“She was beautiful the day she sat in a hospital room and told me she was more afraid of losing herself than losing her hair.”
My eyes filled.
Liam squeezed my hand.
“She was beautiful when she was sick.”
“She was beautiful when she was scared.”
“She was beautiful when she fought.”
“And today…”
He looked directly at me.
“Today she is the strongest person I have ever known.”
The applause started slowly.
Then it filled the entire room.
From the side of the ballroom, I saw Chloe.
For the first time in my life…
she looked small.
Not because everyone hated her.
But because everyone finally saw the truth.
The woman she tried to humiliate had become the person everyone admired.
Then Liam leaned closer and whispered:
“There’s something else you should know.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
His expression became serious.
“Before the ceremony started, your father called me.”
My heart stopped.
My father had been silent for months.
After everything Chloe had done.
After every time my family chose appearances over me.
“What did he say?”
Liam looked toward the entrance.
And my breath caught.
Because standing there…
was my father.
