My Wedding Dress In The Garage His Widow In My Home Chapter 18
On Friday afternoon, my phone buzzed with a calendar reminder.
*Independent project completion celebration, 7:00 p.m.*
It was the first project I had managed on my own from concept to completion since coming to Milwaukee.
Right after, a text from Lena popped up.
*Queen of the celebration, have you picked out your dress yet?*
I took a picture of the dark blue dress hanging on my closet door and sent it to her.
She replied immediately: *Approved. Don’t you dare sneak off after work. I’m picking you up.*
That evening, the celebration was held on the top floor of the newly finished project.
When it was my turn to speak, the colleagues I’d worked with for months stood below me. The space that had once existed only in plans and models was now brightly lit, the tables full of people.
I held the microphone and thanked the team, and everyone who had believed in me through revision after revision.
When the applause died down, my boss came over and handed me a glass of champagne.
“This was an excellent project,” he said. “You’ve proven that you don’t just know how to do the work—you know how to lead a team and get something done well. I’d like you to head up the next one, too.”
My coworkers all raised their glasses.
Lena stood at the back of the crowd, gave me a wink, and flashed an exaggerated victory sign.
I laughed and clinked glasses with everyone.
Before the night ended, we took our champagne out onto the terrace. The night wind swept over us. In the distance, windows were lit, story after story, and lines of traffic moved like slow rivers through the streets.
Lena leaned against the railing and asked, “So, how does it feel?”
I looked at the light shifting in my glass and thought for a moment.
“Like I finally moved into a life I designed for myself.”
She laughed and lightly touched her glass to mine.
Someone called our names from behind us. There was still cake on the table, and new work waiting for me tomorrow.
I looked out over the bright city.
Things could only get better from here.
I had already built my foundation.
My phone buzzed.
Mark had sent me a screenshot.
In that Reed Family Crew group—the one I had only glimpsed once—Paige had posted the “family photo” from the engagement party. In it, she leaned against Owen, Sadie had her arms around his neck, and I was cropped out completely.
She had written:
*Nora emptied our joint account and destroyed the new home meant for Sadie. Now she’s trying to paint herself as the victim.*
Someone below asked: *But wasn’t the down payment for the new house mostly Nora’s money?*
Paige didn’t answer.
She only posted a screenshot of my company profile page.
*She won’t let us live, so I’m not going to let her enjoy her new life in peace.*