly, placing a hand on my back. "I couldn't let you both continue living in this mess. It wasn't right."

I nodded, tears streaming down my face as I reached out to hug her.

"Thank you, Jess. I don't know what I would have done without you," I whispered.

As Lucas pulled me into a tight embrace, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Despite everything, we had found our way back to each other. And for the first time in years, I allowed myself to believe in the possibility of a future where we could be truly happy together.

Lucas's voice was a low murmur in my ear.

"I promise, Cali. I won't let anything or anyone come between us again. We've wasted too much time already."

I nodded against his chest, feeling the truth in his words.

"I know. I love you, Lucas," I said, my voice steady despite the tears.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine.

"I love you too, Cali. Always have, always will."

The sincerity in his gaze filled me with warmth, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The chaos of the day, the confusion, the pain—it all seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of us, finally free to embrace the love we had denied for so long.

As we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, I realized that this was what I had been waiting for. The fear, the doubts, the years of separation—they had all led us to this moment, a moment of clarity and love that I would cherish forever.

With a sense of newfound hope, I knew that whatever the future held, we would face it together. And as Lucas and I turned to face our friends and family, I saw the smiles on their faces, the tears of joy in their eyes, and I knew that we had made the right choice.