Page 129 of Crash

Shelly laughed, the sound as effervescent as her champagne. “Are you kidding? This looks like it took years to plan, not weeks. I still can’t believe you pulled it off.”

“We had the vision,” I reminded her. “It was just a matter of getting the right vendors to execute it in a … compressed timeframe.”

“You say that like moving heaven and earth is just another day at the office.”

When I gave her a small smile, she reached out and gripped my hand.

“I know what you went through, Tessa.”

My heart stuttered. “What do you mean?”

“Everything. The sabotage from Once Upon a Lifetime. How they tried to destroy you every step of the way.” She squeezed my fingers. “And you never said a word. You just kept fighting, all while dealing with your own health crisis.”

“How did you?—”

“Find out about the sabotage?” She took another sip of champagne, her eyes knowing. “Remember that first meeting when we discussed moving up the date? We talked about the risks, about how Once Upon a Lifetime might play dirty. But you never mentioned it again, and I thought … well, I thought surely no one could be heartless enough to try to ruin a wedding. I was wrong.”

My throat tightened. “I just wanted you to have your perfect day.”

“And you gave me that, despite everything they threw at you.” Shelly’s eyes danced. “But now, it’s your turn. Check today’s online issue ofTo Have and To Hold.”

My heart stopped.To Have and To Holdwas the wedding industry’s bible, the magazine I’d dreamed of being featured in someday, maybe years from now, if I was lucky. When Shelly’s groom appeared with his phone, the page already loaded, I had to blink back tears to read what I was seeing.

There I was. Front page. A full exclusive, complete with photos from the wedding that was still unfolding around us. My hands shook as I read, certain phrases leaping off the screen.

“… the event planner to watch …”

“… transforms dreams into reality with unparalleled dedication …”

“… a diamond in a sea of stones, Tessa Kincaid’s Wildest Dreams Events stands apart through genuine care for clients and unwavering support of local businesses …”

The article then shifted, exposing Once Upon a Lifetime’s systematic sabotage of small businesses, complete with vendor interviews and damning evidence. Screenshots. They were under investigation, so now, they couldn’t hurt anyone else.

“How?” I whispered.

“I asked one of my influencer friends to write about you as a thank-you for making this wedding happen so quickly. She used to be an investigative reporter, and when she started interviewing vendors …” Shelly’s smile turned triumphant. “Well, she uncovered quite a story. David versus Goliath. And, Tessa? There are three dozen more influencers posting about this wedding right now. Each one has at least fifteen brides already asking about you.”

My throat swelled to the point that it was hard to choke out words.

“Shelly, this is your day, not?—”

“I got my day,” she interrupted softly, her eyes filling with tears. “Thanks to you, I got to have my father here for it.”

She gestured across the room, and I turned to see her father making his way toward us. Despite the cane that supported his frail frame, despite the hollow cheeks, his eyes shone with a warmth that made my own tears spill over.

“Ms. Kincaid,” he began, his voice fragile.

“Please, call me Tessa.”

He nodded, taking a shaky breath. “Tessa. You know, from the moment they placed Shelly in my arms at the hospital, there was one day I dreamed about more than any other.” He paused, collecting himself. “Walking my little girl down the aisle. It’s … it’s more than just a tradition. It’s a father’s final act of love. That moment when you guide your child from the life you helped build for them into the life they’ll build for themselves.”

His voice broke, and Shelly pressed closer to his side, her own tears falling freely now.

“When I got the diagnosis, I thought … I thought that moment had been stolen from us. But you—” He reached out with trembling fingers to grasp my hand. “You gave me that gift. That precious, irreplaceable moment with my daughter. There aren’t enough words, enough ways to say thank you for that.”

I tried to speak, but emotion clogged my voice. Shelly wrapped her arms around her father, both of them holding each other as their shoulders shook with quiet sobs. When they finally separated, Shelly wiped her eyes and managed a watery smile.

“Oh, and one more thing. Daddy and I added a thirty-five percent bonus for moving heaven and earth to make this happen.”