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Simon’s eyes darted back to Amber. “Is this the kind of man you wish to bind yourself to?” he demanded. “Someone who would threaten your own flesh and blood?”

Emboldened by his words, she stepped forward. “Now, you want to act as though we are flesh and blood? Now, you want to pretend to be a family?” Her hands shook, whether from fright or rage she couldn’t be sure. “You and I are not family.”

“How can you say that after everything I have done for you!?”

“Family doesn’t force each other to hide! Family doesn’t use the love a child has for their mother against them! Family supports each other! And listens to each other! And we care about each other! But most of all, families don’t try to sell each other as a bargaining chip!” She was all but yelling by the end. Every word seemed to lift hundreds of pounds from her shoulders.

She only stopped when she felt Christopher’s gentle hand come to rest on her shoulder.

Simon stared at her in shock. Every ounce of color had drained from his face. He seemed unable to speak, mouth opening and closing in silent dread.

“I see,” he finally managed to croak out. “That’s how you feel.”

“It is,” she affirmed with no remorse.

“Very well, from this day forward, the pair of us are no longer family. We will go our separate ways, keep our own lives. Does that satisfy you?”

Christopher looked to Amber for approval, but her mind was still reeling far too much to reply.

“As long as you keep to your end of the bargain, I should think that will suffice.”

“How merciful of you,” he spat.

“I think it is. Now, get out of here, and never let your shadow cross our paths again.”

Without another word, Simon turned and stormed down the hallway.

That was the last time Amber ever saw him, and she couldn’t say she regretted it. If anything, her heart felt lighter and body more her own than it had in years after the confrontation.

She turned to Christopher with a wide smile. “I can’t believe it. We did it.”

“Yes, you did.” Mary came forward, offering her an embrace. “And congratulations. I hope the two of you have nothing but happiness in your future.”

“Thank you,” Amber squeezed her friend back. As she pulled away, she looked to Christopher. “Can you give us a moment?”

Christopher smiled without a second thought. “Of course,” he began leading the others down the hall, Amber and Mary following at a short distance.

“I’m sorry,” Amber said after a few moments.

“Whatever for?”

“Quite a few things actually. Derailing your party with my engagement, causing problems between you and Simon, possibly even between you and your husband.”

She laughed. “Jonathan and I won’t fight over something like this. Why don’t you tell me what you really want to say.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to escape.”

“Escape from what?”

“I know your family married you off the way Simon wanted to, and I know you went through with the match. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“I’m not.”

Amber looked at her in shock. “What?”

“I understand this wasn’t the way you wanted to get married. It was hardly what I wanted either, but unlike you, I never expected to marry for love. I count myself lucky that my husband is a good man. He treats me well, and over the years, we have grown to care about each other. Maybe our story isn’t the things of fairy tales, but it’s the life I’ve lived, and I’m happy with it. Marrying Jonathan is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

“I don’t understand.”