The days after the explosion were messy and painful. Elena didn’t speak to me for almost a week. The family was divided, phone calls full of disappointment and questions about the business fallout. The wedding was officially called off. Invitations were canceled, deposits lost, and whispers spread through our social circle. Isaac took the brunt of the anger from his family, but he stood firm. He moved out of the house and into a temporary apartment downtown. I split my time between trying to mend things with Elena and being with him.
Slowly, the storm began to calm. Elena and I had one long, tear-filled conversation where she admitted the engagement had felt more like a good business decision than true love. She was hurt—deeply—but she could see how real our feelings were. “I need time,”
